Integrated circuit interface between a personal computer and an external device

• US 6,286,073 B1
• Filed: 12/01/1998
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Vegter, Kornelis Hendrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoleil, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, RAYMOND NGAN
• Application Number:
  US09/203,096
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 710/36, 710/37, 710/62, 710/63, 710/64, 710/65, 710/72, 710/73, 710/126, 710/127, 710/129
• US Class Current: 710/313
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices

Abstract

An interface for communicating data to an integrated circuit interface on an external device. A connector comprises a connector block having a plurality of innerconnections therein, and a plurality of individual connectors. A first cable for electrical communication to at least one of the connectors in the connector block is adapted to transfer data from a personal computer to the integrated circuit interface. A second cable is also provided in electrical communication with the connector block, and is adapted to transfer integrated circuit commands through the connector block.

Claims

1. An interface for communicating data between a personal computer and an external device, comprising:

a first device for transferring data between the personal computer and the external device, said first device being adapted to communicate with an integrated circuit interface on the external device;

a first transmission device comprising a three wire cable, said first transmission device being connected to said first device and to the integrated circuit interface in the external device for transmitting the data between the personal computer and the external device;

a second device in communication with said first device; and

a second transmission device connected to said first device for transporting the data from the personal computer to said first device, said second transmission device being configured for connection to a parallel port on the personal computer.

2. The interface recited in claim 1, wherein said second device generates integrated circuit commands for input to the integrated circuit interface on the external device.

3. The interface recited in claim 2, wherein said second device comprises a computer program.

4. The interface recited in claim 2, wherein said second device comprises an integrated circuit chip.

5. The interface recited in claim 1, wherein said first device comprises a connector block.

6. The interface recited in claim 5, wherein said connector block comprises a twenty-five pin male connector.

7. A connector for communicating data to an integrated circuit interface on an external device, comprising:

a connector block having a plurality of interconnections therein, and a plurality of individual connectors;

a first cable in electrical communication with at least one of the interconnections in the connector block and for selective communication with the integrated circuit interface on the external device, and that is adapted to transfer data from a personal computer to the integrated circuit interface, said first cable comprising a three-wire cable for connecting to three individual connectors in the connector block; and

a second cable in electrical communication with the connector block and adapted to transfer integrated circuit commands through the connector block to the first cable for receipt by the integrated interface on the external device.

8. The connector recited in claim 7, wherein said connector block comprises twenty-five individual connectors.

9. The connector recited in claim 8, wherein said first cable is further adapted for connection to a parallel port on the personal computer.

10. The connector recited in claim 9, further comprising a control block in electrical communication with the second cable for generating integrated circuit commands for transfer to the integrated circuit interface on the external device through said first cable.

11. The connector recited in claim 10, wherein said control block comprises a software program.

12. The connector recited in 10, wherein said control block comprises an integrated circuit chip.

13. A method of transferring integrated circuit commands between an external device having an integrated circuit interface thereon, comprising the steps of:

reading an address byte from the integrated circuit interface on the external device;

determining whether the address byte is recognized by the personal computer and incrementing to the next address byte if the personal computer does not recognize the address byte;

writing a recognized address byte to an address buffer on the personal computer;

transferring data from the personal computer to the external device through a connector that is connected to the integrated circuit interface on the internal device; and

determining whether a next address should be read through the interface on the external device.

14. The method recited in claim 13, further comprising the step of determining whether an address error has occurred if the personal computer does not recognize the address byte.

15. The method recited in claim 14, further comprising the step of printing an error message if an error has occurred.

16. The method recited in claim 15, further comprising the step of writing the next address to the address buffer.