Electrical transmission or interconnection systems – Plural supply circuits or sources
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-25
2001-02-06
Ballato, Josie (Department: 2836)
Electrical transmission or interconnection systems
Plural supply circuits or sources
C323S908000, C307S041000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06184592
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for the arrangement of power supply with an expansion card as set forth in the appended claim
1
, an expansion card as set forth in the appended claim
6
, and a mobile station as set forth in the appended claim
10
.
2. Prior Art
The PCMCIA connection (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) is a known connection used with electronic devices for connecting expansion cards, such as memory cards (e.g. FLASH memory cards), modems and various input/output (I/O) cards with the electronic device. Thus, the electronic device and the PCMCIA card are provided with connectors complying with the PCMCIA standard so that the connector of the electronic device is a so-called male connector, i.e. it has connector pins, and the card connector is a so-called female connector, i.e. it has conductor sockets, wherein when the PCMCIA card is connected with the PCMCIA connection of the electronic device, an electric coupling is formed between each connector pin and the corresponding conductor socket. The PCMCIA standard defines the usual functions for each connector pin and corresponding conductor socket. Consequently, for example in an application where the PCMCIA connection is implemented in a computer, each data line in the data bus of the computer is connected to one connector pin in the PCMCIA connection. Further, at least some of the address and control lines are connected to the connector.
PCMCIA cards have the size of a credit card (85.6 mm×54 mm), but the thickness of the cards may be 3.3 mm (type I), 5.0 mm (type II) or 10.5 mm (type III). Electrically, the PCMCIA cards are connected with an electronic device as an 8/16 bit I/O connection or memory. The card complying with the PCMCIA standard has a memory area which is readable to the electronic device and contains information for identifying the card, i.e. an information structure data file (card information structure, CIS) which is also called a configuration means.
Particularly in connection with portable computers (Laptop PC), mobile station applications have been developed in which at least the transmitter/receiver unit of the mobile station Is arranged in the PCMCIA standard card form. The unit used for controlling the operation of the card is advantageously a microcontroller (MCU) comprising e.g. a processor, a memory (RAM, ROM), and I/O lines for connecting the microcontroller with the other electronics of the card. Further, an external memory can be connected to the microcontroller.
The transmitter comprises e.g. a modulator for modulating the signal to be transmitted, filters particularly for attenuating spurious emissions, a mixer where the modulated signal is mixed with the local oscillator frequency for generating a radio-frequency signal, and a power amplifier for amplifying the signal to be transmitted. The amplified signal is transmitted to an antenna which is coupled to the card e.g. via a cable. The receiver comprises e.g. filters for filtering received signals: a mixer for converting the received radio-frequency signal to an intermediate frequency or, in a direct conversion type receiver, to the baseband frequency: and a detector for demodulating the received signal.
When an expansion card according to e.g. the PCMCIA standard is connected to the PCMCIA expansion card connection of a computer, the operating voltages of the expansion card are switched on at the same time when the expansion card is inserted in its place.
Another known solution for the arrangement of the power supply to the expansion card is that the expansion card is provided with a switch whereby the power supply can be turned on and off when necessary. This solution requires that a switch is arranged in the expansion card, which increases the manufacturing costs of the expansion card, and further, the switch requires space on the expansion card. Another disadvantage in such an arrangement is that the power required by the expansion card upon turning on may rise to a great level. This will result in a momentary peak in the current intensity, which may induce current peaks in the power supply circuits of the computer, and the current intensity may momentarily exceed the maximum value allowed for the voltage supply pins of the connector.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an aim of the present invention to achieve a novel arrangement for supplying power to the expansion card. The invention is based on the idea that the power supply to the expansion card is controlled by the data processor so that the operating voltages are switched on at two or more stages to the expansion card. Further, the switching of the operating voltages can be automated, wherein after inserting the expansion card, the data processor will control the turning on of the operating voltages to the expansion card automatically. The method of the present invention is characterised in what will be presented in the characterising part of the appended claim
1
. The expansion card of the invention is characterised in what will be presented in the charactersing part of the appended claim
6
. Further, the mobile station of the invention is characterised in what will be presented in the characterising part of the appended claim
10
.
The present invention presents significant advantages to the methods and expansion cards of prior art. When the operating voltages are connected to the expansion card by the method according to the invention, high current strengths are avoided during the turning on, whereby it is possible to avoid the occurrence of voltage and current peaks in the power supply connections of the data processor and to prevent exceeding of the maximum current strength allowed in the connector. Moreover, the expansion card of the invention can be controlled by the data processor so that the user can, if desired, switch on the operating voltages to the expansion card e.g. when setting up a voice connection or a data transmission connection via a mobile communication network, and after disconnecting, the user can control the switching off of the voltages. Further, a separate operating voltage switch will not be required in the expansion card according to the invention.
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Finnish Official Action and English translation thereof. (No Date).
Aho Ari
Inkinen Sami
Koppa Vesa
Kuusinen Janne
Lunden Olli-Pekka
Ballato Josie
Nokia Mobile Phones Limited
Perman & Green LLP
Rios Roberto
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