Computer system host adapter for controlling signal levels to peripheral cards

In a computer system having first and second integrated circuits, a power supply for providing power to the first integrated circuit through a power line, and a signal transmission line for transmitting signals from the second integrated circuit to the first integrated circuit, an improvement comprising:

• an output driver in the second integrated circuit for driving the signal transmission line responsive to signals provided to the output driver;
• the output driver being powered by the same power line as the first integrated circuit;
• and,
• the output driver providing signals on the signal transmission line limited in amplitude by the voltage on the power line irrespective of the voltage of the signals provided to the output driver.

A host adapter for controlling a removable peripheral card, said host adapter including:

• a power supply;
• a card socket for receiving said peripheral card;
• a slot voltage power line coupling said power supply to said peripheral card through said card socket;
• a peripheral card controller;
• a signal transmission line coupling said peripheral card controller to said peripheral card through said card socket;
• an output driver in the peripheral card controller having a power input and driving the signal transmission line responsive to signals provided to the output driver;
• and
• a power interconnection line coupling the power input of said output driver to said slot voltage power lines the output driver providing signals on the signal transmission line limited in amplitude by the voltage on the slot voltage power line irrespective of the voltage of the signals provided to the output driver.

A host adapter for controlling a peripheral card, said host adapter including:

• an integrated circuit card controller device and a slot voltage input/output pad;
• a power control device having a plurality of power output lines each connected to the slot voltage input/output pad of the peripheral card by a slot voltage line;
• a card socket device having a slot for receiving the peripheral card, said card socket device being connected to said integrated circuit card controller device by a signal transmission line and to the power output lines of the power control device by the slot voltage line;
• means for activating a selected one of said plurality of power output lines at any one time;
• and
• means for activating said signal transmission line only after activation of said selected power output lines, wherein signals provided on said signal transmission line are limited in amplitude by the voltage on the slot voltage line irrespective of the voltage of the signals provided to said means for activating said signal transmission line.

A host adapter for controlling two or more peripheral cards, said host adapter comprising:

• two or more peripheral card interconnection sockets for receiving removable peripheral integrated circuit cards;
• a power supply for providing power independently to said two or more peripheral cards through said interconnection sockets;
• and
• a single card controller device for independently controlling said two or more peripheral cards, said card controller device providing power enable signals to said power supply for controlling power supplied to said two or more peripheral cards, and with said card controller independently providing control signals to said two or more peripheral cards through respective card sockets, each card socket having a slot for receiving peripheral card, each card socket being connected to the card controller by a slot voltage line and by a signal transmission line, said power supply providing power to said two or more peripheral devices at one of two or more voltage levels, with said power enabling signals controlling said power supply to provide power to said two or more devices at selected voltage levels;
• said card coroller including two or more output drivers, each output driver corresponding to each of said two or more peripheral devices, for providing signals on a corresponding signal transmission line, said signals being limited in amplitude by the voltage on a correspond slot voltage line irrespective of the voltage of the signals provided to the output driver.

A host adapter for controlling two peripheral integrated circuit cards, said host adapter comprising:

• an integrated circuit controller device;
• a power supply device;
• first and second card socket devices for each receiving a removable peripheral card;
• first and second power supply lines interconnecting said power supply device and respective card socket devices;
• first and second switching units connected to said first and second power supply lines, respectively, said switching devices controlling power flow onto said power supply lines;
• first and second signal transmission lines connecting respective first and second output drivers of said controller device to respective card socket device;
• and
• first and second power interconnection lines connecting respective first and second power supply lines to said first and second output drivers, with said first and second output drivers receiving power from said respective power interconnection lines at a voltage level equal to a voltage level of power supplied to said peripheral cards
• wherein the power supply provides power at first and second voltage levels to respective switching devices and wherein said switching devices transmit power, if at all, onto respective power supply lines either at said first voltage level, or said second voltage level;
• wherein said first and second output drivers each provide signals on the respective first and second signal transmission line, which are limited in amplitude by the voltage on the respective first and second power interconnection line, irrespective of the voltage of the signals provided to the corresponding first and second output drivers.

A host adapter for controlling a removable peripheral card, said host adapter including:

• a power supply providing power at 3.3V on a first power line and at 5.0V on a second power line, and including a switching unit to connect either said first or second power supply line to a slot voltage line;
• a card socket for receiving said removable peripheral card;
• a slot voltage power line coupling said power supply to said removable peripheral card through said card socket;
• a peripheral card controller;
• a signal transmission line coupling an output driver of said peripheral card controller to said removable peripheral card through said card socket;
• and
• a power interconnection line coupling a power input of said output driver to said slot voltage power line;
• the peripheral card controller having an output-driver that provides signal on the signal transmission line, which are limited in amplitude by the voltage on the slot voltage power line irrespective of the voltage of the signals provided to the output driver.