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`USUUGUUQI 51 A
`
`United States Patent
`
`[.9]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`6,009,151
`
`Sta plcs
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`Dec. 28, 1999
`
`[54]
`
`PC CARI) MODEM WITH MICROPHONE
`AND SPEAKER CONNI‘ZC'I‘IVITY
`
`[T5]
`
`lnventor:
`
`[raven E. Staples. Granbury. 'lex.
`
`[T3] Assignee: Data Race, km. San Antonio, Tex.
`
`[2|] App]. No: 031703.444
`
`[22]
`
`Filed:
`
`Aug. 27, 1996
`
`Int. Cl." .................................................... HMM won
`[51]
`[52] us. ct. ..................................... 379913.01; memos;
`370:1 10.01
`Field of Search ................................ 3?9!90.1, 93.135,
`3'?9.t'93.(1?. 93.14, 93.15, 93.23, 93.37", 110.01:
`3Tt’l,.-'58. 1; 3651164; 39511982, 884
`
`[58]
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`us. PA'I‘EN'I‘ DOCUML-‘N'l‘s
`
`.
`.
`.
`.
`
`3.:‘1986 Faggin e1 al.
`4578,53?
`13.11986 Nelson et al.
`4.5011???
`0.11986 Sagara el al.
`4.614.144
`11198? Nelson Cl
`:11.
`4,6?9, 191
`.
`tirl‘l88 Kedar ct a1.
`4,751], 171
`41’19911
`'l‘eraiehi cl a1.
`Jefliofit]?
`IIII‘JUU O'Sullivan .
`4,912,457
`12119911 Mimta .
`4,979,144
`3.31902 Einhom el nl. .
`5,130,631
`31'I993 (irawyk el al.
`5,192,999
`5.231433% 12.31903 Dal}r ct a1.
`.
`5.297231
`3.11004 Miller .
`5.311030
`531994 l"einberg et al.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`{List continued on next page.)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Anderson, 0., PCMCIA System Architecture. Mindsharc,
`lne.. 1994. pp.
`[—51].
`Bryan, John, "PCMClA: Past, Present and Promise," Byte,
`pp. 65—?2. Nov. 1994.
`
`Rigncy. Steve, "Socket to Us: PCM CIA Connectivity," PC
`Magazine, pp. KIT—212, Jan. 24, 1995.
`Nass, Richard, ("ans I"). "PL‘MClAFax—Modem and LAN
`[{un Simultaneously,“ biometric Design, pp. 131—132. Oct.
`3, 1994.
`I"). "Multifunction (Tards Pose
`(“Nass
`Nass, Richard,
`Design Challenges." Electronic Design, pp. 51—53. Oct. 3,
`1994.
`
`Primary Examiner—Curtis A. Kunlz
`Assistant Examiner—Melur Ramakrishnaiah
`Atromev. Agem. or I’irttt_{‘onley, Rose 8: '1‘ayon: Robert C.
`Kowert; Jeli‘rey (‘. Hood
`151’]
`ABS'I'RAC'I‘
`
`invention comprises a PC Card adapted for
`The present
`insertion in a PC Card slot in a computer system.'[11e PC
`Card includes a housing having a PC Card adapter having a
`plurality of input and output pins for coupling the housing to
`the PC Card slot and receiving and transmitting signals in
`said computer system. A microphone is disposed within said
`housing. as is audio interface logic coupled to the micro—
`phone. The audio ioleri‘ace logic is configured to process
`audio signals from the microphone across said PC Card
`adapter. The PC card further includes a modem coupled to
`a connector defining an external communication path and
`configured to receive telephony signals, and telephone
`answering logic operahly coupled to the modem and audio
`interface logic and configured to receive telephony signals
`from the modem and to store data corresponding to the
`telephony signals. The PC Card. further includes speaker—
`phone logic configured to provide speakerphone Function—
`ality to the PC Card. In one embodiment. the PC Card also
`includes a speaker configured to provide an audio output.
`The audio interface logic interfaces the microphone andt'or
`speaker to the PC Card and the telephone answering and
`speakerphone logic. [n alternate embodiments, the PC Card
`provides for external microphone and-“or speaker connec1iv-
`ity.
