32 results about "CompactFlash" patented technology

A non-volatile storage subsystem maintains, and makes available to a host system, monitor data reflective of a likelihood of a data error occurring. The monitor data may, for example, include usage statistics and / or sensor data. The storage subsystem transfers the monitor data to the host system over a signal interface that is separate from the signal interface used for standard storage operations. This interface may be implemented using otherwise unused pins / signal lines of a standard connector, such as a CompactFlash or SATA connector. Special hardware may be provided in the storage subsystem and host system for transferring the monitor data over these signal lines, so that the transfers occur with little or no need for host-software intervention. The disclosed design reduces or eliminates the need for host software that uses non-standard or “vendor-specific” commands to retrieve the monitor data.

A flash memory card includes a differential datapath that enables communications between the flash memory card and a host device to be performed using differential signals. The differential datapath can translate between the differential signals and card-specific signals that control read / write operations to the memory array of the flash memory card. The card-specific signals can be standard MultimediaCard, Secure-Digital card, Memory Stick, or CompactFlash card signals, among others. A host device that provides differential data transfer capability can include a similar differential datapath. By using differential data transfer rather than conventional clocked data transfer, overall data bandwidth between a flash memory card and a host device can be significantly increased, while simultaneously decreasing power consumption and pin requirements.

A flash memory card includes a differential datapath that enables communications between the flash memory card and a host device to be performed using differential signals. The differential datapath can translate between the differential signals and card-specific signals that control read / write operations to the memory array of the flash memory card. The card-specific signals can be standard MultiMediaCard, Secure-Digital card, Memory Stick, or CompactFlash card signals, among others. A host device that provides differential data transfer capability can include a similar differential datapath. By using differential data transfer rather than conventional clocked data transfer, overall data bandwidth between a flash memory card and a host device can be significantly increased, while simultaneously decreasing power consumption and pin requirements.

A flash-memory-card reader reads and writes multiple types of flash-memory cards, including CompactFlash, and the smaller SmartMedia, MultiMediaCard, Secure Digital, and Memory Stick. A converter chip converts the different card signals for transfer to a host personal computer (PC). Serial-to-parallel data conversion is performed for the smaller card formats with serial data interfaces, but not for CompactFlash with a parallel-data interface. A single slot has a 50-pin connector for CompactFlash cards or passive adapters. The passive adapters have the CompactFlash form factor and a smaller connector fitting smaller flash cards. Passive adapters have no components but simply wire the smaller connector to the CompactFlash connector. A pin mapping allows card-type detection by sensing the LSB address pins of the CompactFlash interface. A larger CompactFlash reader has multiple slots for each card type. The reader is connected to the PC by a cable, or located within the PC chassis in a drive bay. A stand-alone reader copies images from the flash-memory card to a removable disk media. Pressing a button initiates image transfer.

A flash-memory-card reader reads and writes multiple types of flash-memory cards, including CompactFlash, and the smaller SmartMedia, MultiMediaCard, Secure Digital, and Memory Stick. A converter chip converts the different card signals for transfer to a host personal computer (PC). Serial-to-parallel data conversion is performed for the smaller card formats with serial data interfaces, but not for CompactFlash with a parallel-data interface. A single slot has a 50-pin connector for CompactFlash cards or passive adapters. The passive adapters have the CompactFlash form factor and a smaller connector fitting smaller flash cards. Passive adapters have no components but simply wire the smaller connector to the CompactFlash connector. A pin mapping allows card-type detection by sensing the LSB address pins of the CompactFlash interface. A larger CompactFlash reader has multiple slots for each card type. The reader is connected to the PC by a cable, or located within the PC chassis in a drive bay. A stand-alone reader copies images from the flash-memory card to a removable disk media. Pressing a button initiates image transfer.

