2238 results about "Memory cards" patented technology

Preferred embodiments of the invention employ a portable and wearable EEG monitoring device having a patient-worn amplifier releasably coupled to a host computer for transmitting EEG signals. When patient disconnection from the host computer is desired, a portable operations device (POD) can be connected to the amplifier. Preferably upon detecting disconnection, a controller causes new EEG signals to be routed to a removable memory or transmitter peripheral card, enabling seamless data acquisition. Upon detecting reconnection between the amplifier and the host computer, the controller causes new EEG signals to be routed to the host computer. The controller also preferably transmits EEG signals stored on the peripheral memory card (if used) to the host computer. Preferred embodiments include a handheld display apparatus for viewing EEG signals and electrode information. Also, preferred embodiments reduce patient tethers by connecting multiple amplifiers in a daisy-chain format (most preferably on a PAN bus).

A memory system includes a plurality of nonvolatile memory chips (CHP1 and CHP2) each having a plurality of memory banks (BNK1 and BNK2) which can perform a memory operation independent of each other and a memory controller (5) which can control to access each of said nonvolatile memory chips. The memory controller can selectively instruct either a simultaneous writing operation or an interleave writing operation on a plurality of memory banks of the nonvolatile memory chips. Therefore, in the simultaneous writing operation, the writing operation which is much longer than the write setup time can be performed perfectly in parallel. In the interleave writing operation, the writing operation following the write setup can be performed so as to partially overlap the writing operation on another memory bank. As a result, the number of nonvolatile memory chips constructing the memory system of the high-speed writing operation can be made relatively small.

A mass storage memory card adds functionality to host devices with which it is used. In addition to the ability to store large amounts of user files and protect them from unauthorized duplication, a mass storage device according to the present invention enables near field communications with a portable electronic device that otherwise does not have such functionality. In a preferred embodiment the mass storage device has a mother/daughter configuration wherein the daughter card is a fully functioning micro-SD card that can be used independently. The mother card can be accepted in an SD card slot and communicates via the SD protocol. Whether or not the daughter card is present in the mother card, a host with the mass storage device therein will be capable of near field communications. These communications can be peer to peer or can be used to purchase goods or services as a sort of electronic wallet. A controller of the device is also operable to coordinate, control, and safeguard the financial transactions made when using the device and host as an electronic wallet.

A cooperative memory card system includes a memory card device, and a host in signal communication with the memory card device, where the host assumes at least one memory management function for the memory card device; and a corresponding method of cooperative memory management between a host and a memory card device includes selecting at least one of several memory management functions to be performed by the host for the device.

A system and method for providing, managing, and accessing a multi-user secure portable database using secure memory cards is provided. The database has a secure portion for storing security keys and a non-secure portion for encrypted data files. Access to the encrypted data files is controlled by assigning access rights through an access control matrix to each encrypted data file according to a hierarchical structure of users. A user requesting access is identified in the hierarchy, associated with a key for allowing the requested access, and the requested access allowed to a file in accordance with the rights allocated through the access control matrix. A patient can selectively grant access to encrypted medical records on his card to a physician. Authentication of the owner/patient is preferably required. Other records required by emergency medical personnel are readable from the same card without requiring permission from the patient.

A vehicular data recording device enabling a driver to get to know more about his driving technique to improve it. Not only images from a monitoring camera when a shock is detected are simply recorded in a memory card, but also images from the monitoring camera when no shock is detected are always updated and recorded in an HDD successively. Accordingly, images from the monitoring camera in various situations not leading to an accident can be surely supplied to a driver. This prompts the driver to reflect the driving thereof based on the images from the monitoring camera in the various situations. This can allow the driver to figure out the driving skill thereof, and improve the driving skill.

Provided is a secure digital memory card for extension of function, including: a flash memory installed in a host device and storing data generated by the host device; a controller controlling an access interface to the flash memory; a radio frequency circuit performing functions of a contactless integrated circuit card and a contactless integrated circuit card reader through a wireless interface control of the controller; an antenna unit connected to the radio frequency circuit to perform a function of a transmission and reception antenna; and a contact integrated circuit card adapter performing the function of the contact integrated circuit card reader through a wire interface control of the controller.

