A user configurable, modular port expansion
system allows the user of a host
system such as a
USB-enabled
personal computer to customize a desired configuration of one or more
peripheral device modules without the use of cables between modules. The
peripheral device modules are physically and electrically connectable to each other side-by-side between a hub end module and a power end module in any sequence so that there can be provided, within the limits of the host port specification, virtually any number of selected, expanded functions in any combination. The
peripheral device modules may include, by way of example, a standard parallel DB-25 port module, a two-port serial PS / 2 module, a two-port serial DB-9 module, a four- or seven-port
USB hub, an RJ-11
Ethernet LAN module, and an RJ-11 modem module. Where the host port is
USB compliant, power to the peripheral device modules may be supplied by the host
system via a USB standard cable connected to the USB port of the hub end module, or, if more power is required, by an external a.c. power adapter connectable to the power end module. The power end module may also include an USB expansion port.