EP0723232A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Controlling method and apparatus for supporting hard disk and/or CD-ROM drives through the PCMCIA interface
Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp
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Filing: 1995-01-23
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2015-01-23
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for controlling to support hard disk and/or CD-ROM drives through the PCMCIA interface of a notebook computer system. The apparatus comprises a PCMCIA controller 40 connected to the ISA bus 80 of said computer system for implementing PCMCIA interface functions, and an ATA controller 50 also connected to the ISA bus 80 for implementing ATA interface functions. The apparatus further comprises a multiplexer circuit 60 connected both to the PCMCIA controller 40 and the ATA controller 50 for the apparatus to perform either the PCMCIA or the ATA interface functions under control of a selection signals 70.
Inventors
- 👤 Chih-Hsien Chen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 07:06
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F15/00; G06F15/16; G06F15/177; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/382; G06F13/385; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401; G06F9/4411
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for controlling one or more hard disk and/or CD-ROM drives through a PCMCIA interface of a computer system comprising the steps of: generating a set of ATA interface electronic signals in a PCMCIA/ATA dual interface of said computer system; and providing a selection signal for said PCMCIA/ATA dual interface, to select either the set of the PCMCIA interface electronic signals or said set of ATA interface electronic signals to connect to a connector of said PCMCIA interface of said computer system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method for controlling one or more hard disk and/or CD-ROM drives through a PCMCIA interface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the PCMCIA interface electronic signals are provided by said PCMCIA interface and said ATA interface electronic signals are multiplexed by a multiplexer means to provide either the PCMCIA or the ATA interface for said computer system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method for controlling one or more hard disk and/or CD-ROM drives through a PCMCIA interface as claimed in claim 2, wherein said provision of the PCMCIA or ATA interface is selected by a software-controller digital buffer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method for controlling one or more hard disk and/or CD-ROM drives through a PCMCIA interface as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said multiplexer means is a bi-directional multiplexer.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
38 words
A method for controlling one or more hard disk and/or CD-ROM drives through a PCMCIA interface as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 4, wherein said provision of the PCMCIA or ATA interface is selected by a jumper.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
92 words
An apparatus for controlling one or more hard disk and/or CD-ROM drives through a PCMCIA interface of a computer system comprising: a PCMCIA controller connected to an ISA bus of said computer system for implementing PCMCIA interface functions; an ATA controller connected to the ISA bus of said computer system for implementing ATA interface functions; and a multiplexer means connected both to said PCMCIA controller and said ATA controlled and to a selection signal, wherein said apparatus performs either the PCMCIA or the ATA interface functions under control of said selection signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus for controlling one or more hard disk and/or CD-ROM drives through a PCMCIA interface as claimed in claim 6, wherein said multiplexer means is a 2-to-1 bi-directional multiplexer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus for controlling one or more hard disk and/or CD-ROM drives through a PCMCIA interface as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein said selection means is an open-short jumper.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus for controlling one or more hard disk and/or CD-ROM drives through a PCMCIA interface as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein said selection means is a software-controlled digital buffer.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
36 words
A method for controlling one or more hard disk and/or CD-ROM drives through a PCMCIA interface as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 4, wherein said selection signal is selected by a jumper.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
EP0456410A2
Cited
WO1994027224A1
Cited
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