A flash-memory-card reader reads and writes multiple types of flash-memory cards, including CompactFlash, and the smaller SmartMedia, MultiMediaCard, Secure Digital, and Memory Stick. A converter chip converts the different card signals for transfer to a host personal computer (PC). Serial-to-parallel data conversion is performed for the smaller card formats with serial data interfaces, but not for CompactFlash with a parallel-data interface. A single slot has a 50-pin connector for CompactFlash cards or passive adapters. The passive adapters have the CompactFlash form factor and a smaller connector fitting smaller flash cards. Passive adapters have no components but simply wire the smaller connector to the CompactFlash connector. A pin mapping allows card-type detection by sensing the LSB address pins of the CompactFlash interface. A larger CompactFlash reader has multiple slots for each card type. The reader is connected to the PC by a cable, or located within the PC chassis in a drive bay. A stand-alone reader copies images from the flash-memory card to a removable disk media. Pressing a button initiates image transfer.

A method is disclosed for packaging a small size memory card, including xD Picture card, Memory Stick™, Secure Digital™ (SD) card, SmartMedia™ (SM) card, Multimedia card (MMC), CompactFlash™ (CF) card and PC card, by moulding over to encapsulate a populated printed circuit board (PCB) (10) to form the standard external dimensions and features of the memory card.The method comprises holding the populated PCB (10) in place in a cavity (44) of at least one mould piece; and moulding over both sides of the populated printed circuit board (10) to encapsulate said board. Various embodiments are disclosed, including means for holding the populated PCB (10) in the moulding cavity (44) for the encapsulation process, which includes transfer moulding and injection moulding processes, one or more moulding steps, and moulding over one part of one side of said board before the other side, and / or simultaneously moulding over both sides of said board.

A wireless switch for a wireless local area network (WLAN) as disclosed herein includes an integrated nonvolatile memory card interface that enables communication with compliant portable nonvolatile memory cards such as CompactFlash memory cards. A portable memory card can be utilized by the wireless switch and / or by other network components that are coupled to the wireless switch via the WLAN. In one practical embodiment, the portable memory card is configured to store boot code for the wireless switch, client device data, supplemental (update) code for the wireless switch, and / or log data for the wireless switch.

A cartridge for an optical data storage disc includes a sheet metal sheath that is folded back on itself and a plastic insert that is inserted into the sheath. An opening is formed in the plastic insert for holding an optical data storage disc. The sheath includes two wall portions that are located on opposite sides of a bend area, where the sheet metal is folded. The two wall portions are attached to each other, preferably by spot-welding, to form a structurally stable sandwich that includes the plastic insert between the wall portions. The opening in the plastic insert becomes a cavity for holding the disc. A shutter opening is formed in one of the wall portions, and spindle openings are formed in both wall portions. A shutter covers the shutter opening when the cartridge is not operational to protect the disc. The disc is rotated by the spindle of an external disc drive which enters a central hole of the disc through the spindle openings. The use of sheet metal wall portions in conjunction with the plastic insert allows the cartridge to be made very thin. Used with an appropriate disc drive, the cartridge may be employed to provide a large amount of data to a CompactFlash® or other type of card slot.

A memory card is disclosed resembling a CompactFlash card, but which is compatible with an ExpressCard slot.

A compact disk player includes a housing, an optical drive and a flash card reader. The housing has an internal chamber for accommodating the compact disk drive and the flash card reader, and a panel provided with a plurality of apertures. One of the apertures is for allowing a compact holder of the compact disk drive to pass in and out, whereas the other apertures are correspondingly provided with driving devices for reading from and writing to Memory Stick, CompactFlash, SecureDigital, MultiMedia, Smart Media, Extreme Digital, and PCMCIA cards. Using the above structure disposing the flash card reader and the optical drive in the same housing, materials required are decreased, occupied space is significantly reduced, and production cost is also lowered.

A non-volatile storage device has first and second controllers that provide external access to non-volatile memory using different protocols. In response to a request from the first controller, the second controller retrieves parameters from the non-volatile memory and provides the retrieved parameters to the first controller. In one embodiment, the device parameters are USB descriptors, which may include a vendor ID, a product ID, a product string, and / or a serial number. The first controller may be a Universal Serial Bus (USB) card reader controller. Examples of the second controller include a Secure Digital (SD) controller, a CompactFlash (CF) controller, a MemoryStick controller, or a different type of controller that is able to provide external access to the non-volatile memory. The first controller provides the device parameters to a host during enumeration of the non-volatile storage device. The device parameters may be used to establish settings for the first controller.