`
`30 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`/-I£l
`
`Telephone Answering
`Logic
`
`
`
`52
`
`Audio Interlaoe
`Logic
`ii
`
`Speaker Phone
`Logic
`E
`
`
`
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`6,009,151
`
`Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5363.742 [@1995 Kobayashi .
`
`.
`
`I
`l
`“1994 B
`5 ‘33 266
`. “a: '3 3..
`.r-
`_’
`3,3332% 8,?1994
`I'hurnpaaun ct al.
`5,349,540
`921994 Dunn et al. .
`5,353,334 "“994 O'Sullivan.
`5,361,061
`IUI‘J94 Mays ct al..
`5,392,223
`221995 Caci.
`5,408,614
`4:1995 'I'hnrnlon cl al..
`5,411',4us
`5:199?) McDaniels el al..
`5.420352
`5.31995 Anderson cl al.
`5,423,697
`63'1995 MacGregor '
`5,426,564
`631905 1151;
`.
`5,428,663
`63'1995 Grimes el al. .
`5,4310”
`73'1905 Brockmann .
`5,440,585
`BMW-)5
`l’alridgc, HI .
`5,444,?68
`8!]995 [.cmairc ct a}.
`5,444,869
`SINGS Slricklin cl al. .
`5,445,525
`83'1995 Broadhcnl at :11.
`5,45?,?82
`llHl'JQfi Dal},r el al. .
`
`.
`
`.
`[1.51995 Shanna cl 3|.
`5,471.4?(1
`1231995 Chapman el al..
`5,475,591
`.
`$332 $3323
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`3199? O'Mahoncy cl 3]. .
`5,606,599
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`$301,515 12.![997 (iiadelcr ,
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`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 28, 1999
`
`Sheet 1 0f 9
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`6,009,151
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`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 28, 1999
`
`Sheet 2 ol' 9
`
`6,009,151
`
`51
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`
`Audio Interface
`
`Logic
`§§
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`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 28, 1999
`
`Sheet 3 of 9
`
`6,009,151
`
`FIG.2a
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`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 28, 1999
`
`Sheet 4 of 9
`
`6,009,151
`
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`US. Patent
`
`l)cc.28, 1999
`
`Sheet 5 of 9
`
`6,009,151
`
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`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 28, 1999
`
`Sheet 6 of 9
`
`6,009,151
`
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`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 28, 1999
`
`Sheet 7' of 9
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`6,009,151
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`US. Patent
`
`l)cc.28, 1999
`
`Sheet 8 of 9
`
`6,009,151
`
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`US. Patent
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`

`6,009,151
`
`1
`PC CARD MODEM WITH MICROPHONE
`AND SPEAKER CONNECTIVITY
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO REIATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`"Ibis is a continuation-in-part of US. patent application
`Ser. No.
`[t8l496,537 entitled "Computer System Which
`Provides Analog Audio Communication Between a PC Card
`and the Computer’s Sound System," tiled on Jun. 39, 1995,
`whose inventor is Leven IL. Staples, and US. patent appli-
`cation Ser. No. 08544354, entitled "Computer System
`Which Provides Digital Audio Communication Between a
`PC Card and the Computer’s Sound System," tiled Oct. 1?.
`1995, whose inventor is Leven Ii. Staples, both of which are
`assigned to Data Race Corporation.
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`invention relates to a computer system
`The present
`including digital audio communication hetwuen a sound
`system and a PC Card slot, wherein the computer system is
`adapted to receive a PC Card adapted for insertion into the
`PC Card slot which interfaces to the computer’s sound
`system, and wherein the PC Card communicates digital or
`analog audio data with a codec or sound system inside the
`computer system. More particularly, the present invention
`relates to a PC Card device having a microphone andt'or
`speaker connections for providing audio inpull’output capa-
`bilily.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF TIIE RELATED ART
`PC Cards were introduced in 1989 under
`the name
`"PCMCIA cards“ according to a standard developed by the
`Personal Computer Memory Card International Association
`(PCMCIA). In 1995 the PCMCIA committee renamed the
`cards to "PC Cards." The principal benefit of the PC Card
`standard has generally been portability. The PCMCIA
`(Personal Computer Memory Card International
`Association) standard was originally developed for plug—in
`memory cards for portable and laptop computer systems.
