System and method for expansion of a computer

Abstract

A system and method for interfacing at least one ISA and/or PCI compliant device with a PCMCIA compliant socket on a host computer is disclosed. The system is particularly useful to allow ISA and/or PCI compliant devices, which could not otherwise be used with a portable computer having a PCMCIA socket, to be used with such computers. The system can provide complete compatibility between a PCMCIA socket and ISA/PCI compliant devices even though such industry standards include contradictory requirements. The system allows a user to easily connect and disconnect numerous ISA and/or PCI compliant devices via a single PCMCIA socket commonly found on portable computers. Preferably included in the system are structures to carry out the functions of: interrupt translation between the PCMCIA port and the ISA devices; direct memory access translation between the PCMCIA port and the ISA devices; translation of a buss address latch enable signal between the PCMCIA port and the ISA devices; translation between a memory read signal and a memory write signal of the PCMCIA port and a system memory read signal and a system memory write signal of the ISA devices; translation between the PCMCIA port and 8 bit ISA devices; DRAM refresh of the ISA devices; providing a clock signal to the ISA devices; supplying power to the ISA devices; and, translation of the timing between the PCMCIA port and the ISA devices.

1. A system for providing translation between a host computer having a first port, the first port compliant with a first standard, the first standard being selected from the group consisting of PCMCIA and Card Bus, and a hardware device which is compliant with a second standard, the second standard being selected from the group consisting of ISA and PCI, the first standard and the second standard being non-compatible with each other, the system comprising:
 means for direct memory access translation between the host computer and the hardware device;  
 means for supplying power to the hardware device; and  
 means for translating the timing between the host computer and the hardware device such that the host computer and the hardware device are interfaced and the function of the hardware device are provided to the host computer.  
 
     
     
       2. A system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the first standard is the PCMCIA standard and wherein the second standard is the ISA standard. 
     
     
       3. A system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the first standard is the PCMCIA standard and wherein the second standard is the PCI standard. 
     
     
       4. A system as defined in  claim 1  further comprising means for interrupt translation between the host computer and the hardware device. 
     
     
       5. A system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the hardware device comprises at least one ISA compliant add-on printed circuit card. 
     
     
       6. A system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the hardware device comprises at least one PCI compliant add-on printed circuit card. 
     
     
       7. A system as defined in  claim 1  wherein means for direct memory access translation comprises:
 a DMA register; and  
 a DMA controller.  
 
     
     
       8. A system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the means for supplying power to the hardware device comprises:
 means for supplying +12 volts;  
 means for supplying −12 volts;  
 means for supplying +5 volts; and  
 means for supplying −5 volts;  
 all at a current required to operate the hardware device.  
 
     
     
       9. A system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the port comprises a PCMCIA socket. 
     
     
       10. A system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the means for translating the timing comprises a read/write timing generator. 
     
     
       11. A system for providing translation between a host computer having a first port, the first port compliant with a first standard, the first standard being selected from the group consisting of PCMCIA and CardBus, and a hardware device which is compliant with a second standard, the second standard being selected from the group consisting of ISA and PCI, the first standard and the second standard being non-compatible with each other and the hardware device requiring support for a plurality of interrupts, the system comprising:
 means for interrupt translation between the host computer and the hardware device and for providing interrupt support for a plurality of interrupt request levels;  
 means for supplying power to the hardware device; and  
 means for translating the timing between the host computer and the hardware device such that the host computer and the hardware device are interfaced and the functions of the hardware device are provided to the host computer.  
 
     
     
       12. A system as defined in  claim 11  wherein the first standard is the PCMCIA standard and wherein the second standard is the ISA standard. 
     
     
       13. A system as defined in  claim 11  wherein the first standard is the PCMCIA standard and wherein the second standard is the PCI standard. 
     
     
       14. A system as defined in  claim 11  wherein the means for interrupt translation comprises means for translating multiple interrupts required by the hardware device to a single interrupt. 
     
     
       15. A system as defined in  claim 14  wherein the multiple interrupts comprises at least five interrupts. 
     
     
       16. A system as defined in  claim 11  wherein the hardware device comprises at least one ISA compliant add-on circuit card. 
     
