Abstract: An interface allows a given CPU (Central Processing Unit) to communicate concurrently with a large number of disk drives in a high-performance, low-cost system. Plural seek operations can be performed concurrently, to serve a common processor. Also, heterogeneous physical drives--of any physical or logical configuration (storage capacity, number of heads, and so forth)--can be combined into one or more "logical" drives as seen by a host operating system. An "on-board" embodiment provides an "enhanced" IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) disk drive that is an extension of the industry-standard IDE drives, allowing an arbitrary number of independently seeking IDE drives on a conventionally single-seeking, two-drive-maximum bus. In a "paddle board" embodiment, low-cost IDE drives of arbitrary physical size, storage capacity and geometry, can be combined simply and inexpensively into a high-performance storage device. For example, a 3.5" 80 MB (megabyte) drive can be transparently combined with a 2.5" 60 MB drive.

Abstract: An interface allows a given CPU (Central Processing Unit) to communicate concurrently with a large number of disk drives in a high-performance, low-cost system. Plural seek operations can be performed concurrently, to serve a common processor. Also, heterogeneous physical drives--of any physical or logical configuration (storage capacity, number of heads, and so forth)--can be combined into one or more "logical" drives as seen by a host operating system. An "on-board" embodiment provides an "enhanced" IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) disk drive that is an extension of the industry-standard IDE drives, allowing an arbitrary number of independently seeking IDE drives on a conventionally single-seeking, two-drive-maximum bus. In a "paddle board" embodiment, low-cost IDE drives of arbitrary physical size, storage capacity and geometry, can be combined simply and inexpensively into a high-performance storage device. For example, a 3.5" 80 MB (megabyte) drive can be transparently combined with a 2.5" 60 MB drive.

Abstract: An interface allows a given CPU (Central Processing Unit) to communicate concurrently with a large number of disk drives in a high-performance, low-cost system. Plural seek operations can be performed concurrently, to serve a common processor. Also, heterogeneous physical drives--of any physical or logical configuration (storage capacity, number of heads, and so forth)--can be combined into one or more "logical" drives as seen by a host operating system. An "on-board" embodiment provides an "enhanced" IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) disk drive that is an extension of the industry-standard IDE drives, allowing an arbitrary number of independently seeking IDE drives on a conventionally single-seeking, two-drive-maximum bus. In a "paddle board" embodiment, low-cost IDE drives of arbitrary physical size, storage capacity and geometry, can be combined simply and inexpensively into a high-performance storage device. For example, a 3.5"80 MB (megabyte) drive can be transparently combined with a 2.5" 60 MB drive.

Abstract: A docking detection and suspend circuit for portable computer/expansion chassis docking system. A first circuit within the portable computer is capable of detecting an impending electrical coupling of the portable computer to a corresponding docking station and generating a signal indicating the impending coupling. A second circuit within the portable computer and coupled to the first circuit is capable of receiving the signal and placing the portable computer in a suspend mode at least until the portable computer fully electrically couples to the docking station. The present invention relieves a computer user of the task of manually placing the portable computer in the suspend mode prior to docking with the docking station. The present invention protects components within both the portable computer and the docking station from being damaged by docking the portable computer when in a normal operational mode and prevents the user's data from being corrupted.

Abstract: A docking station structure is used to operatively connect a notebook computer to desktop computer peripheral devices. The docking station has an internal receiving chamber into which the portable computer may be manually inserted, an electrical connector positioned within the receiving chamber, a travel plate movably carried within the receiving chamber, a motorized drive system operative to drive the travel plate toward and away from the electrical connector, and a latch structure carried by the travel plate for movement therewith. With the travel plate in a wait position thereof, the portable computer is rearwardly inserted into the receiving chamber. In response to such insertion, the latch structure automatically locks the computer to the travel plate, and the drive system rearwardly moves the travel plate to mate the electrical connector with a corresponding connector on the computer, thereby operatively linking the computer to the peripheral devices.