`However, the PCMCIA standard has grown to encompass a
`broad array of peripheral devices,
`including network
`adapters, modems, flash memory cards, sound cards, global
`positioning system devices, and others.
`The PCMCIA standard is not sanctioned by an official
`standard's body such as the Ililili {Institute ofEIeclrical and
`Electronics Engineers) or ANSI (American National Stan-
`dards Institute), but rather the PCMCIA specification is
`promulgated by the PCMCIA committee, which provides a
`series of recommended guidelines for the physical specifi-
`cation of cards, the physical and electrical specification of
`sockets and the interaction among system software and
`cards.
`
`The PCMCIA standard requires that all PC Cards have the
`same length and width, this being 85.6 mm by 54 mm. The
`PCMCIA standard currently defines three types of PC Cards.
`Type I cards are limited to a thickness of 3.3 mm and are
`used principally as memory cards, including RAM cards,
`RUM cards and DRAM cards. Type II PC Cards can be up
`to 5.5 mm thick and are large enough to include HO port
`connections, and thus most LAN {local area network) adapt—
`ers and modems are type II PC Cards. Type III cards can be
`up to 10.5 mm thick and are typically used for products that
`require moving parts such as hard disks. PCMCIA PC Card
`slots are backwards compatible with regard to size, i.e., a
`type III slot also accepts type I and type 11 cards, but a type
`I slot will only receive type I cards.
`
`It)
`
`15
`
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`
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`
`35
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`2
`The physical and electrical standards for PC Cards have
`evolved over time. The original PCMCIA 1.0 standard
`defined only type I Cards and did not define an IIO feature
`or software drivers. The I’CMCIA 2.0 standard introduced
`[JO—specific cards, but did not define software driver speci—
`fications. Rather, software driver specifications were left to
`card manufacturers. The PCMCEA 2.1 standard introduced
`the use of software drivers called Card Services and Socket
`Services. These software driver standards helped solve
`many compatibility problems users experienced between
`different cards and slots. The PCMCIA 2.1 standard aLso
`introduced plug-and-play features such as the ability to hot
`swap cards without rebooting the PC.
`The most recent PCMCIA PC Card standard is referred to
`by the PCMCIA Committee simply as the "PC Card stan—
`dard" and does not include a version number. This standard
`includes new specifications for 32 bit bus mastering
`adapters, on board direct memory access (DMA), multi-
`function adapters, and reduced power requirements of 3.3
`volts.
`
`The PCMCIA specification also governs the driver soft—
`ware specification referred to as card and socket services,
`which determine how the cards operate. The socket services
`are a set of BIOS—level driVers that control the physical
`operation of PCMCIA sockets. Card services also coordinate
`the system interrupts and memory activities and handle
`power management tasks.
`The PCMCIA standard also requires that each card con—
`nect
`in a PC Card adapter slot using a standard 68 pin
`connector. For PC Card memory devices, the pins are used
`primarily for address and data lines, as well as a few control
`lines. PC Cards configured as inputloutput (ltO) devices,
`such as a modern, network adapter, or sound card, define
`additional signals, including a digital speaker signal referred
`to as SPKR (pin 62). which provides digital audio signals to
`the computer system.
`Computer systems are curTenlIy evolving into multimedia
`systems which have advanced graphics and sound capabili—
`ties. Another trend in the computer industry is the marriage
`of computers with telephones to create computer telephony
`applications. Thus a computer system may include a tele-
`phone which interfaces to a telephone line, or the computer
`system may implement a virtual telephone on the display
`screen using the computer‘s microphone for audio input and
`the computer‘s speaker for audio output.
`One problem with the PCMCIA specification is that the
`specification does not allow a PCMCIA PC Card, such as a
`PC Card modem, to elfectively contmunicate digital audio
`information directly with a computer‘s sound system. As
`noted above, the PCMCIA specification includes a digital
`speaker signal referred to as SPKR which provides a digital
`audio signal to the computer system. However, this digital
`speaker signal is insullicienl for modern digital audio com—
`munication applications. Thus, the current PCMCIA speci-
`fication does not allow for PCMCIA standard cards which
`support advanced digital voice or telephony applications.
