JPH07141481A - Ic card for compact computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable data exchange to be performed between a host computer and peripheral devices and between the memory disk in a card and the peripheral devices and to easily carry the large amount of data in a memory disk even in carrying the card removing the SCSI cable. CONSTITUTION:A card connector 21 to connect to a card slot 7 of a host computer 6 is provided on one end of a card 20. An SCSI connector 22 is provided to connect to the external SCSI device 11 on the other end. Further, two SCSI controllers 23 and 24 are provided in the card main body. One of which is connected to the CPU bus of the host computer through the card slot 7 of the inserted host computer 6. The other one is connected to a memory disk 28 formed inside the card and is connected to the host computer and to the same SCSI line 29 as the SCSI cable 9 to be led outside.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an IC card for a small computer such as a personal computer, a notebook computer and a palmtop personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, a high-performance personal computer has a built-in interface for connecting to peripheral devices.
Standardized connectors for each interface are provided on the back panel, etc., but for small PCs for mobile use, the interface for connecting peripheral devices has also been deleted for downsizing, and external memory has also been reduced in power consumption and size. It has replaced good memory cards. However, even a small personal computer for portable use may need to be connected to a desktop personal computer, a higher-level computer, or the peripheral devices used by them, and such expandability is essential for business use. ing. Therefore, as a method of connecting a SCSI device such as a hard disk to a small computer that does not have SCSI (Small Computer System Interface, the same applies hereinafter) from such a need, an S
The method of connecting the CSI board has been taken.

However, some portable computers have only a card slot and are not equipped with an expansion slot. In such a portable computer, the method of adding SCSI becomes a problem. One solution to this problem is to insert cards with various functions into the card slots to expand the functions.
As its implementation, various interface cards have been developed and attempts have been made to enable connection with peripheral devices.

Therefore, a SCSI card was devised as one of the interface cards, and it became possible to connect a small computer having only a card slot to a SCSI device by using this. However, in a computer having only one card slot, data exchange with peripheral devices must use the internal memory of the host computer, and the processable memory size must be small. In a computer with multiple card slots, insert a memory card into one of the
It is possible to increase the memory size by transferring the data exchanged with the SI device to the memory card.
During the data exchange with the CSI device, C of the host computer
The PU must perform a busy process such as transferring the fetched data to the memory card, and the bus line of the host computer is dedicated to this process.

To explain the conventional technique in more detail, the conventional SCSI card shown in FIG. 3 has a card connector 2 at one end of a card body 1 for connecting to a card slot 7 of a small host computer 6. Is provided, and at the other end of the card body 1, an external connection connector 8, a SCSI cable 9 and a termination SCSI connector 1 are provided.
SC for connecting to external SCSI device 11 via 0
An SI connector 3 is provided, and a card controller 4 and a SCSI controller 5 are provided in series inside the card body 1 and between the card connector 2 and the SCSI connector 3. .

[0006]

However, the conventional SCSI card has the purpose of merely connecting the external SCSI device 11 to the small-sized host computer 6, and when exchanging data with the external SCSI device 11, the host computer does not. Since the memory of 6 is used, the amount of data is limited. If you have an extra card slot 7,
The amount of data can be increased by fetching data from the SCSI card and dropping it in a memory card in another card slot, but the CPU of the host computer 6 needs to do a busy work and cannot do other work during that time. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and its object is to provide a host computer and peripheral devices, a memory disk and peripheral device in a card, a host computer and a card. Data can be exchanged with the internal memory disk.
An object of the present invention is to provide an IC card for a small computer that can carry a large amount of data in a memory disk even when it is carried with the CSI cable removed.