An expandable and collapsible peripheral device is disclosed, along with methods of manufacturing same. When in an expanded state, the peripheral device may have a length which conforms to the ExpressCard standard, and when in a collapsed state, the peripheral device may have a form factor approximating that of a CompactFlash card. Peripheral devices of the present invention may operate according to standards other than the ExpressCard standard, and may have sizes in the expanded and collapsed positions unrelated to ExpressCards and / or CompactFlash cards.

An adapter assembly is disclosed that enables a memory card having a smaller length than a standard ExpressCard to be compatible with the standard ExpressCard slot. The adapter assembly includes an adapter having side rails configured to disable the ExpressCard slot ejector mechanisms. The adapter assembly further includes a tongue provided for rigidly connecting the adapter to a finger grip, which gets positioned outside of the opening of the ExpressCard slot upon insertion of the adapter assembly into the slot. The adapter allows a memory card having the approximate size, look and feel of a conventional CompactFlash card to be used in a conventional ExpressCard slot.

A data recording device is provided in which FAT and directory data, which are file managing information, are protected, whereby, during a restart, the FAT and directory data can be restored to a state that was in effect directly before a file update or another file operation even when a power source is interrupted during the file operation. The data recording device comprises CompactFlash and SRAM, wherein the files are managed by a FAT file system. The CompactFlash records file data of a file, a FAT, and directory data. The SRAM is provided with a backup region. The FAT and directory data are backed up to the backup region before the FAT and directory data are updated.

An adapter assembly is disclosed that enables a memory card having a smaller length than a standard ExpressCard to be compatible with the standard ExpressCard slot. The adapter assembly includes an adapter having side rails configured to disable the ExpressCard slot ejector mechanisms. The adapter assembly further includes a tongue provided for rigidly connecting the adapter to a finger grip, which gets positioned outside of the opening of the ExpressCard slot upon insertion of the adapter assembly into the slot. The adapter allows a memory card having the approximate size, look and feel of a conventional CompactFlash card to be used in a conventional ExpressCard slot.

The present invention provides a modular designed CompactFlash interface for voice and data applications. The present invention provides the advantages of attachments, such as a keypad, that attach to a PDA and give the PDA the ability to provide a wireless voice handset. Other attachments include a small screen attachment that gives pager / PDA-like interfaces for data transmission and / or retrieval.

A method and apparatus for recording data concerning a system is provided. The apparatus comprises a memory card, such as a COMPACTFLASH card, and a processor unit, such as a T2CAS processor unit. The memory card includes a supplemental file that contains instructions as to what data is to be recorded and when the recording should start and stop. To conserve space the supplemental file is written as a sequence of hexadecimal characters whose position in the sequence and binary bit value indicates which data is to be recorded and when. A lookup table can be used to interpret the supplemental file. The processor unit includes or is coupled to a memory card reader / writer.

An adapter assembly is disclosed that enables a memory card having a smaller length than a standard ExpressCard to be compatible with the standard ExpressCard slot. The adapter assembly includes an adapter having side rails configured to disable the ExpressCard slot ejector mechanisms. The adapter assembly further includes a tongue provided for rigidly connecting the adapter to a finger grip, which gets positioned outside of the opening of the ExpressCard slot upon insertion of the adapter assembly into the slot. The adapter allows a memory card having the approximate size, look and feel of a conventional CompactFlash card to be used in a conventional ExpressCard slot.

Method for packaging small size memory cards A method is disclosed for packaging a small size memory card, including xD Picture card, Memory Stick(TM), Secure Digital(TM) (SD) card, SmartMedia(TM) (SM) card, Multimedia card (MMC), CompactFlash(TM) (CF) card and PC card, by moulding over to encapsulate a populated printed circuit board (PCB) (10) to form the standard external dimensions and features of the memory card. The method comprises holding the populated PCB (10) in place in a cavity (44) of at least one mould piece; and moulding over both sides of the populated printed circuit board (10) to encapsulate said board. Various embodiments are disclosed, including means for holding the populated PCB (10) in the moulding cavity (44) for the encapsulation process, which includes transfer moulding and injection moulding processes, one or more moulding steps, and moulding over one part of one side of said board before the other side, and / or simultaneously moulding over both sides of said board.

