Apparatus and method of connecting and interfacing active device components

A method for interfacing a computer to an expansion base having peripherals maintained in a powered-down state prior to said interfacing, comprising the steps of:

• inserting said portable computer into said expansion base unit;
• initiating a physical connection between said computer and said expansion base unit without employing buffers, on at least signal lines on the peripheral option side of said physical connection, to prevent data corruption;
• generating an interrupt signal in said portable computer in response to said initial physical connection;
• detecting said interrupt signal interrupt signal in said computer;
• suspending activity on a plurality of signal pathways in said computer connected to the computer side of said physical connection;
• completing said physical connection between said computer and said expansion base unit;
• thereafter applying power to said plurality of peripheral devices communicably linked to said expansion base unit;
• and
• restoring activity on said plurality of signal pathways.

A method for interfacing a computer system to an expansion base unit having a docking bay, wherein said computer system and said expansion base unit are in equivalent or different power states and wherein said expansion base unit is communicably attached to a plurality of peripheral devices maintained in a powered-down state prior to said interfacing, said method comprising the steps of:

• associating said computer system with said docking bay;
• initiating a connection between a plurality of signal pathways in said computer terminating in a first connector on said computer system and a plurality of signal pathways terminating in a second connector on said expansion base unit;
• detecting in said computer system an interrupt signal generated by the initial connection of said first connector and said second connector;
• checking status of at least one of said plurality of signal pathways in said computer system;
• suspending activity along said plurality of signal pathways in said computer system;
• detecting in said expansion base unit said initial connection of said first connector and said second connector;
• applying power to said plurality of peripheral components;
• completing said connection between said computer system and said expansion base unit;
• and
• restoring activity on said plurality of signal pathways.

A computer/peripheral option system, comprising:

• a computer having a processor and a plurality of signal pathways coupling said processor to a connector on said computer;
• a peripheral option having a controller coupling a connector on said peripheral option to a plurality of peripheral components;
• a means within said computer for detecting an interrupt signal generated by an initial coupling of said connector on said computer to said connector on said peripheral option;
• a means within said computer for suspending activity on said plurality of signal pathways upon detection of said interrupt signal;
• a means within said peripheral option for detecting said initial coupling of said connector on said computer to said connector on said peripheral option;
• a means within said peripheral option for applying power to said plurality of peripheral components upon detection of said initial coupling of said connector on said computer to said connector on said peripheral option;
• and
• means for restoring activity on said plurality of signal pathways in response to a complete coupling of said connector on said computer to said connector on said peripheral option.

A method for interfacing a computer to an expansion base unit, comprising the steps of:

• inserting said portable computer into said expansion base unit;
• initiating a physical connection between said computer and said expansion base unit;
• generating an interrupt signal in said portable computer in response to said initial physical connection;
• detecting said interrupt signal interrupt signal in said computer;
• suspending activity on a plurality of signal pathways in said computer connected to the computer side of said physical connection;
• completing said physical connection between said computer and said expansion base unit;
• thereafter applying power to said plurality of peripheral devices communicably linked to said expansion base unit;
• and
• restoring activity on said plurality of signal pathways.

A computer/peripheral option system, comprising:

• a computer having a processor and a plurality of signal pathways coupling said processor to a connector on said computer;
• a peripheral option having a controller coupling a connector on said peripheral option to a plurality of peripheral components;
• a means within said computer for detecting an interrupt signal generated by an initial coupling of said connector on said computer to said connector on said peripheral option;
• a means within said computer for suspending activity on said plurality of signal pathways upon detection of said interrupt signal;
• a means within said peripheral option for detecting said initial coupling of said connector on said computer to said connector on said peripheral option;
• and
• means for restoring activity on said plurality of signal pathways in response to a complete coupling of said connector on said portable computer to said connector on said peripheral option.