United States Patent (19)
`Staples
`
`US006009151A
`Patent Number:
`11
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`6,009,151
`Dec. 28, 1999
`
`54 PC CARD MODEM WITH MICROPHONE
`AND SPEAKER CONNECTIVITY
`
`75 Inventor: Leven E. Staples, Granbury, Tex.
`73 Assignee: Data Race, Inc., San Antonio, Tex.
`
`Rigney, Steve, “Socket to Us: PCMCIA Connectivity,” PC
`Magazine, pp. 207-212, Jan. 24, 1995.
`Nass, Richard, (“Nass I”), “PCMCIA Fax-Modem and LAN
`Run Simultaneously.” Electronic Design, pp. 131-132, Oct.
`3, 1994.
`Nass, Richard, (“Nass I”), “Multifunction Cards Pose
`Design Challenges.” Electronic Design, pp. 51-53, Oct. 3,
`Appl. No.: 08/703,444
`21
`1994.
`Primary Examiner-Curtis A. Kuntz
`22 Filed:
`Aug. 27, 1996
`ASSistant Examiner Melur Ramakrishnaiah
`51 Int. Cl." - H04M 11/00
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Conley, Rose & Tayon; Robert C.
`Kowert; Jeffrey C. Hood
`52 U.S. Cl. ..................................... 379/90.01; 370/93.05;
`370/110.01
`57
`ABSTRACT
`58 Field of Search ................................ 379/90.1, 93.05,
`The present invention comprises a PC Card adapted for
`379/93.07, 93.14, 93.15, 93.23, 93.37, 110.01;
`insertion in a PC Card slot in a computer system. The PC
`370/58.1; 365/164; 395/882, 884
`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 interface 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 operably 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 and/or
`Speaker to the PC Card and the telephone answering and
`Speakerphone logic. In alternate embodiments, the PC Card
`provides for external microphone and/or Speaker connectiv
`ity.
`
`56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,578,537 3/1986 Faggin et al..
`4,597.077 6/1986 Nelson et al..
`4,614,144 9/1986 Sagara et al. .
`4,679,191
`7/1987 Nelson et al..
`4,750,171
`6/1988 Kedar et al..
`4,916,607 4/1990 Teraichi et al..
`4,972,457 11/1990 O’Sullivan.
`4,979,144 12/1990 Mizuta.
`5,136,631
`8/1992 Einhorn et al..
`5,192,999 3/1993 Graczyk et al..
`5,274,738 12/1993 Daly et al..
`5,297.231
`3/1994 Miller.
`5,317,630 5/1994 Feinberg et al..
`(List continued on next page.)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Anderson, D., PCMCIA System Architecture, Mindshare,
`Inc., 1994, pp. 1-50.
`Bryan, John, “PCMCIA: Past, Present and Promise,” Byte,
`pp. 65–72, Nov. 1994.
`
`30 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`5
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`/ 40
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`
`
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`
`
`
`
`Telephone Answering
`LOgic
`52
`
`
`
`Audio Interface
`Logic
`55
`
`Speaker Phone
`Logic
`54
`
`CS
`58
`
`
`
`Attribute
`N- Memory
`
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`6,009,151
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`s
`5.
`G. et al..
`5,349640 9/1994 Dunnet al.
`5,353,334 10/1994 O'Sullivan.
`5,361,061 11/1994 Mays et al..
`5,392.223
`2/1995 Caci.
`5,408.614 4/1995 Thornton et al..
`5,411,405 5/1995 McDaniels et al..
`5,420,852 5/1995 Anderson et al. ..................... 370/58.1
`5,423,697 6/1995 MacGregor.
`5,426,564 6/1995 Hsu.
`5,428,663
`6/1995 Grimes et al..
`5,437,019 7/1995 Brockmann.
`5,440,585 8/1995 Patridge, III.
`5,444,768 8/1995 Lemaire et al. ..................... 379/93.01
`5,444,869 8/1995 Stricklin et al..
`5,445,525 8/1995 Broadbent et al..
`5,457,782 10/1995 Daly et al..
`
`5,463,742 10/1995 Kobayashi.
`5,471,470 11/1995 Sharma et al..
`5,475,691 12/1995 Chapman et al. .
`5,481,616 1/1996 Freadman
`s AC Post al. .
`2- Y - 2
`5,515,423 5/1996 Becket al..
`5,517,646 5/1996 Piccirillo et al..
`5,519,641
`5/1996 Beers et al..
`5524,047 6/1996 Brown et al..