`US. patent application Ser. No. OBI-196,537, titled "Cont-
`puter System Which Provides Analog Audio Communica-
`tion between a PC Card and the Computer’s Sound System ”
`and US. patent application Ser. No. 03i544,054,
`titled
`"Computer System Which Provides Digital Audio Commu-
`nication Between a PC Card and the Computer’s Sound
`System," disclose a system and method for providing analog
`or digital audio communication between a PC Card and the
`computer’s sound system. This enables a PC Card to directly
`support various audio functions.
`
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`6,009,151
`
`3
`Therefore, a new PCMCIA PC Card is desired which
`adheres to the existing PCMCIA standard and is thus back-
`wards compatible with existing devices, and which also
`provides audio communication between the computer's
`sound system and the PC. Card. This would allow a PC Card
`modem or terminal adapter to include or perform advanced
`digital audio and telephony capabilities.
`In addition, due to sine constraints, and the above men-
`tioned computer system audio limitations, PC Card tele-
`phony devices do not
`include audio connectivity options.
`such as speakers or microphones. Thus, certain of the
`flexibility and advantages of the PC. Card are lost, since
`separate speaker and microphone units andror connectivity
`to the computer's audio system must be provided. There
`exists a further need to provide a PC card device with audio
`inputi’output capabilities.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`ID
`
`15
`
`4
`preferred embodiment is considered in conjunction with the
`following drawings, in which:
`FIG. 1 illustrates a portable computer system including a
`PC Card Socket for receiving a PC Card according to the
`present invention;
`FIG. 2 illustrates a PC Card which is adapted to be
`inserted into the PC Card socket of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 20 illustrates a PC Card according to one embodi-
`ment of the present invention;
`FIG. 2!)
`illustrates a PC Card according to another
`embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 2:; is a block diagram illustrating a PC. Card provid—
`ing audio connectivity according to another embodiment of
`the present invention;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the host CPU and
`PCMCIA host bus adapter architecture of the computer
`system of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 4 illustrates hardware and software components in
`the contputersystem of FIG. I which interface to a PC Card;
`and
`
`FIG. 5 illustrates pin definitions of the PC Card socket or
`PCMCIA HO socket;
`FIG. 6 is a more detailed block diagram of the computer
`system of FIG. 1 illustrating an embodiment which provides
`digital audio signal communication between the PC Card
`socket and the computer‘s sound system.
`DE’IAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE.
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`Incorporation by Reference
`.Sivsrcrrr Architecture by Don Anderson and
`PCMCL‘I
`available from Mindsharc Press, 2202 Buttercup Dr.,
`Richardson, 'I'cx. 75082 {2 [4) 231-2216, is hereby incorpo-
`rated by reference in its entirety.
`The PCMCIA specification. including version 2.1 as well
`as other versions, is hereby incorporated by reference in its
`entirety.
`U.S. patent application Ser. No. ($496,531 titled "Com-
`puter System Which Provides Analog Audio Communica-
`tion between a PC Card and the Computer‘s Sound System.“
`U.S. patent application Ser. No. 081644.054, titled "Com-
`puter System Which Provides Digital Audio Communica-
`tion Between a PC Card and the Computer's Sound Sys-
`tern."
`Computer System
`Referring now to FIG. I, a portable computer system 2|]
`is shown which includes a PC Card socket 30, aLso referred
`to as a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card Inter—
`national Association) socket. The computer system 20 also
`includes a sound system (FIG. 6), which can include an
`audio digital coderfidecoder {oodec}. The computer system
`20 of FIG. 1 includes analog andr'or digital audio commu-
`nication between the PC Card socket 30 and the sound
`system according to the present invention. Thus, the com-
`puter system is adapted for receiving a PCMCIA PC Card
`modem or ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network}
`terminal adapter having analog andr‘or digital audio capa—
`bilities according to the present invention. The system and
`method of the present invention can be incorporated into
`various types of computer systems which include PC Card
`slots, including the portable system 20 shown in FIG. 1, desk
`top units, and mini-tower units, as well as others.
