Adaptor connection apparatus for a data processing system
First Claim
1. An apparatus, for use with a data processing system having an architecture, which provides for the possibility of smart card use without unduly impacting the data processing system'"'"'s architecture, said apparatus comprising:
- an enclosure having at least one PC card acceptor and at least one smart card acceptor, and having at least an upper and a lower side; and
a suspension mechanism, operably connected to said enclosure, said suspension mechanism capable of physically connecting said enclosure to a motherboard such that said enclosure is suspended above a component of said motherboard, said suspension mechanism including at least one pin, joined to said lower side, wherein said pin has a larger circumference proximal to said lower side and a smaller circumference distal from said lower side.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method, for use with a data processing system having an architecture, which provide for the possibility of smart card use without unduly impacting the data processing system'"'"'s architecture. An enclosure, having at least one PC card acceptor and at least one smart card acceptor, is created. A suspension mechanism is operably connected to enclosure in a fashion such that suspension mechanism is capable of physically connecting enclosure to a motherboard such that enclosure is suspended above a component of motherboard. The method and system give rise to several advantages. One advantage is that board space is saved in that the enclosure is suspended over existing board components. A second advantage is that the method and system allow original equipment manufactures to make the provision of smart card usage optional, in that smart card usage can be provided by a simple add-on to lower-end systems. A third advantage is the cost savings which comes from having integral PC card-smart card acceptors. A fourth advantage is that the method and system can be adapted to many configurations, such as providing alternate numbers of PC card and smart card acceptors, arranged in many different physical relationships. Those skilled in the art will recognize many other advantages in addition to those listed here.
34 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus, for use with a data processing system having an architecture, which provides for the possibility of smart card use without unduly impacting the data processing system'"'"'s architecture, said apparatus comprising:
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an enclosure having at least one PC card acceptor and at least one smart card acceptor, and having at least an upper and a lower side; and a suspension mechanism, operably connected to said enclosure, said suspension mechanism capable of physically connecting said enclosure to a motherboard such that said enclosure is suspended above a component of said motherboard, said suspension mechanism including at least one pin, joined to said lower side, wherein said pin has a larger circumference proximal to said lower side and a smaller circumference distal from said lower side. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method, for use with a data processing system having an architecture, which provides for the possibility of smart card use without unduly impacting the data processing system'"'"'s architecture, said method comprising the steps of:
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creating an enclosure, having at least one PC card acceptor and at least one smart card acceptor; and operably connecting a suspension mechanism to said enclosure in a fashion such that said suspension mechanism is capable of physically connecting said enclosure to a motherboard such that said enclosure is suspended above a component of said motherboard, said connecting step including the steps of designating an upper and a lower side of said created enclosure, and joining to said lower side at least one pin having a larger circumference proximal to said lower side and a smaller circumference distal from said lower side. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus, for use with a data processing system having an architecture, which provides for the possibility of smart card use without unduly impacting the data processing system'"'"'s architecture, said apparatus comprising:
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an enclosure having at least one PC card acceptor, at least one smart card acceptor, at least one PC card acceptor device and at least one smart card acceptor device, said devices joined together in a space efficient manner and in a side-by-side fashion; and a suspension mechanism, operably connected to said enclosure, said suspension mechanism capable of physically connecting said enclosure to a motherboard such that said enclosure is suspended above a component of said motherboard.
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14. An apparatus, for use with a data processing system having an architecture, which provides for the possibility of smart card use without unduly impacting the data processing system'"'"'s architecture, said apparatus comprising:
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an enclosure having at least one PC card acceptor, at least one smart card acceptor, at least one PC card acceptor device and at least one smart card acceptor device, said devices joined together in a space efficient manner; a suspension mechanism, operably connected to said enclosure, said suspension mechanism capable of physically connecting said enclosure to a motherboard such that said enclosure is suspended above a component of said motherboard; a daughter card having an upper and a lower side; said at least one PC card acceptor device joined to said upper side of said daughter card; and said at least one smart card acceptor device joined to said lower side of said daughter card. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A method, for use with a data processing system having an architecture, which provides for the possibility of smart card use without unduly impacting the data processing system'"'"'s architecture, said method comprising the steps of:
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creating an enclosure, having at least one PC card acceptor, at least one smart card acceptor, including the step of joining together, in a space efficient manner and in a side-by-side fashion, at least one PC card acceptor device and at least one smart card acceptor device; and operably connecting a suspension mechanism to said enclosure in a fashion such that said suspension mechanism is capable of physically connecting said enclosure to a motherboard such that said enclosure is suspended above a component of said motherboard.
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17. A method, for use with a data processing system having an architecture, which provides for the possibility of smart card use without unduly impacting the data processing system'"'"'s architecture, said method comprising the steps of:
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creating an enclosure, having at least one PC card acceptor and at least one smart card acceptor, including the step of joining together, in a space efficient manner, at least one PC card acceptor device and at least one smart card acceptor device; operably connecting a suspension mechanism to said enclosure in a fashion such that said suspension mechanism is capable of physically connecting said enclosure to a motherboard such that said enclosure is suspended above a component of said motherboard; selecting a daughter card having an upper and a lower side; joining said at least one PC card acceptor device to said upper side of said selected daughter card; and joining said at least one smart card acceptor device to said lower side of said selected daughter card. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification