Modem having separate modem engine and data access arrangement

A computer system comprising:

• a processor coupled to a first bus;
• a memory system coupled for access by the processor;
• a bus interface circuit coupled between the first bus and a second bus;
• a keyboard controller coupled for access by the processor;
• and
• a modem coupled for access by the processor, the modem including:
• a modem engine portion including at least one integrated circuit chip mounted on a first circuit board;
• a data access arrangement (DAA) portion including at least one other integrated circuit chip mounted on a second circuit board, the second circuit board being separate from the first circuit board;
• and
• a connector between the modem engine portion and the DAA portion, the connector including a plurality of conductive lines electrically connecting electrical signal nodes in the modem engine portion with electrical signal nodes in the DAA portion, each and every one of the electrical signal nodes being one of a digital signal node or a power supply node.

A modem for use with a computer system to allow communication over a telephone line, the modem comprising:

• a modem engine portion, said modem engine portion comprising:
• a computer system interface;
• a microcontroller connected to said computer system interface, said microcontroller providing first digital control signals;
• a data pump providing second digital control signals and receiving first data signals;
• a first connector providing electrically conductive paths coupled to said microcontroller and said data pump for transferring said first digital control signals from said microcontroller, said second digital control signals from said data pump, and said first data signals to said data pump;
• and
• a first circuit board on which said computer system interface, said microcontroller, and said data pump are located;
• and a data access arrangement portion, said data access arrangement comprising:
• a second connector providing electrically conductive paths connected to electrically conductive paths of said first connector for transferring said first digital control signals and said second digital control signals from said first connector and for transferring said first data signals to said first connector;
• a codec for receiving said second digital control signals from said second connector and providing said first data signals through conductive paths to said second connector;
• circuitry configured for connection to the telephone line for receiving first digital control signals from said second connector, for receiving telephone line signals from said telephone line, and for providing said telephone line signals to said codec;
• and
• a second circuit board on which said codec and said circuitry are located, wherein said first circuit board and said second circuit board are separate circuit boards.

A modem comprising:

• a modem engine module including at least one integrated circuit chip mounted on a first circuit board;
• a data access arrangement (DAA) module including at least one other integrated circuit chip mounted on a second circuit board, the second circuit board being separate from the first circuit board;
• and
• a connector between the modem engine module and the DAA modules, the connector including a plurality of conductive lines providing electrically conductive signal paths between electrical signal nodes in the modem engine module and electrical signal nodes in the DAA module, each and every one of the electrical signal nodes being either a digital signal node or a power supply node.

A modem comprising:

• a modem engine module including at least one integrated circuit chip mounted on a first circuit board;
• a data access arrangement (DAA) module including at least one other integrated circuit chip mounted on a second circuit board, the second circuit board being separate from the first circuit board;
• and
• a connector between the modem engine module and the DAA modules, the connector providing only digital signal connections and power supply connections between the modem engine module and the DAA module.

A modem comprising:

• a modem engine module including at least one integrated circuit chip mounted on a first circuit board;
• a data access arrangement (DAA) module including at least one other integrated circuit chip mounted on a second circuit board, the second circuit board being separate from the first circuit board;
• and
• a connector between the modem engine module and the DAA modules, the connector including a plurality of electrically conductive paths and providing no analog signal connections between the modem engine module and the DAA module.