[0008]

To this end, according to the present invention, a card connector for connecting to a card slot of a small-sized host computer is provided at one end of the card body, and the card body is opposed to the card connector. The other end has a SCSI for connecting to an external SCSI device.
A connector is provided, and a memory disk, a SCSI controller serially connected to the memory disk, and an SCS serially connected to the card connector are provided inside the card body.
An I controller is provided, and these two SCSI controllers are connected to the SCSI connector through a SCSI line.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings and its operation. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an example of an IC card according to the present invention, in which a card connector 21 is provided at one end of a card body 20. The card connector 21 is to be connected to the card slot 7 of the small-sized host computer 6, and is normally provided with a reverse insertion preventing mechanism so that the connector will not fit even if inserted in the opposite direction. The card slot 7 is C of the host computer 6.
It is connected to the PU bus (or IO bus). At the other end of the card body 20 opposite to the card connector 21, an external SCSI device 1 is provided via an external connection connector 8, a SCSI cable 9 and a termination SCSI connector 10.
1 is provided with a SCSI connector 22. Furthermore, inside the card body 20, two SCSI
Controllers 23 and 24 are provided, one SCSI controller 23 is connected to the card controller 21 and a card controller 25 connected in series, and is connected to the CPU bus of the host computer 6 via the card slot 7 of the inserted host computer 6. It is supposed to be done. The card controller 25 operates as an I / O controller for the CPU of the host computer 6, and operates as a CPU for controlling the SCSI controller 23. The other SCSI controller 24 is an IC memory (SP
AM, EEPROM, FLASH, EPROM, etc.) 26
And a SCSI controller 24 and a disk controller 27 for controlling the SCSI controller 24. The two SCSI controllers 23 and 24 further connect the host computer 6, the memory disk 28 inside the main body, and the external SCSI device 11 to each other. S as a road
It is connected to the SCSI connector 22 via the CSI line 29.

An example of using the IC card of the present invention having the above configuration will be described with reference to the configuration diagram of the computer system shown in FIG. In this use case, external SCSI
Up to 8 devices can be connected, each from (0) to
The ID numbers up to (7) are assigned to the devices and are associated with the hardware by a dip switch or the like. According to the SCSI convention, the ID number is lower in order of priority, and the setting method differs depending on the system, but in FIG. 2, IC = 0 is assigned to the host computer 6 and ID = 7 is assigned to the memory disk 28 inside the card. Indicate the case. In FIG. 2, the CPU 12 of the host computer 6 controls the card controller 25 inside the card so that the external SCSI device 1
1a to 11f are used for exchanging data, and the memory disk 28 inside the card is connected to the SCSI line 29 and the common SCSI line 3 via the SCSI controller 24.
Host computer 6 and external SCS connected to
Data is exchanged with the I devices 11a to 11f.

[0011]

According to the present invention, therefore, the memory disk formed inside the card is connected to the small host computer and the external S via the internal SCSI controller.
Since it is connected to a CSI device, data exchange during this period is S
This can be easily performed by the standard procedure of CSI, and also functions as a memory disk when carried separately from an external SCSI device, so that a large capacity memory can be used by the host computer.

Further, since data exchange between the memory disk inside the card and the external SCSI device is carried out without regard to the host computer because it is the data communication between the SCSI devices, the host computer keeps the data communication with the external SCSI device. It is possible to carry out other tasks.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, even when used in a host computer having only one card slot, it functions as a SCSI card and at the same time it also functions as a memory disk, so that the shortage of the card slot can be compensated. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an example of an IC card according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a computer system showing an example of use of the IC card according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 small host computer 7 card slot 11 external SCSI device 20 card body 21 card connector 22 SCSI connector 23, 24 SCSI controller 25 card controller 26 IC memory 27 disk controller 28 memory disk 29 SCSI line

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A card connector for connecting to a card slot of a small-sized host computer is provided at one end of the card body, and an external SCSI device is connected to the other end of the card body facing the card connector. Is equipped with a SCSI connector, a memory disk inside the card body, and an S connected in series with the memory disk.
A CSI controller and a SCSI controller connected in series with the card connector are provided.
The CSI controller can access the SCS via the SCSI line.
A small computer IC card characterized by being connected to an I connector.