A radio signal relaying device has a PDA and a wireless modulating module connected to the PDA. The PDA is provided with multiple ports of different specifications such as a memory card slot, a USB interface or a serial port. The wireless modulating module is selectively linked to one of the ports to modulate music files stored in the PDA. The modulated sound files can be transmitted in the form of radio waves and then be demodulated and played by any radio receiving device.

A controller in a removable memory card operatively coupled to an electronic device is employed by the electronic device to create a newer/updated version of firmware/software in the non-volatile memory of the electronic device. Update agent code in the removable memory card may use an old/original version of firmware/software in the electronic device to create the newer/updated version of firmware/software. During the creation of the newer/updated version of firmware/software in the flash memory card, the electronic device may be operational. A separate update agent in the electronic device may subsequently update the old/original version of firmware/software in the non-volatile memory of the electronic device using contents of the removable memory card, after a reboot or power-up of the electronic device.

A method and apparatus for generating electromagnetic fields for healing. A device preferably includes a microcontroller and associated memory, a wire coil in electrical communication with a driving circuit that is controlled by the microcontroller in accordance with a program stored in the associated memory, wherein the driving circuit is effective to produce a pulsed DC output having a frequency in the range of about 0-45 Hz, more preferably in the range of 0.5-14.1 Hz and most preferably around 9.6 Hz. A user interface is provided for selecting one of a plurality of modes of operation and a port (e.g., a USB port) is provided to allow the program stored in the associated memory to be modified by way of a computer, memory card or the Internet. In another embodiment, the apparatus takes the form of a medallion that can be worn around a user's neck or strategically placed on a user's body or embedded in other user hardware such as a combat or racing helmet.

A device of the same general physical size and shape as a standard audio cassette tape, but which accepts digital information from any of a variety of sources—including for example: Internet transmission, a digital computer, or memory cards (especially digital memory cards)—and plays this digital information through any, for example, standard audio tape cassette player. The device operates by converting the digital representation of the sound into magnetic signals which are presented to the read/write head of the cassette player equipment. The device allows the user of the cassette player to regulate the audio playback using conventional equipment controls such as: START, STOP, REWIND, FAST REWIND, FORWARD, FAST FORWARD, etc. In one exemplary implementation, the device has the same general physical dimensions of a standard audio cassette; at least one digital processor; and a slot into which electronic media such as, for example, memory cards, smart cards having a processor and a memory embodied thereon and other memory media may be inserted. Converter circuitry converts data stored in digital memory to an analog signal which is magnetically coupled to the read head of the equipment. Numerous sensors detect changes in at least one of the tape equipment mechanisms in the audio cassette emulator.

Enclosed re-programmable non-volatile memory cards include at least two sets of electrical contacts to which the internal memory is connected. The two sets of contacts have different patterns, preferably in accordance with two different contact standards such as a memory card standard and that of the Universal Serial Bus (USB). One memory card standard that can be followed is that of the Secure Digital (SD) card. The cards can thus be used with different hosts that are compatible with one set of contacts but not the other. A sleeve that is moveable by hand may be included to expose the set of contacts being used.

A payment terminal using a mobile communication device (4), such as a mobile phone, is located on a removable memory card (1), e.g. type microSD card, which is adjusted in such a way so it can be inserted into an additional hardware slot, e.g. memory slot. A payment POS terminal application runs on a removable memory card (1), which contains at least one payment card. The payment card's unit (7) with the card's payment application is located in the secured part of the memory, separately from the terminal's configuration data unit (6). The configuration data of the terminal's selected identity and the payment card's data are located in the separate parts of the secure element or in completely independent secure elements or they can also be localized in the Sales Device of the merchant and there e.g. within the ICC card (29) or SAM card (42).

A controller comprises a host interface section and a processing circuit. The host interface section receives a command sequence outputted from a host apparatus to a first nonvolatile semiconductor memory. The processing circuit processes the command sequence outputted from the host apparatus to the first nonvolatile semiconductor memory, and controls writing, reading and erase of data to a second nonvolatile semiconductor memory, according to the command sequence.