`As shown, the computer system 20 preferably includes a
`display screen 22, keyboard 24. mouse 26, and floppy drive
`
`Toshiba_Apricorn 1011-0013
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`IPR2018-01067
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`The present invention comprises a PC Card adapted for
`insertion in a PC Card slot in a computer system. The PC
`Card includes a housing having a PC Card adapter. The PC
`Card adapter includes a plurality of input and output pins for
`coupling to the PC Card slot and receiving and transmitting
`signals in said computer system. In a first embodiment. a
`microphone is disposed within said housing and audio '
`interface logic is coupled to the microphone. The audio
`interface logic is configured to process audio signals from
`the microphone. In this embodiment. the PC card further
`includes a modem coupled to a connector defining an
`external communication path and configured to receive
`telephony signals, and telephone answering logic operably
`coupled to the modern and audio interface logic and con-
`tigured to receive telephony signals from the modem and to
`store data corresponding to the telephony signals. In one
`embodiment,
`the PC Card further includes speakerphone
`logic configured to provide speakerphone functionality to
`the PC Card. In one embodiment. the PC Card also includes
`a speaker. "the audio interface logic interfaces the micro-
`phone andror speaker to the PC Card and the telephone
`answering and speakerphone logic.
`In another embodiment, the present invention comprises
`a PC Card having a modern, telephone answering logic, and
`optionaliy speakerphone logic, and configured to receiVe
`telephony signals on a first connector. In addition, a second
`connector is attached whereby, in order to avoid the space
`constraints ol‘ the PC Card, an external microphone may be
`connected. In addition, an external speaker may be provided
`which may also be connected to the second external oon-
`nector. Again, the audio interface logic interfaces the micro-
`phone andtor speaker to the telephone answering and speak-
`erphone logic.
`[[1 still another embodiment, the present invention com-
`prises a PC Card having a modem,
`telephone answering
`logic, and speakerphone logic, and configured to receive
`telephony signals on a standard telephony connector. The
`standard telephony connector is adapted to receive a stan-
`dard telephone cable. Also provided on the cable is a
`connector for receiving an external microphone. Addition-
`ally or alternatively, a connector may be provided which
`may receive an external speaker. Audio interface logic
`interfaces the microphone andfor speaker to the telephone
`answering and speakerphone logic.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION 013 THE DRAWINGS
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`50
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`fit]
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`as
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`A better understanding of the present invention can be
`obtained when the following detailed description of the
`
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`6,009,151
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`5
`28. The computer system 20 includes componean generally
`found in all computer systems,
`including a CPU, system
`memory, one or more buses, and various peripheral control-
`ters and devices. The computer system 20 includes a sound
`system including a codec (not shown).
`In the present
`disclosure,
`the term sound system includes logic which
`transmits, processes, andtor stores audio signals, including
`one or more of sound logic, codecs, and other audio signal
`processing logic.
`The computer system 20 also includes a PCMCIA host
`bus adapter (FIG. 2) and corresponding one or more PC
`Card sockets or slots 30 for receiving one or more removable
`PC. Cards 40 as shown. According to the present invention,
`one or more of the PC. Card sockets 30 and the sound system
`are connected to allow analog andr‘or digital audio
`communication1 i.e., the transfer of analog or digital audio
`data, between the sound system and the PC Card socket 30.
`in the present disclosure, digital audio data preferably refers
`to a digitally coded representation of analog signals.
`However,
`the present
`invention allows various types of
`audio signal communication between the sound system and
`the PC Card socket 30.
`[n the preferred embodiment the PC Card socket 3!] is
`preferably compatible with the PCMCIA (Personal Com-
`puter Memory Card International Assemiation) electrical
`specification, and includes additional signal definitions
`which allow digital audio communication between the com—
`puter’s sound system and the PC Card 40. The pin delinition
`of the PC Card socket is shown in FIG. 5. Thus the computer
`system allows operation of a PC Card modem or terminal
`adapter with telephone answering device (TAD) and full
`duplex speakerphone (FDSP) capabilities.
