GB2312566A - An adapter - Google Patents

Abstract

An adapter (10) for interfacing a first data link (14) to a second data link (16). The adapter (10) includes a set of modules (11) having at least one combination having the ability to interface with the first data link (14) and the second data link (16). The adapter modules may include a translation module for translating the signal from the first data link to the second, a power module for powering the translation module and a noise filter module. The modules may have hermaphroditic connectors with hermaphroditic latch mechanisms.

Description

AN ADAPTER Field of the Invention This invention relates to an adapter particularly, but not exclusively, to an adapter for interfacing a first data link to a second data link Background of the Invention A wide range of equipment may be interconnected to allow data transfer for example, personal computers (PC's), laptops, notebooks, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA's), fax/data modems and so on, use connectors to external circuits such as telephone lines or Local Area Networks (LAN), to allow data transfer to other equipment. The connectors are of many different types such as DB9, DB15 and DB25 data connectors or RJ-11 telephone connectors. The type of connector used will depend on the equipment to be connected and the form in which the data is to be transferred.

Because the connectors are of a wide range of types, a mismatch often occurs and it is necessary to make the connection by means of an adapter. The adapter can be as simple as a cable with suitable connectors on each end or as complicated as an infra-red optical link with optical components, interface electronics, power supply and filtering/protection components. For each different application, a different adapter is used resulting in a plethora of such devices, each one of which is suitable only for one specific type of data link and circuit configuration.

This invention seeks to provide an adapter for interfacing between a first type of data link to a second type of data link which mitigates the above mentioned disadvantages.

S'nnmarv of the Invention According to the invention there is provided an adapter for interfacing a first data link to a second data link comprising a set of modules which, in use, are assembled into at least one combination having the ability to interface with the first data link and the second data link.

The advantage of such an adapter is that with the use of a small set of modules, a large range of data link adapters can be built. The adapters can be sold as assembled units for specific functions or as a kit of modules for a wide range of functions.

Preferably, the at least one combination includes an external connection module for connecting a first communication equipment having a first data link to the adapter and for connecting a second communication equipment having a second data link to the adapter.

Preferably, the at least one combination includes a translation module for translating an electrical signal from the first communication equipment having a first data link to a electrical signal compatible with a second communication equipment having a second data link.

The at least one combination preferably, includes a power module for providing voltage to the translation module.

Preferably, the at least one combination includes a filter module for filtering electrical noise signals.

In a preferred embodiment, the set of modules include at least one hermaphroditic element connector and at least one hermaphroditic latch mechanism for connecting at least one basic module to another basic module. By hermaphroditic it is meant there are both male and female members so that any one element can mate with another element.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a side view of an adapter formed from a number of modules for interfacing between a first type of data link to a second type of data link according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is set of isometric views of a internal module used in the adapter shown in FIG. 1; and FIG. 3 is a side view of a combination of five basic modules prior to assembly to form the adapter.

Detailed Description of the Drawings As is shown in FIG. 1, an adapter 10 formed from a set of modules 11 is used for interfacing between a first data link 14 path connected to a first communication equipment 12, to a second data link 16 path connected to second communication equipment 18. The first data link 14 is an Infra Red (IR) link on an optical fibre and the second data link 16 is a Recommended Standard (RS) RS232 link on a wire.

There are two types of modules; end modules lia and internal modules 11b. The internal modules type 11b will be described with reference to FIG.2.

With particular reference to FIG. 2(a) and FIG. 2(b), the internal module type comprises a generally rectangular body 20 having a peripheral lip 21 projecting from two major faces 22 and 23. Each face 22, 23 has a centrally located projection 24 and 25 of rectangular shape. The longest dimension of the projections is aligned with the longest dimension of the faces 22 and 23.

An enlarged view of projection 25 is shown in FIG. 2(c). It can be seen that at one end of the projection is located a pair of electrically conductive pins 26. At the other end is located a pair of sockets 27.

The projections 24, 25 are arranged to be complementary. That is to say, the pins are aligned with the sockets. This means that the pins on a projection on a first module will engage with the sockets on the projection of a second module. As shown in FIG. 2(a) an upper face 28 includes a recess 29 and a snap 30 which is a resiliently deformable projection of the lip 21 and is formed with a downwardly directed lug 30a. The lug 30a, is so dimensioned as to fit within the recess 29 on an adjacent module. When a module is assembled, the lug 30a will ramp up over a lip and "snap" into the recess of the adjacent module. A similar recess 31 and snap 32 arrangement is provided on a minor face 3B and also on the lower face (lug 34 being visible on the figure).

