Portable computer having a port connector for communicating with a variety of optional extension modules

• US 5,774,741 A
• Filed: 12/30/1996
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Choi, Jae-Chun
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Seto, Jeffrey K.
• Application Number:
  US08/777,135
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 395/822, 395/882, 395/281, 395/500
• US Class Current: 710/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4068 Electrical coupling

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus capable of supporting a variety of optional extension modules for a portable computer, comprising a port connector for connecting any of the optional extension modules; and a selector for receiving a control signal from the connected module through the port connector and enabling the portable computer to communicate with the connected module. With the module supporting apparatus, a variety of optional extension modules can be connected to the computer by using the port connector. Besides basic functions, the portable computer can perform a variety of functions, such as a multi-media function, etc.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting a variety of optional extension modules for a portable computer, comprising:

a port connector provided in the portable computer, for connecting any of the optional extension modules to the portable computer; and

means provided in the portable computer, for receiving a control signal from the connected module through the port connector and enabling the portable computer to communicate with the connected module in response to the control signal with the control signal being received through a different pin in the port connector for each of the optional extension modules.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said receiving means comprises a plurality of bidirectional buffers, each of said directional buffers having a control terminal for receiving the control signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprised of said receiving means comprising a plurality of groups of bidirectional buffers, with each of said groups corresponding to a different one of said optional extension modules.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprised of said receiving means comprising a plurality of groups of bidirectional buffers, with each of said groups corresponding to a different one of said optional extension modules, and with said bidirectional buffers in any one of said groups being simultaneously enabled by said control signal on a corresponding said different pin to accommodate communication between the connected module and the portable computer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprised of said receiving means comprising a plurality of groups of bidirectional buffers, with each of said groups corresponding to a different one of said optional extension modules, and with said bidirectional buffers in any one of said groups being simultaneously enabled by said control signal on a corresponding said different pin to accommodate communication between the connected module and the portable computer, while said bidirectional buffers in others of said groups being disable from accommodating said communication between the connected module and the portable computer.

6. An apparatus of supporting a variety of optional extension modules for a portable computer, comprising:

a port connector provided in the portable computer, for connecting any of the optional extension modules to the portable computer;

means responsive to one of three or more voltage levels of a selection signal from the connected module through the port connector, for generating a control signal; and

means provided in the portable computer, for enabling the portable computer to communicate with the connected module in response to the control signal.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said enabling means comprises a plurality of bidirectional buffers, each of said directional buffers having a control terminal for receiving the control signal.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said control signal generating means comprises a microcomputer for controlling the enabling means in response to the selection signal.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said microcomputer performs the steps of determining whether any of the extension modules is connected to the port connector in accordance with the selection signal;

generating a disabling signal for disabling the computer to communicate with the optional extension modules when no extension module is connected to the port connector;

determining voltage levels of the selection signal when any one of the extension modules is connected to the port connector; and

generating a signal for enabling the computer to communicate with the connected module in accordance with the determined voltage level.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprised of said enabling means comprising a plurality of groups of bidirectional buffers, with each of said groups corresponding with a different one of said optional extension modules.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprised of said enabling means comprising a plurality of groups of bidirectional buffers, with each of said groups corresponding with a different one of said optional extension modules, and with said bidirectional buffers in one of said groups being simultaneously enabled by said control signal to accommodate communication between the corresponding connected module and the portable computer.

12. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprised of said enabling means comprising a plurality of groups of bidirectional buffers, with each of said groups corresponding with a different one of said optional extension modules, and with said bidirectional buffers in one of said groups being simultaneously enabled by said control signal to accommodate communication between the corresponding connected module and the portable computer, while said bidirectional buffers in others of said groups being disabled from accommodating said communication between the connected module and the portable computer.

13. A method for controlling an extension module supporting apparatus for a portable computer, comprising the steps of:

determining whether any of optional extension modules is connected to a port connection provided in the portable computer;

disabling the computer to communicate with the optional extension modules when no module is connected to the port connector;

determining voltage levels of a selection signal from the connected module when any one of the extension modules is connected to the port connector; and

enabling the computer to communicate with the connected module in accordance with one of three or more voltage levels determined thus.

14. An apparatus for supporting a variety of optional extension modules for a portable computer, comprising:

a port connector provided in the portable computer, operationally connecting any of the optional extension modules to the portable computer while receiving on a specific terminal a recognition signal provided by each optional extension module connected to said port connector to exhibit a signal characteristic unique to the connected module;

a selector provided in the portable computer, comprising a plurality of groups of bidirectional buffers selectively accommodating communication between the portable computer and the connected module via one of said groups enabled in conformance with said recognition signal; and

a controller provided in the portable computer responding to reception of said unique characteristic from said port connector by generating a control signal enabling said one of said groups in dependence upon said unique characteristic.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprised of said signal characteristic exhibiting a voltage magnitude unique to each type of said variety of optional extension modules.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, with said port connector comprising a plurality of functionally distinct terminals provided in the portable computer operationally connecting any of the optional extension modules to the portable computer, while said specific terminal comprises one terminal of a specific set of said plurality of functionally distinct terminals dedicated to receiving said recognition signal.

17. An apparatus for supporting a variety of optional extension modules for a portable computer, comprising:

a port connector having a plurality of functionally distinct terminals provided in the portable computer, operationally connecting any of the optional extension modules to the portable computer while receiving via one terminal of a specific set of said plurality of functionally distinct terminals a recognition signal provided by each optional extension module connected to said port connector to exhibit a signal characteristic unique to the connected module; and

a selector provided in the portable computer, comprising a plurality of groups of bidirectional buffers each, when selectively enabled in response to a corresponding said recognition signal, accommodating communication by transmission of data signals between the portable computer and the connected module via one of said groups enabled in response to said recognition signal.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprised of a controller provided in the portable computer responding to reception of said unique characteristic from said port connector by generating a control signal enabling said one of said groups in dependence upon said unique characteristic.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprised of said recognition signal being received through a different terminal of said specific set of said plurality of functionally distinct terminals for each of the optional extension modules.

19. The apparatus of clam 17, further comprised of:

said unique characteristic comprised of said recognition signal having a voltage varying in magnitude; and

a controller provided in the portable computer responding to reception of said unique characteristic from said port connector by generating a control signal enabling said one of said groups in dependence upon said magnitude.