`The PC. Card 40 preferably comprises an analog modem
`or tSDN terminal adapter having telephone answering
`device andr‘or full duplex speakerphone capabilities accord-
`ing to the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention. As
`shown, the PC Card 40 is adapted for insertion into the PC
`Card socket or PCMCIA socket 30 in the computer system
`20. The PC Card 40 is inserted into the PC Card slot 31] and
`can communicate digital or analog audio signals with the
`computer’s sound system. This enables the PC Card 40 to
`use the computer‘s sound system. Thus the PC Card 40 can
`provide telephone answering device (DAD) and full duplex
`speakerphone (liDSP) capabilities by using the computer’s
`sound system. The PC Card 40 can also use the computer’s
`sound system to perform digital simultaneous voice and data
`(DSVD) communications. The PC Card 40 may comprise
`other functionality which performs digital andtor analog
`audio communication with the computer system 20. As
`discussed further below,
`the PC Card 40 includes novel
`audio connectivity options, such as microphone andi‘or
`speaker connections, or an embedded microphone andt’or
`speaker.
`PC Card Block Diagram—FIG. 2
`Referring now to FIG. 2, the PC Card 40 of one embodi-
`ment is shown. 'the PC Card 40 preferably includes tele-
`phone answering device andt‘or speakerphone capabilities.
`As shown,
`the PC Card terminal adapter 40 includes a
`housing 59 having either a modem or an tSDN terminal
`adapter disposed therein. In the present disclosure, the term
`"modem" is intended to refer generally to a communication
`device. including an analog modern and an ISDN terminal
`adapter, among others. in the preferred embodiment, the PC
`Card 49 includes modem 56 which includes a connector or
`connectors 57 attached to housing 59 that preferably inter-
`faces to a communication path or paths. In one embodiment.
`connector or connectors 57 include a standard phone jack of
`the RJ series and mntigured to receive and transmit tele-
`phony signals.
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`PC Card 40 preferably further includes microphone and;r
`or speaker connectivity according to the present invention.
`As shown, PC Card 40 includes audio interface logic 55 to
`provide an interface for the microphone input and speaker
`output. Audio interface logic 55 may include, for example,
`an audio digital coden’decoder (codec) to provide DEA or
`ND conversion capabilities. As shown in the embodiment
`of FIG. 2a. audio interface logic 55 includes or is coupled to
`an integrated speaker 500 antli‘or a microphone 502. More
`particularly, PC Card 48 includes an integrated speaker
`andfor microphone (FIG. 2a). Altemately, PC Card 40
`includes a socket or sockets disposed on housing 59 allow-
`ing for
`the connection of external microphone andt‘or
`speaker (FIG. 25). Finally, PC Card 40 may provide speaker
`andt’or microphone connectivity via an adapter coupled to a
`telephone or terminal adapter interface module 412 (FIG.
`2c). The PC Card modern 4|? also includes telephone answer—
`ing logic 52 which performs telephone answering device
`functions and speakerphone logic 54 which preferably per-
`forms fulI-duplex speakerphone functions. The PC Card 40
`also includes card information structure memory which
`contains configuration options for the PC Card. The CIS
`memory 58 preferably contains information about the type,
`size. speed, and other information regarding the PC Card 4|}.
`The PC. Card 4|] includes an adapter 51 which is adapted
`for mating with the PC Card socket 30. The adapter 51
`includes a plurality of connectors which male with corre-
`sponding ones of the plurality of pins comprised in the PC
`Card socket. In the preferred embodiment the PC Card 40 is
`preferably compatible with the PCMCIA (Personal Cont-
`puter Memory Card International Association) electrical
`specification, and includes additional signal definitions
`which allow the PC Card 40 to perform digital audio
`communication With the computer system 2ft. This enables
`the PC Card 40 to operate with telephone answering device
`(TAD) and full duplex speakerphone (FDSP) capabilities.
`The PC Card 40 is also mechanically compatible with the
`PCMCIA specification. In alternate embodiments, the PC
`Card is electrically andt‘or mechanically compatible with
`J EDEC (Joint Electronic Device Engineering Council) stan—
`dards andt’or JEIDA (Japanese Electronics Industry Devel-
`opment Association) standards, among others.
`When the PC Card 40 receives a telephone call Via the
`modem or terminal adapter 56,
`the telephone answering
`logic 52 receives the analog or digital voice signals and
`either stores the voice data within memory within the PC
`Card 40, or the PC Card 40 provides digital (or analog) audio
`output signals to the computer system. as discuswd further
`below. The voice signals may also be provided by the PC
`Card 40 to an internal or external speaker to the be heard by
`the user. Also, when a user desires to listen to one or more
`telephone messages. if the telephone answering logic 52
`stores the voice data in a memory within the PC. Card 40. the
`telephone answering logic 52 provides the digital audio
`output signals corresponding to the recorded voice message
`for audio presentation. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2a.