     
       17. A system as defined in  claim 11  wherein the hardware device comprises at least one PCI compliant add-on circuit card. 
     
     
       18. A system as defined in  claim 11  further comprising means for direct memory access translation. 
     
     
       19. A system as defined in  claim 11  wherein the means for supplying power to the hardware device comprises:
 means for supplying +12 volts;  
 means for supplying −12 volts;  
 means for supplying +5 volts; and  
 means for supplying −5 volts;  
 all at a current required to operate the hardware device.  
 
     
     
       20. A system as defined in  claim 11  wherein the port comprises a PCMCIA socket. 
     
     
       21. A system as defined in  claim 11  wherein the means for translating the timing comprises a read/write timing generator. 
     
     
       22. A system for expanding a host computer having a PCMCIA compliant port and allowing the host computer to interface with at least one ISA compliant device, the system comprising:
 means for making electrical and physical connection to the PCMCIA compliant port;  
 means for making electrical connection to the at least one ISA compliant device;  
 means for interrupt translation between the PCMCIA port and the at least one ISA compliant device;  
 means for direct memory access translation between the PCMCIA port and the at least one ISA compliant device;  
 means for providing a clock signal to the ISA compliant device;  
 means for supplying power to the at least one ISA compliant device; and  
 means for translating the timing between the PCMCIA port and the ISA compliant device such that the host computer can utilize the functions of the at least one ISA compliant device.  
 
     
     
       23. A system as defined in  claim 22  wherein the at least one ISA compliant device comprises an ISA compliant add-on card and wherein the system further comprises a serial port, a parallel port, a key board port, and a mouse port. 
     
     
       24. A system as defined in  claim 22  further comprising means for providing DRAM refresh to the ISA compliant device. 
     
     
       25. A system as defined in  claim 22  wherein the means for supplying power comprises:
 means for supplying +12 volts;  
 means for supplying −12 volts;  
 means for supplying +5 volts; and  
 means for supplying −5 volts;  
 all at a current required to operate the hardware device.  
 
     
     
       26. A system as defined in  claim 22  wherein the means for providing a clock signal comprises means for providing an 8 MHz clock signal and means for providing a 14.318 MHz clock signal. 
     
     
       27. A system as defined in  claim 22  further comprising:
 means for translating a buss address latch enable signal between the PCMCIA port and the at least one ISA compliant device;  
 means for translating between a memory read signal and a memory write signal of the PCMCIA port and a system memory read signal and a system memory write signal for the at least one ISA compliant device; and  
 means for translation between the PCMCIA port and an 8 bit ISA compatible add-on card.  
 
     
     
       28. A method for providing translation between a host computer having a first port, the first port compliant with a first standard, the first standard being selected from the group consisting of PCMCIA and CardBus, and a hardware device which is compliant with a second standard, the second standard being selected from the group consisting of ISA and PCI, the first standard and the second standard being non-compatible with each other and the hardware device requiring support for a plurality of interrupts, the method comprising the steps of:
 direct memory access translation between the host computer and the hardware device;  
 translating between the interrupts of the host computer and the plurality of interrupts of the hardware device;  
 supplying power to the hardware device; and  
 translating the timing between the host computer and the hardware device such that the host computer and the hardware device are interfaced and the functions of the hardware device are provided to the host computer.  
 
     
     
       29. A method for providing translation between a host computer having a first port, the first port compliant with a first standard, the first standard being selected from the group consisting of PCMCIA and CardBus, and a hardware device which is compliant with a second standard, the second standard being selected from the group consisting of ISA and PCI, the first standard and the second standard being non-compatible with each other, the method comprising the steps of:
 direct memory access translation between the host computer and the hardware device;  
 supplying power to the hardware device; and  
 translating the timing between the host computer and the hardware device such that the host computer and the hardware device are interfaced and the function of the hardware device are provided to the host computer.  
 
