Wireless modem with a supplemental power source

• US 5,896,574 A
• Filed: 10/09/1996
• Issued: 04/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bass, Robert Harrell Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dolinar, Andrew M.
• Application Number:
  US08/728,011
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 455/557, 455/558, 455/66, 455/572, 455/127, 375/220, 375/222, 395/286, 364/705.05
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 15/02 Reducing interference from electric apparatus by means located at or near the interfering apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0296 switching to a backup power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless modem is provided with a passive power source using a first PCMCIA slot that is normally provided in mobile computer systems. Most mobile computing systems today provide for two or more PCMCIA slots. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention one slot is used by a first PCMCIA adapter that provides for baseband signal processing and power signals to a transceiver device. A second PCMCIA adapter card supplements the power signals provided by the first PCMCIA adapter card to the transceiver. The second PCMCIA adapter card occupies a second PCMCIA slot. The second PCMCIA adapter card supplements the power signals provided by the first PCMCIA card, permitting the transceiver to draw more current than that available from the first PCMCIA card. The transceiver and PCMCIA cards are interconnected by a Y cable in the preferred embodiment and a three connector housing in an alternative embodiment.

Claims

1. A wireless modem adapted for use in a computer, the wireless modem comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting and receiving signals;

a first PCMCIA adapter having a PCMCIA connector, PCMCIA interface logic, a second connector providing a transceiver interface, the transceiver interface including outputting power signals from said PCMCIA connector, said first PCMCIA adapter providing for baseband signal processing;

a second PCMCIA adapter having a PCMCIA connector, an output power connector and PCMCIA interface logic, wherein the PCMCIA interface logic provides power to the output power connector; and

a Y cable having three ends, a first end for connecting to the first PCMCIA adapter via the transceiver interface connector, a second end for connecting to the second PCMCIA adapter via the output power connector, and a third end for connecting to the transceiver, the Y cable coupling transceiver interface signals, including power signals, between the first PCMCIA adapter and the transceiver and coupling power signals from the second PCMCIA adapter to the transceiver.

2. The wireless modem of claim 1 wherein the transceiver transmits and receives RF signals.

3. The wireless modem of claim 2 wherein the transceiver is a radio module.

4. The wireless modem of claim 2 wherein the transceiver is a cellular phone.

5. The wireless modem of claim I wherein the second PCMCIA adapter includes a power filter for reducing EMC noise in the power supplied to the transceiver.

6. A wireless modem adapted for use in a computer, the wireless modem comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting and receiving signals;

a first PCMCIA adapter having a PCMCIA connector, PCMCIA interface logic, a second connector providing a transceiver interface, the transceiver interface outputting power signals from said PCMCIA connector, said first PCMCIA adapter providing for baseband signal processing;

a second PCMCIA adapter having a PCMCIA connector, an output power connector and PCMCIA interface logic, wherein the PCMCIA interface logic provides power to the output power connector; and

a housing having three connectors, a first connector for coupling the first PCMCIA adapter via the transceiver interface connector, a second connector for coupling to the second PCMCIA adapter via the output power connector, and a third connector for coupling to the transceiver, the housing providing electrical coupling of the connectors such that when the PCMCIA adapters and the transceiver are inserted into the respective connectors, the transceiver interface signals are electrically coupled between the first PCMCIA adapter and the transceiver and the power signals from the second PCMCIA adapter are electrically coupled to the transceiver.

7. The wireless modem of claim 6 wherein the transceiver transmits and receives RF signals.

8. The wireless modem of claim 7 wherein the transceiver is a radio module.

9. The wireless modem of claim 6 wherein the transceiver is a cellular phone.

10. The wireless modem of claim 6 wherein the second PCMCIA adapter includes a power filter for reducing EMC noise in the power supplied to the transceiver.

11. A PCMCIA adapter card for supplying power to an external device said PCMCIA adapter card comprising:

a PCMCIA connector;

an external power connector for supplying power to an external device; and

a PCMCIA interface logic providing for a memory type card interface, said PCMCIA interface logic including power lines coupling the PCMCIA connector to the external power connector for supplying power to the external power connector from the PCMCIA connector when the PCMCIA connector is coupled to a PCMCIA bus.

12. A PCMCIA adapter card for supplying power to an external device said PCMCIA adapter card comprising:

a PCMCIA connector;

an external power connector for supplying power to an external device;

a PCMCIA interface logic providing for a memory type card interface, said PCMCIA interface logic including power lines coupling the PCMCIA connector to the external power connector for supplying power to the external power connector from the PCMCIA connector when the PCMCIA connector is coupled to a PCMCIA bus; and

a power filter for reducing EMC noise in the power supplied to the external power connector.

13. A mobile computer comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting and receiving signals;

a first PCMCIA adapter slot;

a second PCMCIA adapter slot;

a first PCMCIA adapter having a PCMCIA connector, PCMCIA interface logic, a second connector providing a transceiver interface, the transceiver interface outputting power signals from said PCMCIA connector, said first PCMCIA adapter providing for baseband signal processing;

a second PCMCIA adapter having a PCMCIA connector, an output power connector and PCMCIA interface logic, wherein the PCMCIA interface logic provides power to the output power connector; and

a Y cable having three ends, a first end for connecting to the first PCMCIA adapter via the transceiver interface connector, a second end for connecting to the second PCMCIA adapter via the output power connector, and third end for connecting to the transceiver, the Y cable coupling transceiver interface signals between the first PCMCIA adapter and the transceiver and coupling power signals from the second PCMCIA adapter to the transceiver.

14. The mobile computer of claim 13 wherein the transmits and receives RF signals.

15. The mobile computer of claim 13 wherein the transceiver is a radio module.

16. The mobile computer of claim 13 wherein the transceiver is a cellular phone.

17. The mobile computer of claim 13 wherein the second PCMCIA adapter includes a power filter for reducing EMC noise in the power supplied to the transceiver.

18. A mobile computer comprising:

a first PCMCIA adapter slot;

a second PCMCIA adapter slot;

a first PCMCIA adapter having a PCMCIA connector, PCMCIA interface logic, a second connector providing a transceiver interface, the transceiver interface including outputting power signals from said PCMCIA connector, said first PCMCIA adapter providing for baseband signal processing;

a second PCMCIA adapter having a PCMCIA connector, an output power connector and PCMCIA interface logic, wherein the PCMCIA interface logic provides power to the output power connector;

and a transceiver for transmitting and receiving signals;

a housing interface having three connectors, a first connector for coupling to the first PCMCIA adapter via the transceiver connector, a second connector for coupling to the second PCMCIA adapter via the output power connector, and a third connector for coupling to the transceiver, the housing providing for the electrical coupling of the connectors such that when the PCMCIA adapters and the transceiver are inserted into the respective connectors, the transceiver interface signals are electrically coupled between the first PCMCIA adapter and the transceiver and the power signals from the second PCMCIA adapter are electrically coupled to the transceiver.

19. The mobile computer of claim 18 wherein transceiver transmits and receives RF signals.

20. The mobile computer of claim 18 wherein the transceiver is a radio module.

21. The mobile computer of claim 18 wherein the transceiver is a cellular phone.

22. The mobile computer of claim 18 wherein the second PCMCIA adapter includes a power filter reducing EMC noise in the power supplied to the transceiver.

23. The mobile computer of claim 18 wherein the first and second PCMCIA adapter slots are stacked and where the first and second connectors on the housing are in a stacked configuration.