# US 8,543,751 B2 · Computer card > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,543,751 B2 - Document ID: US8543751B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/799,187 - Filed: 2007-04-30 - Published: 2008-10-30 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2007-04-30 - Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Applicants: Walter G. Fry; Jeffrey W. Diehl; Peter Yen; Lester J. Williams; Fred F. Massoudian; Long H. Huynh - Inventors: Walter G. Fry; Jeffrey W. Diehl; Peter Yen; Lester J. Williams; Fred F. Massoudian; Long H. Huynh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8543751B2 ## CPC - G06F 13/409: {Mechanical coupling (back panels H05K7/1438)} - G06F 1/1616: {with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position} - G06F 1/1632: {External expansion units, e.g. docking stations} - G06F 1/1656: {Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203)} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A computer card comprising a first connector to enable the computer card to communicatively couple to an electronic device when the computer card is inserted into an externally accessible slot of the electronic device. The computer card further comprising an expansion slot configured to receive an expansion card therein. The computer card further comprising a second connector to facilitate coupling of a peripheral device to the computer card. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer card, comprising: a first connector to enable the computer card to communicatively couple to an electronic device when the computer card is inserted into an externally accessible slot of the electronic device; an expansion slot configured to receive an expansion card therein; and a second connector to facilitate coupling of a peripheral device to the computer card. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer card of claim 1, further comprising a bridge module configured to translate a data signal received from the expansion card to a format readable by the electronic device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The computer card of claim 2, further comprising a data hub configured to channel communications between the bridge module and the electronic device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The computer card of claim 1, further comprising a data hub configured to channel communications between the peripheral device coupled to the computer card and the electronic device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The computer card of claim 1, wherein the expansion slot is configured to receive at least one of a flash memory card and a network card. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The computer card of claim 1, wherein the peripheral device is a dock. ### Claim 7 A method of manufacturing a computer card, comprising: providing a connector on the computer card to enable the computer card to communicatively couple to an electronic device when the computer card is inserted into an externally accessible slot of the electronic device; and providing an expansion slot on the computer card configured to receive an expansion card therein. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising coupling a bridge module to the expansion slot, wherein the bridge module is configured to translate a data signal received from the expansion card to a format readable by the electronic device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising coupling a data hub to the bridge module, wherein the data hub is configured to channel communications between the bridge module and the electronic device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising coupling a data hub to a dock, wherein the data hub is configured to channel communications between a dock coupled to the computer card and the electronic device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising providing the expansion slot configured to receive at least one of a flash memory card and a network card. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising providing another connector to facilitate coupling of a dock to the computer card. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising providing a module configured to enable the computer card to provide a card-specific function to the electronic device. ### Claim 14 A computer card, comprising: a first connector to enable the computer card to communicatively couple to an electronic device when the computer card is inserted into an externally accessible slot of the electronic device; a module configured to enable the computer card to provide a card-specific function to the electronic device; and a second connector to enable the computer card to be communicatively coupled to a peripheral device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The computer card of claim 14, further comprising a data hub configured to channel communications between the peripheral device and the electronic device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The computer card of claim 14, wherein the peripheral device comprises a dock. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The computer card of claim 14, further comprising an expansion slot configured to receive an expansion card therein. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The computer card of claim 17, further comprising a bridge module configured to translate a data signal received from the expansion card to a format readable by the electronic device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The computer card of claim 17, further comprising a data hub configured to channel communications between a bridge module and the electronic device, wherein the bridge module is configured to translate a data signal received from the expansion card to a format readable by the electronic device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The computer card of claim 17, wherein the expansion slot is configured to receive at least one of a flash memory card and a network card.