External Expansion Bus Interface

This invention relates to the computer art. More specifically, this invention relates to microcomputer bus communications and interfaces for computer bus communications.

It is advantageous in certain computer systems to provide standard interface and dimensional requirements for installing compatible devices provided by different vendors. These standards include device physical dimensions, physical connector descriptions, electrical connector descriptions, and signalling protocols for communications between devices and the central processing unit (CPU). Such standards exist and include the S100 bus, EISA bus, PC bus, AT bus, and Microchannel.TM. bus.

It is also advantageous to miniaturize a computer system for many reasons including to provide for portability or to reduce the computer's use of desk space. All of the aforementioned interfaces have considerable size requirements that limit miniaturization and portability.

One compromise solution to the size problem is to provide a small computer with a removable expansion box. Both space and an interface for standard devices can be provided in the expansion box, while keeping the main computer small.

The use of an expansion box introduces another problem. Devices internal to the computer can often be in conflict with those expansion devices in the expansion box.

Each device or memory location within a computer system has its own unique address. The central processing unit (CPU) communicates with a device by its address. Each device listens to a common bus and responds only to its own address.

If a computer containing a disk drive, for example, is plugged into an expansion box containing a disk drive and both disk drives respond to the same address, there will be a bus contention problem as both disk drives try to respond when their common address is queried. The disk drive internal to the computer can be non-standard. The internal disk drive can be blocked or readdressed to avoid contention problems. The external disk drive in the expansion box must conform to interface specifications. Blocking (deselecting) means are not provided for in any of the three standards mentioned above. The prior art does not provide separate means to execute this function. This problem is not limited to disk drives. It applies to any addressable device in a computer system. Separate selection and deselection means located in a bus interface, independent of the device being selected or deselected, are the subject of this invention.

It is the object of this invention to provide an interface that can select and deselect devices.

It is another object of this invention to provide an interface for an expansion box for a computer system.

It is another object of this invention to provide an interface for selecting and deselecting devices located in an expansion box which is programmable and can store information as to which device to select or deselect at any given time.

It is another object of this invention to provide an interface for selecting and deselecting devices located in an expansion box which allows devices on both sides of the interface to freely communicate while protecting each device from problems arising from the other side of the interface.

It is another object of this invention to provide an interface for selecting and deselecting devices in an expansion box, in a standard manner whereby all so equipped computers and expansion boxes are compatible and interchangeable.

Preferred embodiments demonstrating the various objectives and features of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a physical representation of the preferred portable computer and expansion box combination.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the interface, the part of this system wherein the invention lies.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the invention showing the major components and their interconnection;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of bus interface for a preferred expansion box.

Referring to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment is described in terms of a portable microcomputer 29 having a detachable expansion box 30 which receives plug-in devices in accordance with the PC bus standard for device compatibility.

Referring to FIG. 2, the invention lies in bus interface circuitry 33 which allows for connection of the CPU 10 and internal bus 12 with expansion devices 28 and expansion bus 23.

Referring to FIG. 3, buffers 16-18 and 20-22 under the control of the control logic 27 interrupt the flow of digital signals and thereby select and deselect expansion devices 28a-28d. The expansion devices shown include: memory 28a, input/output ports 28b, a floppy disk drive 28c, and a Winchester drive 28d. It is important to note that any device in accordance with the bus standard can be included here. The invention is not limited to the devices shown.

The computer system 29 comprises a CPU 10 and internal devices 11a-11e all interconnected by an internal bus 12. As with the expansion devices 28a-28d, the internal devices 11a-11e are not limited to those shown in the drawing. The internal devices can comprise any number of devices. The devices shown in the drawings are merely an example. For purposes of bus communications the CPU 10 is an internal device. The term internal devices should be understood to include the CPU. The internal bus 12 comprises an internal address bus 13, an internal data bus 14 and an internal control bus 15.

