Abstract: A companion computer system for a host computer wherein the host computer includes an interface for electrically and mechanically interfacing to the companion computer. An example is a PCMCIA slot. The companion system includes a PC card with an interface which mates with the interface on the host. A bus is located on the PC card. A CPU is located on the PC card and connected to the bus. A display is located on the PC card and connected to the bus. An input device is located on the PC card and connected to the bus. A non-volatile memory module is located on the PC card and connected to the bus. A low power random access memory module is located on the PC card and connected to the bus. A power supply is located on the PC card and connected to the components of the PC card An operating system is located in the non-volatile memory.

Abstract: A modular PCMCIA card comprises a base member conforming to the Type I or Type II physical dimensions and an add on section which mechanically and electrically connects with the base member and has dimensions such that when the base member and the add on section are joined, they conform to the dimensions of a PCMCIA Type III card. The add on section may contain one or more functional units of a stand alone computer system and may also contain a battery, a modem, pager and/or an infrared transceiver for communicating with printers, computers or controlling other devices.

Abstract: An interconnecting receptacle for a computer system is described. The interconnecting receptacle includes a case mounted on a housing of the computer system for receiving an external connector and a plurality of metallic contacts located inside the case for electrically connecting circuitry of the computer system inside the housing to the external connector. The external connector can be one of (1) a first type of connector that includes a first number of electrical connectors and (2) a second type of connector that includes a second number of electrical connectors. When the external connector is the first type of connector and is inserted inside the case, a first set of the plurality of metallic contacts are used to connect to the first number of electrical connectors of the external connector.

Abstract: A unit for providing a socket for a plurality of removably mountable peripheral devices to a computer including a receptacle for receiving the body of such removably mountable peripheral devices, the receptacle being generally block shaped and having a pair of generally-parallel generally-rectangular outer surfaces separated by a distance which is small compared to dimensions of the rectangular surfaces, the receptacle including conductors for electrically connecting to any such removably mountable peripheral devices and being designed to fit within the interior of a computer; a first circuit board having a generally-rectangular shape; interface circuitry for effecting a connection of such removably mountable peripheral devices to a bus of a computer within which the unit is positioned, the interface circuitry being mounted on the first circuit board and having electrical connections on the surface of the first circuit board to the receptacle, the first circuit board being mounted to the receptacle; a second