`5,526,408 6/1996 Yekutiely .
`5,574,682 11/1996 Shinohara ............................... 365/164
`5,602,902 2/1997 Satterlund et al..
`5,606.599 2/1997 O'Mahoney et al..
`5,701,515 12/1997 Gradeler .................................. 395/884
`5,752,082 5/1998 Staples .................................... 395/882
`5,799,036 8/1998 Staples.
`395/800.32
`5,812,870 9/1998 Kikinis et al. ..
`5,822,692 10/1998 Krishan et al. ......................... 455/557
`
`
`
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`US. Patent
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`Dec. 28, 1999
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`Sheet 1 0f 9
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`6,009,151
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sheet 2 of 9
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`6,009,151
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`-4
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`Telephone Answering
`LOgic
`52
`
`Audio Interface
`Logic
`55
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`Speaker Phone
`Logic
`54
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`CIS
`58
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`Attribute
`Memory
`
`FIG. 2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 28, 1999
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`Sheet 4 of 9
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`6,009,151
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 28, 1999
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`Sheet 5 of 9
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`6,009,151
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 28, 1999
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`Sheet 6 of 9
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`6,009,151
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`HOSt CPU
`102
`
`
`
`
`
`ISA, EISA, Microchannel, PC, etc.
`
`
`
`103
`
`
`
`PCMCIA
`Host Bus Adaptor
`180
`
`30
`
`SOcket 1
`
`SOcket 2
`
`30
`
`PC Card
`40
`
`PC Card
`40
`
`FIG. 3
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 28, 1999
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`Sheet 7 of 9
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`6,009,151
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`98
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 28, 1999
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`Sheet 8 of 9
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`6,009,151
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`
`
`Ground
`-CD 1
`Data 11
`Data 12
`Data 13
`Data 14
`Data 15
`-CE 2
`Refresh-WS1
`-ORD
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`Address 17
`Address 18
`Address 19
`Address 20
`Address 21
`VcC
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`Address 22
`Address 23
`Address 24
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`Reserved/-VS2
`RESET
`-WAT
`-INPACK
`-REG
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`Data 8
`Data 9
`Data 10
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`Ground
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`1
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`Data 3
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`Data 0
`Data 1
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`Ground
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`FIG. 5
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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 RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application
`Ser. No. 08/496,537 entitled “Computer System Which
`Provides Analog Audio Communication Between a PC Card
`and the Computer's Sound System,” filed on Jun. 29, 1995,
`whose inventor is Leven E. Staples, and U.S. patent appli
`cation Ser. No. 08/544,054, entitled “Computer System
`Which Provides Digital Audio Communication Between a
`PC Card and the Computer's Sound System,” filed Oct. 17,
`1995, whose inventor is Leven E. Staples, both of which are
`assigned to Data Race Corporation.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates to a computer System
`including digital audio communication between 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 and/or
`Speaker connections for providing audio input/output capa
`bility.
`
`15
`
`25
`
`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 I/O feature
`or Software drivers. The PCMCIA 2.0 standard introduced
`I/O-specific cards, but did not define software driver speci
`fications. Rather, Software driver Specifications were left to
`card manufacturers. The PCMCIA 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 PCMCIAPC 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 input/output (I/O) devices,
`Such as a modem, 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 currently 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 effectively communicate 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 insufficient 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.
`U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/496,537, titled “Com
`puter System Which Provides Analog Audio Communica
`tion between a PC Card and the Computer's Sound System”
`and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/544,054, 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.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE 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 IEEE (Institute of Electrical 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,
`ROM cards and DRAM cards. Type II PC Cards can be up
`to 5.5 mm thick and are large enough to include I/O 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 II cards, but a type
`I slot will only receive type I cards.
`
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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 Size 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 and/or connectivity
`to the computer's audio System must be provided. There
`exists a further need to provide a PC card device with audio
`input/output capabilities.
`
`5
`
`15
`
`25
`
`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. 2a illustrates a PC Card according to one embodi
`ment of the present invention;
`FIG. 2b illustrates a PC Card according to another
`embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG.2c 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 computer system of FIG. 1 which interface to a PC Card;
`and
`FIG. 5 illustrates pin definitions of the PC Card socket or
`PCMCIA I/O 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.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`Incorporation by Reference
`PCMCIA System Architecture by Don Anderson and
`available from Mindshare Press, 2202 Buttercup Dr.,
`Richardson, Tex. 75082 (214) 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. 08/496,537, 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. 08/544,054, titled “Com
`puter System Which Provides Digital Audio Communica
`tion Between a PC Card and the Computer's Sound Sys
`tem.