An apparatus is provided for communicating over a network images captured by a digital camera, such as a digital camera without an on-board network interface. The apparatus includes a housing separate from the digital camera having a processing unit with memory for storage of images, a camera interface card received in a memory card slot of the digital camera, and a cable or wireless connection coupling the camera interface card to the processing unit for data communication. The apparatus emulates a memory card to the digital camera, such that the digital camera's electronics operate with the memory of the processing unit through the camera interface card, as if such memory was on a memory card located in slot of the digital camera. Images captured by the digital camera are transferred, via the camera interface card and cable, to memory of the processing unit, and the digital camera can access images stored in memory of the processing unit. The processing unit has a wireless data network interface and Ethernet communication interface, whereby captured images stored in memory of the processing unit are queued in real-time for network transfer, and subsequently transferred via one of the network communication interfaces, to a computer system, such as an web site or file server, at a network destination address configurable in the processing unit. Data may be inputted by the user before and/or after image capture for association with images prior to their network transfer. The housing for the processing unit may be shaped like a motor drive unit and attached to the bottom of the camera, or worn by the user of the camera in the form of a belt pack or backpack.

A user system includes terminal equipment configured to receive and send data through a communication network; a terminal security support system removably insertable in, and configured to cooperate with, the terminal equipment; and a trusted user platform for the terminal equipment. The trusted user platform includes an information protection system configured to implement security functionalities, configuration instances for the information protection system, and a trusted communication agent configured to provide a safe communication between the terminal security support system and a remote management centre through the terminal equipment to allow the information protection system to be remotely configured from the remote management centre. The terminal security support system includes an integrated circuit card and/or a memory card which wholly supports the trusted user platform, and the terminal equipment is configured to send data to be subjected to security control to, and to receive security-controlled data from, the trusted user platform.

A camera has a shutter release button that is held in an initial position while being not pressed, and is movable from the initial position to a full-pressed position via a half-pressed position. The camera is provided with first to third detectors for detecting that the shutter release button is in the initial position, in the half-pressed position and in the full-pressed position respectively. When the first detector detects that the shutter release button is displaced from the initial position, the shutter release button is considered to start being pressed down, so the camera starts preparatory operations for shooting, like photometry. When the second detector detects that the shutter release button reaches the half-pressed position, the camera completes the preparatory operations for shooting by carrying out aperture control and focusing. When the third detector detects that the shutter release button reaches the full-pressed position, the camera carries out an actual shutter release to write image data on a memory card.

The present invention is to provide a circuit board in a housing and a plurality of contacts fixedly mounted on each of one end, the other end, and at least one side of the circuit board by surface mounting for forming a first external connector, a second external connector, and at least one internal connector wherein each of the first and the second external connectors is exposed to be ready for connection, at least one insertion slot is formed in the housing and, in response to inserting a memory card (e.g., T-Flash Card) into the insertion slot, a plurality of contacts of the internal connector are electrically connected to a plurality of conductive terminals of the memory card. Further, a shield is pivotally formed at the second external connector projected from the other end of the circuit board wherein the shield and the housing are assembled together to have a size dimensioned to comply with the specifications of a first type of memory card (e.g., Memory Stick Card or SD Card).

A reusable electronic storage device comprised of a memory card and a protective container with attachment points for jewelry. The memory card contains medical or veterinary information about the bearer. The information is stored in electronic files in a standard directory structure. Labels show critical treatment data and indicate that the memory card contains information related to medical or veterinary treatment for the bearer. The container and/or medical card may be worn as a jewelry item.

The system consists of a POS terminal (6), a secure element (2), a mobile communication device (1) with a display and a keyboard, such as a mobile phone. The mobile communication device (1) is equipped with a removable memory card (3), in which there are at least two physically separate secure elements (2) located. The mobile communication device (1) is connected to the POS terminal (6) through a contactless transmission channel (5) and at least one secure element (2) on the removable memory card (3) contains a payment card unit (9). The removable memory card (3) contains a NFC communication element (7). The system can also encompass a separate carrier (13) for PIN entering. The carrier (13) is energetically supplied from the field of the received electromagnetic field. During the payment's authorization, the managing unit (4) in the mobile communication device (1) activates a corresponding secure element (2) with the chosen payment card unit (9) on the removable memory card (3). The mobile communication device (1) communicates with the POS terminal (6) through contactless transmission channel (5).