`the audio output signal is preferably provided to the audio
`interface logic 55 and then to integrated speaker 500. In the
`embodiment of FIG. 2b, the audio output signal is preferably
`provided to the audio interface logic 55 and then to the
`external Speaker. Alternately, the signal may he provided to
`a speaker of the computer speaker on the computer system
`itself. Of course, the output signal could also be provided to
`the PC Card 40 in the manner shown in FIG. 2c.
`When the user desires to use the computer system 20 as
`a speakerphone, the user speaks into the microphone 502
`(FIG. 20), 503 (FIG. 2b), 410 (FIG. 2c) and these signals are
`
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`6,009,151
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`provided to the audio interface logic 55 and then to the
`speakerphone logic 54 to the PC sound system and back to
`the PC Card and out terminal adapter 56, out to the com-
`munication path. preferably a phone fine. Also. analog or
`digital audio signals received by the terminal adapter or
`modem 56 are provided through the speakerphone logic 54
`to the audio interface logic 55, and ultimately to the one or
`more speakers of the PC Card.
`More particularly, turning now to FIG. 2a there is shown
`a PC Card 400 employing a built in microphone 502 and
`speaker 500. Microphone 502 and speaker 500 are prefer—
`ably disposed at least partially within the housing 59 of the
`PC Card. it is further noted that alternate embodiments may
`be configured with one or the other of a microphone or a
`speaker. Components which correspond to those already
`described in FIG. 2 retain the same reference numerals.
`Speaker 500 andfor microphone 502 are coupled to tele-
`phone ansWering logic 52 and speaker phone logic 54 via
`audio interface logic 55. Audio inputloutput signals are
`further transferred across PC Card interface 51 to the com-
`puter sound system. It should be noted that while speaker
`500 may be integrated within the PC Card, an integrated
`speaker may provide inadequate fidelity. Accordingly. in an
`alternate embodiment, microphone 502 may be incorporated
`within PC Card 400 while speaker 500 is coupled either
`through an external connector to PC Card 400 or is coupled _
`to the computer system sound logic directly.
`Turning now to FIG. 2b,
`there is shown yet another
`embodiment of a PC Card having audio inputloutput. More
`particularly. PC Card 402 includes audio input jack 504 or
`connector. Audio input
`jack or connector 504 may be
`adapted to receive a microphone or a speaker. FIG. 2b
`illustrates a speaker 408 coupled to the audio input jack 504.
`A microphone 410 may also be coupled to the audio input
`jack or connector 504. Other cornmu nicalion devices may be
`coupled to the audio input jack 504 as desired. In alternate
`embodiments multiple audio jacks 504 are provided;
`wherein each audio jack is adapted to couple to a respective
`individual speaker or microphone.
`Tumirtg now to FIG. 2c,
`there is shown yet another
`embodiment of the present invention. More particularly, a
`computer system 600 employing a PC Card modern having
`microphone and speaker connectivity to a telephone inter-
`face connector is shown. PC 602 includes a PC Card modem
`404 coupled into a PC Card receptacle. Ajack or connector
`412 configured to receive a communication line. such as a
`standard telephone or data twisted pair wiring employing the
`RJ series of connectors. couples PC Card modem to an
`external
`telephone or data network 406. The PC Card
`modem ’sjack or connector 412 also includes audio plugs.
`adapters or connectors to interface speaker 408 and microm
`phone 410 to the PC Card modem 404. In this embodiment.
`the connector jack 41.2 normally used for connection to the
`Public Switchboard Telephone Network (PSTN) comprises
`the connections for U0 to a microphone andt’or speaker.
`Also.
`in this embodiment. the cable which includes tele-
`phone connectivity preferably includes the microphone and!
`or speaker cabling. Alternatively, the connectors or adapters
`for the microphone andt’or speaker may be disposed along
`the length of the cable from the PC Card connector.
`Computer System Block Diagram—FIGS. 3—4
`Referring now to FIG. 3. a block diagram illustrating the
`architecture of a computer system which includes one or
`more