All internal devices 11a-11e and 10 communicate in time-division multiplex synchronization on the internal bus 12 under the control of the CPU. Each internal device 11a-11e has a unique address and receives data from the internal data bus 14 after its unique address appears on the internal address bus 13 and a write signal appears on the internal control bus 15. Each internal device sends data on the internal data bus 14 after its unique address appears on the internal address bus 13 and a read signal appears on the internal control bus 15.

An internal address buffer 16, an internal data buffer 17 and an internal control buffer 18, all connect their respective buses 13-15 to a connector 19. The internal address buffer and the internal control buffer are capable of being enabled or disabled and cause a slight delay in their respective buses. They are a plurality of delay chips of the type like the 74AC11244 made by Texas Instruments. The internal data buffer 17 is operable in three states, enabled in, enabled out and disabled. In the disabled condition both sides are in a tristate condition and neither load or power the data bus. A good example of this type of buffer is the 74ACT11245 made by Texas Instruments. The buffers provide protection to the internal bus from improper connection of the connector 19. As an example, an object charged with static electricity such as a hand, applied directly to the bus can cause serious damage. The internal buffers protect the internal bus from improper bus connection, by isolating the bus from the connector.

Connector 19 connects the computer 29 to the expansion box 30 and their respective buses. The expansion address buffer 20 and the expansion control buffer 22 are of the same type as the internal address buffer 16 and internal control buffer 18. The expansion data buffer 21 is of the same type as the internal data buffer 17.

The expansion bus 23 comprises an expansion address bus 24 connected to the expansion address buffer 20, an expansion data bus 25 connected to the expansion data buffer 21 and an expansion control bus 26 connected to the expansion control buffer 22, via the control logic 27. The expansion bus is in conformance with the PC bus standard and receives expansion devices 28a-28d. The expansion devices may comprise any number of devices. The devices shown in the drawings are merely an example. These devices can be standard devices provided by many different vendors who manufacture devices in accordance with the PC bus standard.

The control logic 27 enables and disables the internal data buffer 17 and the expansion data buffer 21 in response to signals from the expansion control buffer 22, the internal control buffer 18, the internal address buffer 16 and the expansion address buffer 21 according to the following formula:

The control logic 27 reads an address from the expansion address buffer 20 and a control signal from the control buffers 18 and 22. In response to a read signal and the address of a deselected device, the control logic sends a disable signal 31 to the internal data buffer 17 and the expansion data buffer 21 to keep a deselected device from reading data from the data bus 25. In response to a read signal and the address of a selected device, the control logic 27 sends a data buffer direction-in signal 32 and an enable signal 31 to the internal data buffer 17 and expansion data buffer 21 to enable data flow from the bus connector 19 to the expansion data bus 25. In response to a write signal and the address of a deselected device, the control logic 27 sends a data buffer disable signal 31 to the internal data buffer 17 and expansion data buffer 21 to keep the deselected device from writing to the internal data bus. In response to a write signal and the address of a selected device the control logic 27 sends a data buffer direction out signal 32 and a data buffer enable signal 31 to the internal data buffer 17 and expansion data buffer 21, to enable data to flow from the expansion data bus 25 to the internal data bus 14.

Referring to FIG. 3, the following data lines are added to connector 19 that are not in the PC bus standard:

ZXBUSEN, Expansion Bus Enable 42. The expansion box drives the ZXBUSEN line active when the expansion box is connected and powered to its normal operating level. The expansion box logic always drives the ZXBUSEN.

DBUFEN, Data Buffer Enable 31. This signal enables the internal data buffer 17 and the expansion data buffer 21. The buffers are disabled during each change of buffer direction, during expansion box programming and when a deselected device is addressed.

DBUFDIR, Data Buffer Direction 32. This signal controls the direction of the internal data buffer 17 and the expansion data buffer 21. High allows data to flow from the computer to the expansion box. Low will allow data to flow from the expansion box to the computer.

WRTCFG, Write Configur 43 (FIG. 4). This signal enables the expansion box control or programming cycle. This signal originates from the computer.