A non-volatile storage device has first and second controllers that provide external access to non-volatile memory using different protocols. In response to a request from the first controller, the second controller retrieves parameters from the non-volatile memory and provides the retrieved parameters to the first controller. In one embodiment, the device parameters are USB descriptors, which may include a vendor ID, a product ID, a product string, and / or a serial number. The first controller may be a Universal Serial Bus (USB) card reader controller. Examples of the second controller include a Secure Digital (SD) controller, a CompactFlash (CF) controller, a MemoryStick controller, or a different type of controller that is able to provide external access to the non-volatile memory. The first controller provides the device parameters to a host during enumeration of the non-volatile storage device. The device parameters may be used to establish settings for the first controller.

A memory card is disclosed resembling a CompactFlash card, but which is compatible with an ExpressCard slot.

An expandable and collapsible peripheral device is disclosed, along with methods of manufacturing same. When in an expanded state, the peripheral device may have a length which conforms to the ExpressCard standard, and when in a collapsed state, the peripheral device may have a form factor approximating that of a CompactFlash card. Peripheral devices of the present invention may operate according to standards other than the ExpressCard standard, and may have sizes in the expanded and collapsed positions unrelated to ExpressCards and / or CompactFlash cards.

An expandable and collapsible peripheral device is disclosed, along with methods of manufacturing same. When in an expanded state, the peripheral device may have a length which conforms to the ExpressCard standard, and when in a collapsed state, the peripheral device may have a form factor approximating that of a CompactFlash card. Peripheral devices of the present invention may operate according to standards other than the ExpressCard standard, and may have sizes in the expanded and collapsed positions unrelated to ExpressCards and / or CompactFlash cards.

A storage device has a casing with physical and mechanical features that enable an automated dispenser to reliably move the storage device through a loading and dispensing process therewithin. The casing's physical and mechanical features reduce the chance of a user loading the storage device in an automated dispenser incorrectly. The casing may also improve the stacking of storage devices in a dispenser. The features herein additionally assist a free fall while loading to the automated dispenser. The storage devices may be, for example, USB solid state drives (also referred to as flash drives, thumb drives, or the like), Secure Digital (SD) cards, CompactFlash (CF) cards and the like.

A compact disk player includes a housing, an optical drive and a flash card reader. The housing has an internal chamber for accommodating the compact disk drive and the flash card reader, and a panel provided with a plurality of apertures. One of the apertures is for allowing a compact holder of the compact disk drive to pass in and out, whereas the other apertures are correspondingly provided with driving devices for reading from and writing to Memory Stick, CompactFlash, SecureDigital, MultiMedia, Smart Media, Extreme Digital, and PCMCIA cards. Using the above structure disposing the flash card reader and the optical drive in the same housing, materials required are decreased, occupied space is significantly reduced, and production cost is also lowered.

A storage device has a casing with physical and mechanical features that enable an automated dispenser to reliably move the storage device through a loading and dispensing process therewithin. The casing's physical and mechanical features reduce the chance of a user loading the storage device in an automated dispenser incorrectly. The casing may also improve the stacking of storage devices in a dispenser. The casing may also improve the ability of automated dispensers to move the storage device through the writing and dispensing process. The storage devices may be, for example, USB solid state drives (also referred to as flash drives, thumb drives, or the like), Secure Digital (SD) cards, CompactFlash (CF) cards and the like.

An apparatus and a method for processing encoded digital audio data, wherein the digital audio data is encoded using one of a plurality of encoding formats. The present invention prevents encoded digital audio data that has been copied onto a particular type of data storage medium having a unique identifier, such as a compactflash memory card, from another one of the particular type of data storage medium from being playable in an audio playback device according to the present invention. In accordance with the present invention, an encoded audio data file is encrypted using a unique identifier associated with the data storage device and a second key, an associated decoder file is encrypted using a first key, and the encrypted data and decoder files are stored onto the data storage device. During playback, a digital signal processor decrypt the audio data file in response to the second key and decrypts the decoder file in response to the first key. Advantageously, the second key is generated in response to the unique identifier and a third key. This method of encrypting and playing back the audio data files stored in the data storage device prevents an apparatus according to the present invention from playing back audio data files from a particular type of data storage device having a unique identifier, when the audio data files have been copied from another one of the same type of data storage device.