Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Plural-contact coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-20
2003-05-06
Patel, Tulsidas (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Plural-contact coupling part
C439S955000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06558201
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates, in general, to interface adapters for computer peripheral devices, and, more specifically, to an interface adapter that converts the type of data interface utilized by a computer peripheral device to communicate with a computer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Computers utilize computer peripheral devices, such as optical disk drives, magnetic tape drives, and compact disc read only memory (CDROM) drives, for secondary data storage and retrieval, as well as for other myriad uses. In order for computers to utilize such devices, the computer and the associated device must be capable of communicating in some fashion to allow the device to perform the functions requested of it by the computer. This communication is normally embodied in a standardized set of hardware components, signal protocols and software commands, which are collectively termed a “computer peripheral data interface”. The physical portion of the interface typically consists of an multi-conductor cable with connectors on each end, and the appropriate circuitry on the computer and peripheral device to allow electrical signals to be transmitted and received over the cable. Several such data interfaces commonly employed today include, for example, the Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), the AT Attachment (ATA) interface, and the Universal Serial Bus (USB). Even within each type of computer peripheral interface, several different variations of those interfaces can exist, as can be witnessed by the assorted configurations of SCSI available, such as Fast SCSI, Fast Wide SCSI, Ultra SCSI, and the like.
Some computer peripheral devices require the use of one or more interfaces aside from the main data interface. For example, CDROM drives generally employ an audio interface, which often is connected via a cable to a sound card resident in a computer. Additionally, power is usually supplied to the drive by way of yet another cable.
Some differences in data interfaces relate primarily to the mechanical configuration of the connectors and cables involved with the interface. For example, RS-232C-based serial interfaces exist in a multitude of mechanical configurations, and conversion between the various types is normally accomplished by way of a simple adapter, such as a pin-to-socket type converter. Another example of a related type of adapter for peripheral devices may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,936,785 and 5,040,993.
However, with the advent of the various types of computer peripheral data interfaces now available, each with a different hardware signal protocol and software command set, such as those mentioned above, providing more than one interface on a peripheral device has become more problematic due to the substantially different hardware and firmware requirements for each data interface.
The computer peripheral data interface chosen by a user for a particular combination of computer and peripheral device depends on a few important factors. For instance, the physical placement of the device in relation to the computer system is an important consumer consideration. A computer peripheral device that is manufactured specifically to reside within the main computer case is usually termed an “internal” device. Conversely, a device that is designed to reside outside of the computer in a separate housing is known as an “external” device. Generally speaking, an external device will be more expensive than a comparable internal unit, due at least partially to the additional requirement for an external case and power supply. Obviously, an external device may occupy more desk space than a similar internal device, as well. However, in exchange for these disadvantages, an external device allows more portability than a related internal model, as the user would likely need to open the computer case to extract an internal device for use with another computer system.
Once the decision of using an external or internal device has been made, the number of possible computer peripheral data interfaces that may be used is typically narrowed. For example, the ATA interface is used almost exclusively in internal configurations, USB is primarily employed as an external interface, and SCSI, depending on the hardware utilized, can be used in either an internal or external configuration.
The “internal versus external” choice also affects the physical configuration of other interfaces employed by the device. More specifically, the audio connector of a CDROM drive tends to be different for an external drive unit when compared to its internal counterpart. Also, the connection for power delivery from a computer to an internal drive unit is usually quite different from that of a normal external power supply utilized by external, portable devices.
Parameters other than system configuration, such as price and performance, also have an effect on the choice of computer peripheral data interface. As an example, SCSI configurations generally cost more and provide higher performance than ATA systems. Such considerations further influence the data interface choice of most users.
Therefore, with such data interface options available to the consumer, it is often in the best interests of the peripheral device manufacturers to provide as many of the more popular data interfaces for each type of device they sell as is economically feasible. For example, a CDROM drive manufacturer may want to sell both an ATA and a SCSI version of their drive in order to broaden the appeal of their product.
Unfortunately, producing multiple versions of a peripheral device, one for each type of computer peripheral data interface, is usually rather expensive, both for the manufacturer and the consumer. Generally, manufacturers employ either of two methods to address the issue. One method involves making a single version of the drive capable of supporting one standard data interface, and then adding an “interface converter”, consisting of a relatively expensive printed circuit board with a set of connectors that mate with the interface connectors of the device, and another set of connectors for interfaces employed by the computer. The interface converter, which usually resides outside of the chassis of the peripheral device, may be housed in a separate case, or in an expanded case along with the device. The expense of the interface converter is due primarily to the amount of circuitry that would be necessary to translate the signal protocols and software commands of the interface on the computer side of the converter to those associated with the “native,” or preexisting, interface of the device. One interface converter is needed for each type of data interface to be supported other than the native interface.
The second method commonly employed by device manufacturers when providing more than one interface for a particular product is to actually make separate main printed circuit boards for the device, one to provide the hardware and embedded software (or “firmware”) for each interface to be supported. Although this approach eliminates the problem of requiring the user to buy a separate converter, other problems arise, specifically with respect to manufacturing, testing and inventory control. Instead of manufacturing and testing one device, which would require just one manufacturing and testing line, a separate line would be required for each supported interface, just as if the various data interface versions of the drive were each completely separate products. Inventory control also becomes problematic, as the quantity in inventory of the various components of the device that differentiate the multiple data interface versions should, to a certain degree, reflect the number of each type of device to be sold in the future. Such quantities have been difficult historically to predict.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a simple and cost-effective means to connect a computer peripheral device to a computer by way of more than one computer peripheral data interface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a possible embodiment, the invention provides a s
Begley Paul V
Standiford Gregory A
Hewlett -Packard Development Company, L.P.
Le Thanh-Tam
Patel Tulsidas
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