All of the power, asynchronous clock, and reserved lines are disconnected from the expansion box connector 19. The remaining, interface standard, data lines are connected through connector 19 to the internal bus 12 and expansion bus 23.

Additional protection is afforded to the internal and expansion buses by enable signals. The ZXBUSEN signal 42 is driven by the expansion box control logic when the expansion box is powered to its normal operating level. The internal buffers are enabled only in response to that signal. Therefore no signals, dangerous voltages, dangerous currents or radio-frequency emissions can pass through the connector to or from the internal bus unless the ZXBUSEN is driven.

The expansion box buffers are enabled only in response to a IOCHK, I/O channel check signal 41. This signal is always set high by the computer. When no computer is attached, the buffers are disabled. This affords the expansion box the same protections mentioned above for the computer.

The control logic has Random Access Memory (RAM) 34 for recording which devices in the expansion box should be enabled or disabled. The memory provides one bit for each I/O location (device) and each kilobyte of memory to designate its state (internal or expansion). These device enabled signals are programmed at system start up.

The RAM 34 receives addresses from either the computer 29 via the address buffer 20 or the counter 36 via the counter buffer 37. The RAM 34 sends the data located at the addresses it receives to the Programmable Array Logic (PAL) 35. The PAL takes inputs from the RAM 34, the inward expansion control buffer 22a, the expansion control bus 26, data line D7 and RESET (the reset control line 39).

The PAL 35 generates expansion device control signals to the expansion control bus 26, return data signals to the internal data buffer 17 and expansion data buffer 21 (for the read RAM function), control signals back to the computer via the outward expansion control buffer 22b, enable 31 and direction 32 signals for the data buffer, an enable signal for the address buffer 40, and increment count 38 and reset count 39 signals for the counter.

The control logic RAM 34 is not normally addressable memory. The memory cannot be written to or read from by conventional memory write or read control signals respectively. The control logic memory therefore cannot be in contention with any normally addressable RAM.

The normal prior art way of changing the value held in a memory location is to send the memory's address with a write signal followed by the data to be written. The control logic RAM is programmed differently. First WRTCFG (Write configur) is set high which, is an extra signal that is not part of the standard bus. It is sent only by the Computer and received only by the expansion box control logic. With the WRTCFG high, the CPU sends read signals to the expansion box. Each address that accompanies a read signal is interpreted by the control logic 27 as an instruction. These instructions are:

RESET.sub.-- COUNTER EQA 08400H

;Reset expansion bus counter 36 to zero.

IO.sub.-- EXTERNAL EQA 0C000H

;The current I/O address is in the expansion box.

IO.sub.-- INTERNAL EQA 0E000H

;The current I/O address is internal.

MEM.sub.-- EXTERNAL EQA 08000H

;The current memory address is in the expansion box.

MEM.sub.-- INTERNAL EQA 0A000H

;The current memory address is internal.

IO.sub.-- EMS.sub.-- EXTERNAL EQA OD000H

;The current EMS I/O address is in the expansion box.

IO.sub.-- EMS.sub.-- INTERNAL EQA 0F000H

;The current EMS I/O address is internal.

MEM.sub.-- EMS.sub.-- EXTERNAL EQA 09000H

;The current EMS memory address is in the expansion box.

MEM.sub.-- EMS.sub.-- INTERNAL EQA 0B000H

;The current EMS memory address is internal.

READ.sub.-- BOX EQA 08800H

;Read from the current address in the expansion box RAM 34.

A counter 36 in the expansion box is incremented with each instruction. The current instruction operates on the memory or I/O device currently addressed by the counter 36. The memory 34 is sequentially accessed and the instructions program the memory with the correct internal or expansion memory or I/O port (device) information.

The information to be programmed is determined by the user through a set up menu and preserved in battery powered CMOS memory in the computer 29.

Expansion box memory programming can be demonstrated by the memory test which is executed at start up.

MOV DX,RESET.sub.-- COUNTER

; Move the instruction, RESET.sub.-- COUNTER to register DX.