The end modules 11a are more clearly shown in FIG. 3 and it can be seen that they are very similar to the inner modules differing in that they have only two respective lugs respectively. Their external faces 40 and 41, are not provided with any lugs or recesses but are provided with whatever connector or lead is required to connect to the equipment 12 and 18.

FIG. 3 shows the adapter 10 prior to assembly of the modules. The set of modules 11 includes from left to right of the figure, a first external connection module 40, a translation module 41, a power module 42 and a filter module 43 and a second external connection module 44.

The external connection modules are chosen from a selection available to a user each one of which will enable connection to a particular type of equipment. A typical set of external connection modules would consist of DB9, DB15, DB25 and RJ-11 mechanical connectors for wired applications, a fibre-optic connector fitting and transceiver (transmitter/receiver pair) for optical fibre applications, an infra-red transceiver for optical wireless applications and a spread-spectrum transmitter and receiver with antenna for RF wireless applications. For this adapter, the first external connection module 40 includes a IR transceiver, and optical fibre cable 40a and the second external connection module 44 is a RS232 connector with a wire cable 44a.

The second module is the translation module 41. The translation module 41 includes a circuit which translates between the two protocols used on the data links 14 and 16, in this case RS-232 levels to Tm levels and vice-versa.

The third module is the power module 42. The power module 42 provides the necessary power for the translation module 41 and the external connection modules 40 and 44, because in this case the power is not available from the external equipment 12 or 18.

The fourth module is the filter module 43. The filter module 43 provides filtering against external or internal electrical noise sources and protection against excessive voltage levels from the external equipment.

Again this is chosen from a set which will include a general purpose filter and protection module with series inductors, parallel capacitors and parallel over-voltage protectors, and more specialised modules which will be designed specifically to meet regulatory requirements such as those appertaining to connection to public telephone lines in a particular country. In this case the chosen filter module 43 filters the electrical noise signals generated by the translation module 41, the power module 42 and the second data link 16.

With the modules 11 selected the user will assemble the adapter 10 by pushing each module in turn onto the adjacent module. This results in each module being electrically connected to the next by means of the pins 26 and holes 27 and disconnection being prevented by the inter-engagement of the projections and recesses.

The adapter works in the following way. The first external connection module 40, transmits and receives IR signals from the first data link 14. The electrical signals from the IR transceiver in the module 40, pass to the translation module 41. The translation module 41 is powered by power received from power module 42 and translates electrical signals originating from the first communication equipment 12 to electrical signals compatible with the second communication equipment 18.

The filter module 43 filters electrical noise. Typically this noise is generated by the translation module 41, the power module 42 and the second data link 16. The filtered electrical signals from the filter module 43 pass to the second external connection module 44, from whence they are transmitted to the second data link 16.

In alternative embodiments of the invention the external connector modules can be of the same type that is both could use RS232 communication techniques. Whilst in the described embodiment the power module was connected to an external power supply it may in alternative embodiments be battery powered by a battery located within the module or externally.

The number of modules used in any embodiment of the invention and the connection sequence of these modules can be varied to suit the particular adapter function.

Claims (10)

Claims

1. An adapter for interfacing a first data link to a second data link, comprising: a set of modules which, in use, are assembled into at least one combination having the ability to interface with the first data link and the second data link.

2. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein at least one combination includes external connection modules for connecting a first communication equipment having a first data link to the adapter and for connecting a second communication equipment having a second data link to the adapter.

3. The adapter according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at least one combination includes a translation module for translating signals from the first communication equipment having the first data link to signals compatible with the second communication equipment having the second data link.

4. The adapter according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein at least one combination includes a power module for providing power to the translation module

5. The adapter according to claim 1, claim 2, claim 3 or claim 4, wherein at least one combination includes a power module for providing power to the external connection module

6. The adapter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one combination includes a filter module for filtering out noise signals.

7. The adapter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the set of modules comprise: at least one module having at least one hermaphroditic module connector; and at least one hermaphroditic latch mechanism for connecting at least one module to another module.

8. An adapter substantially as described herein with reference to and or as illustrated by FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 or FIG. 3.

9. A module for use in an adapter as claimed in any preceding claim.

10. A module substantially as described herein with reference to and or as illustrated by FIG. 2.