Handheld option pack interface

• US 6,772,249 B1
• Filed: 11/27/2000
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Lada, Henry F., Mann, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): THAI, XUAN MARIAN
• Application Number:
  US09/722,886
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• Field of Search: 710/100, 710/104, 710/305, 710/10, 713/300, 713/1
• US Class Current: 710/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• 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 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer

Abstract

An interface of an option pack configured to be used in conjunction with the main unit of a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). An option pack comprising a connector configured to mate with the main unit of a PDA and provide a plurality of signal paths and a memory storage device such as an EEPROM can be used to store identification and functionally information to be conveyed to the main unit upon insertion of the option pack connector into the main unit. The interface on the option pack provides serial and parallel exchanges between the option pack and main unit and provides safeguards against draining the power on the main unit upon insertion. Further, the interface allows a software application and associated drivers to be downloaded onto the main unit temporarily and removed when a user has no further use for the application or option to save memory space on the main unit.

Claims

1. An option pack interface comprising:

a serial peripheral interface;

a connector configured to transmit and receive a plurality of signals to and from a main unit of a personal digital assistant and further configured to transmit and receive the plurality of signals through the serial peripheral interface; and

a memory device electrically coupled to the connector through the serial peripheral interface and configured to store identification information correlative to an option pack,

wherein the connector is configured in accordance with Table 1 repeated below

2. An option pack interface comprising:

a serial peripheral interface;

a connector configured to transmit and receive a plurality of signals to and from a main unit of a personal digital assistant and further configured to transmit and receive the plurality of signals through the serial peripheral interface; and

a memory device electrically coupled to the connector through the serial peripheral interface and configured to store identification information correlative to an option pack,

wherein the interface is configured to transmit and receive signals corresponding to the identification information, wherein the option pack draws a minimal amount of current from the main unit correlative with the coupling of the main unit and the option pack, the current able to provide identification information to the main unit based on an option pack enable signal.

3. The option pack interface, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the option pack draws a current from the main unit between 5.0 ma and 15.0 ma.

4. A personal digital assistant comprising:

a main unit comprising;

a processor;

a controller operatively coupled to the processor through a first data bus;

a first connector operatively coupled to the controller through a second data bus and configured to receive a second connector on an option pack; and

an option pack comprising;

a Serial Peripheral Interface;

a second connector configured to transmit and receive a plurality of signals to and from the first connector in the main unit and further configured to transmit and receive the plurality of signals through the serial peripheral interface; and

a memory device electrically coupled to the connector through the serial peripheral interface and configured to store identification information corresponding to an option pack,

wherein the connector is configured in accordance with Table 1 repeated below

5. A personal digital assistant comprising:

a main unit comprising;

a processor;

a controller operatively coupled to the processor through a first data bus;

a first connector operatively coupled to the controller through a second data bus and configured to receive a second connector on an option pack; and

an option pack comprising;

a Serial Peripheral Interface;

a second connector configured to transmit and receive a plurality of signals to and from the first connector in the main unit and further configured to transmit and receive the plurality of signals through the serial peripheral interface; and

a memory device electrically coupled to the connector through the serial peripheral interface and configured to store identification information corresponding to an option pack,

wherein the interface is configured to transmit and receive signals corresponding to the identification information, wherein the option pack draws a minimal amount of current from the main unit correlative with the coupling of the main unit and the option pack, the current being no higher than necessary to provide identification information to the main unit based on an option pack enable signal.

6. The personal digital assistant, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the option pack draws a current from the main unit between 5.0 ma and 15.0 ma.

7. An option pack interface comprising a 100-pin connector configured in accordance with Table 1 repeated below