IN AL,DX

; Send RESET.sub.-- COUNTER as an address to the expansion box,

; which resets the counter. The intended use of the IN

; instruction is to input what is at the address in register

; DX to register AL. The return data to AL, if any, is

; irrelevant and discarded.

MOV DX,IO.sub.-- INTERNAL

; Move the instruction, IO.sub.-- INTERNAL to register DX.

IN AL,DX

; Send IO.sub.-- INTERNAL as an address to the expansion box.

; This programs the current I/O address as internal and

; increments the counter (the counter increments each

; time a instruction is received).

MOV DX,IO.sub.-- EXTERNAL

; Move the instruction IO.sub.-- EXTERNAL to register DX.

IN AL,DX

; Send the instruction IO.sub.-- EXTERNAL to the expansion box.

MOV DX,RESET.sub.-- COUNTER

; Move the instruction RESET.sub.-- COUNTER to register DX.

IN AL,DX

; Send RESET.sub.-- COUNTER as an address to the expansion box.

MOV DX,MEM.sub.-- INTERNAL

; Move the instruction MEM.sub.-- INTERNAL TO REGISTER DX.

IN AL,DX

; Send MEM.sub.-- INTERNAL as an address to the expansion box.

; This programs the current memory address as internal

; and increments the counter.

MOV DX,MEM.sub.-- EXTERNAL

; Move the instruction MEM.sub.-- EXTERNAL to register DX.

IN AL,DX

; Send MEM.sub.-- EXTERNAL as an address to the expansion box.

MOV DX,RESET.sub.-- COUNTER

; Move the instruction RESET.sub.-- COUNTER to register DX.

IN AL,DX

; Send RESET.sub.-- COUNTER as an address to the expansion box.

MOV DX,READ.sub.-- XBOX

; Move the instruction READ.sub.-- XBOX to register DX.

IN AL,DX

; Send READ.sub.-- XBOX as an address to the expansion box.

; This inputs the memory locations just programed into

; register AL.

TEST AL,TEST.sub.-- PATTERN

; Compare the input data with the constant TEST.sub.13 PATTERN

; and determine the difference.

JZ SHORT EXPBUS.sub.-- ERR

; If the difference is zero jump to the error subroutine.

IN AL,DX

; Send READ.sub.-- XBOX as an address to the expansion box.

; This inputs the contents of the second location to

; register AL.

AND AL,TEST.sub.-- PATTERN

; Calculate the logical and of register AL and the

; constant TEST.sub.-- PATTERN.

JNZ SHORT EXPBUS.sub.-- ERR

; If AL and TEST.sub.-- PATTERN is not zero jump to the error

; subroutine.

This program segment writes a test value to the memory 34, reads it back and tests it against the original.

The invention has been described in terms of a single bus interface for connecting an expansion box to a computer. There are, however, many other uses for the under-lying invention.

Expansion boxes can be coupled in a daisy chain providing unlimited expansion of a computer system. With such a system, a completely modular computer is possible. Each device can be upgraded independently by unplugging one device and plugging in a new one. Service is simplified because a defective device can simply be unplugged and a replacement plugged in. Expansion is simplified because additional devices can be plugged in at any time.

The invention can be applied to a multiple bus system with separate interfaces on each bus. Devices could be configured to communicate on different busses at different times. In a complicated multiple bus system, a series of bus interfaces according to the invention can serve as traffic controllers to schedule the buses.

A separate interface can be provided for each expansion device, eliminating the need for the high speed switching capability of the preferred embodiment. In this case the control logic circuitry can be reduced to a switch that turns the buffers off or on.

The invention can be used in a one piece computer system by eliminating the connector. This would provide for protection of a computer system used to test unreliable devices such as prototypes or devices in need of repair. Such devices can be connected and used with a computer system without concern of damage to the computer. The suspect device can be added to or removed from the system instantly by the control logic to facilitate rapid testing.

Although described above in terms of the preferred embodiment and a few examples of alternate embodiments, the present invention is set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Such modifications and alterations as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and familiar with the teachings of this application shall be deemed to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.