`Computer System
`Referring now to FIG. 1, a portable computer system 20
`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 coder/decoder (codec). The computer System
`20 of FIG. 1 includes analog and/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 and/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
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`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 modem and audio interface logic and con
`figured 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 and/or speaker to the PC Card and the telephone
`answering and Speakerphone logic.
`In another embodiment, the present invention comprises
`a PC Card having a modem, telephone answering logic, and
`optionally 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 of 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 con
`nector. Again, the audio interface logic interfaces the micro
`phone and/or Speaker to the telephone answering and Speak
`erphone logic.
`In 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 and/or Speaker to the telephone
`answering and Speakerphone logic.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`A better understanding of the present invention can be
`obtained when the following detailed description of the
`
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`28. The computer System 20 includes components generally
`found in all computer Systems, including a CPU, System
`memory, one or more buses, and various peripheral control
`lers 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, and/or 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 and/or digital audio
`communication, 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.
`In the preferred embodiment the PC Card socket 30 is
`preferably compatible with the PCMCIA (Personal Com
`puter Memory Card International ASSociation) electrical
`Specification, and includes additional Signal definitions
`25
`which allow digital audio communication between the com
`puter's sound system and the PC Card 40. The pin definition
`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 ISDN terminal adapter having telephone answering
`device and/or full duplex speakerphone capabilities accord
`ing to the preferred embodiment of the 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 30 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 (TAD) and full duplex
`speakerphone (FDSP) 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 and/or analog
`audio communication with the computer System 20. AS
`discussed further below, the PC Card 40 includes novel
`audio connectivity options, Such as microphone and/or
`Speaker connections, or an embedded microphone and/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 and/or speakerphone capabilities.
`As shown, the PC Card terminal adapter 40 includes a
`housing 59 having either a modem or an ISDN terminal
`adapter disposed therein. In the present disclosure, the term
`"modem” is intended to refer generally to a communication
`device, including an analog modem and an ISDN terminal
`adapter, among others. In the preferred embodiment, the PC
`Card 40 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 configured to receive and transmit tele
`phony Signals.
`
`35
`
`6
`PC Card 40 preferably further includes microphone and/
`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 coder/decoder (codec) to provide D/A or
`A/D conversion capabilities. As shown in the embodiment
`of FIG.2a, audio interface logic 55 includes or is coupled to
`an integrated speaker 500 and/or a microphone 502. More
`particularly, PC Card 40 includes an integrated speaker
`and/or microphone (FIG. 2a). Alternately, PC Card 40
`includes a Socket or Sockets disposed on housing 59 allow
`ing for the connection of external microphone and/or
`speaker (FIG.2b). Finally, PC Card 40 may provide speaker
`and/or microphone connectivity via an adapter coupled to a
`telephone or terminal adapter interface module 412 (FIG.
`2c). The PC Card modem 40 also includes telephone answer
`ing logic 52 which performs telephone answering device
`functions and Speakerphone logic 54 which preferably per
`forms full-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 40.
`The PC Card 40 includes an adapter 51 which is adapted
`for mating with the PC Card socket 30. The adapter 51
`includes a plurality of connectors which mate 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 Com
`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 20. 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 and/or mechanically compatible with
`JEDEC (Joint Electronic Device Engineering Council) stan
`dards and/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 discussed 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 be 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.2a), 503 (FIG.2b), 410 (FIG.2c) and these signals are
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION, EXHIBIT 1011
`Page 14 of 19
`
`

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`15
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`7
`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 line. 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 and/or microphone 502 are coupled to tele
`phone answering logic 52 and Speaker phone logic 54 via
`audio interface logic 55. Audio input/output 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 input/output. 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 inputjack 504.
`A microphone 410 may also be coupled to the audio input
`jack or connector 504. Other communication 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.
`Turning now to FIG. 2c, there is shown yet another
`embodiment of the present invention. More particularly, a
`computer system 600 employing a PC Card modem 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
`modems jack or connector 412 also includes audio plugs,
`adapters or connectors to interface Speaker 408 and micro
`phone 410 to the PC Card modem 404. In this embodiment,
`the connector jack 412 normally used for connection to the
`Public Switchboard Telephone Network (PSTN) comprises
`the connections for I/O to a microphone and/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 and/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 PC Card sockets is shown. As shown, the computer
`system 20 includes a host CPU 102 which interfaces to one
`or more expansion buses 103 within the computer system. A
`PCMCIA ho