     
     
       30. A method for expanding a host computer having a PCMCIA compliant port and allowing the host computer to interface with at least one ISA compliant device, the method comprising the steps of:
 making electrical and physical connection to the PCMCIA compliant port;  
 making electrical connection to the at least one ISA compliant device;  
 translation between the PCMCIA port interrupt and the interrupts of the at least one ISA compliant device;  
 direct memory access translation between the PCMCIA port and the at least one ISA compliant device;  
 providing a clock signal to the ISA compliant device;  
 supplying power to the at least one ISA compliant device; and  
 translating the timing between the PCMCIA port and the ISA compliant device such that the host computer can utilize the functions of the at least one ISA compliant device.  
 
     
     
       31. A computer system, comprising:
   a )  a portable computer having a motherboard expansion interface, said portable computer capable of generating output signals for designated peripheral devices;        b )  a physically remote control unit interfacing with said portable computer motherboard expansion interface;        c )  a plurality of peripheral devices coupled to said control unit, with at least one of said peripheral devices being a user input device capable of generating input signals, and        d )  said control unit comprising a circuit;      i )  converting said output signals from said portable computer motherboard expansion interface into a form compatible with said designated peripheral device;        ii )  routing said converted signal to said designated peripheral device;        iii )  converting said input signal from the designated peripheral device into a form compatible with said portable computer motherboard expansion interface; and        iv )  prioritizing access to said motherboard expansion interface by said input signals.       
     
     
       32. The computer system of  claim 31  wherein said motherboard expansion interface comprises a PCMCIA interface. 
     
     
       33. A docking station for interfacing a plurality of peripherals to a physically remote portable computer having a motherboard expansion interface, wherein the remote portable computer generates output signals for designated peripherals, and the peripheral devices generate input signals for the portable computer, the docking station comprising:
   a )  a docking station interface configured to communicate input and output signals with the motherboard expansion interface of the portable computer;        b )  a circuit converting output signals generated by the portable computer motherboard expansion interface into a form compatible with the designated peripherals;        c )  a circuit routing said converted signals to said designated peripherals;        d )  a circuit converting input signals generated by the peripheral devices into a form compatible with the portable computer motherboard expansion interface; and        e )  a circuit prioritizing access by the input signals to said motherboard expansion interface.     
     
     
       34. The docking station of  claim 33  wherein at least one of the peripheral devices is a user input device. 
     
     
       35. The docking station of  claim 33  wherein said motherboard expansion interface comprises a PCMCIA interface. 
     
     
       36. A docking station having a controller adapted to an interface a plurality of physically remote peripheral devices with a portable computer motherboard expansion interface, said controller converting output signals from the portable computer motherboard expansion interface into a form compatible with the remote peripheral devices, and converting input signals from the remote peripheral devices into a form compatible with the portable computer motherboard expansion interface, wherein the controller further prioritizes access of the peripheral devices to said motherboard expansion interface. 
     
     
       37. The docking station of  claim 36  wherein said motherboard expansion interface comprises a PCMCIA interface. 
     
     
       38. A method for interfacing a remote peripheral device generating an input signal to a portable computer generating output signals via a motherboard expansion interface, the method comprising the steps of:
   a )  driving data to be written to the peripheral device on the motherboard expansion interface;        b )  converting said output signals from said portable computer motherboard expansion interface into a form compatible with said designated peripheral device;        c )  routing said converted signal to said designated peripheral device; and        d )  converting said input signal from the designated peripheral device into a form compatible with said portable computer motherboard expansion interface, further comprising the step of prioritizing access to said portable computer motherboard expansion interface by said input signals.     
     
     
       39. The method as specified in  claim 38  wherein said motherboard expansion interface comprises a PCMCIA interface. 
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 38  wherein the interfacing is accomplished by activating a write signal a period before a standard write signal. 
     
     
       41. A computer system, comprising:
   a )  a portable computer having a motherboard and a motherboard expansion interface, the portable computer motherboard capable of generating output signals;        b )  a control unit receiving the motherboard output signals;        c )  at least one peripheral device coupled to the portable computer motherboard via the motherboard expansion interface and the control unit; and        d )  the control unit comprising a circuit;      i )  converting the output signals from the portable computer motherboard into a form compatible with the peripheral device;        ii )  routing the converted signals to the peripheral device;        iii )  converting the input signal from the peripheral device into a form compatible with the portable computer motherboard; and        iv )  prioritizing access to the motherboard by the input signals.