Selectable parallel/pcmcia pc-card port computer interface

摘要

A computer interface apparatus is selectably connectable to a PCMCIA PC-Card interface or a parallel port interface of a computer system. In the preferred embodiment, selection is achieved simply by the user choosing the correct cable for connecting to the computer. When the correct cable is connected to the apparatus, the cable causes the apparatus to configure itself to operate with either the parallel or PC-Card port as appropriate. In this preferred embodiment, the apparatus provides a connection to an ATAPI mass storage device, such as tape drives, CD ROM drives and hard drives, although any device for the mass storage of data provided with any other interface, such as SCSI, may be accommodated.