A flash non-volatile memory system that normally operates its memory cells in multiple storage states is provided with the ability to operate some selected or all of its memory cell blocks in two states instead. The two states are selected to be the furthest separated of the multiple states, thereby providing an increased margin during two state operation. This allows faster programming and a longer operational life of the memory cells being operated in two states when it is more desirable to have these advantages than the increased density of data storage that multi-state operation provides. An exemplary embodiment is as a memory card where the user can choice between two state and multi-state operation.

Apparatus and methods are provided for updating firmware on a multimedia device. One method includes reading a firmware version from a memory card in a memory card reader of the multimedia device and selecting whether to update a firmware version in a memory of the multimedia device based on a comparison of the firmware version on the memory card to the firmware version in the memory of the multimedia device.

A non-volatile flash memory system counts the occurrences of an event, such as the number of times that individual blocks have been erased and rewritten, by updating a compressed count only once for the occurrence of a large number of such events. Complementary embodiments include updating the compressed count based upon a random number or upon the actual count matching a multiple of the fixed number. These techniques also have application to monitoring other types of recurring events in flash memory systems or in other types of electronic systems. In another aspect of the present invention, provisions are made to maintain an accurate experience count if the memory system experiences an improper shutdown, for example in case of power loss or removal of a memory card.

Methods, apparatus, software and systems for securely erasing data from a memory card. A number of hidden spare blocks of memory in an inaccessible region of each memory bank is determined. A block of memory is repeatedly overwritten with a data pattern in each memory bank up to the number of hidden spare blocks in one embodiment. A block of memory is repeatedly erased in each memory bank up to the number of hidden spare blocks in another embodiment. The blocks of memory in the accessible region of each memory bank are erased or overwritten with the data pattern.

A system and methods are given for providing information on the amount of life remaining for a memory having a limited lifespan, such as a flash memory card. For example, it can provide a user with the amount of the memory's expected remaining lifetime in real time units or as a percentage of estimated initial life. An end of life warning can also be provided. The memory device can be resized by host command. In an exemplary embodiment, a host can send a request to the memory device obtain its status and the size of logical units with which it operates. Based on this information, portions of the memory device can be erased, after which it can be reformatted and operated with a reduce capacity.

Roughly described, a portable, removable memory device also includes a display for rendering images stored in the memory device in standalone mode. The memory device has a standard attachment interface to enable attachment and communication with different kinds of hosts. It also includes at least sufficient intelligence to be able to transform image file formats to satisfy user preferences or the requirements of different hosts. The device can be used as an interchangeable memory card, and also as a simple and easy way of sharing digital images.

A memory card and a recording/playback device are provided that are capable of deterring a memory card manufacturer from illicitly storing a same media ID on a plurality of memory cards. A memory card (100) includes a media ID storage module unit (610) and a memory unit (120). The media ID storage module unit (610) includes a media ID storage unit (611) that stores therein a media ID that is specific to the memory card, and a certification unit (609) that generates certification information that certifies the validity of the memory card based on the media ID. The memory unit (120) includes an encrypted content storage unit (122) for storing encrypted digital content. The recording/playback device (200) includes a memory card verification unit (200) that acquires the certification information from the memory card (100), verifies the validity of the memory card (100) based on the acquired certification information, and when the verification has failed, prohibits decrypting an encrypted content or encrypting a content, and a content encryption unit (209) that, when the verification has succeeded, encrypts the digital content or decrypts the encrypted digital content.

Enclosed re-programmable non-volatile memory cards include at least two sets of electrical contacts to which the internal memory is connected. The two sets of contacts have different patterns, preferably in accordance with two different contact standards such as a memory card standard and that of the Universal Serial Bus (USB). One memory card standard that can be followed is that of the Secure Digital (SD) card. The cards can thus be used with different hosts that are compatible with one set of contacts but not the other. A cover that is hinged to the card to normally cover one set of contacts can be rotated out of the way by hand when that set of contacts is being used.

An electronic lock box contains a secure compartment for storing keys to a structure. A linear actuator moves in one direction opening the door to the secure compartment, and moves in the opposite direction releasing a shackle that holds the lock box to the structure. A lock box system uses an encryption algorithm to diversify user PIN data at a central computer, and stores that diversified information on a memory card for later use when the user attempts to access a lock box. The central computer and electronic lock box both keep track of system “epoch time,” and the memory card must be presented to the electronic lock box within a correct epoch time window for the diversified PIN data to be successfully decrypted and compared to the user's PIN data that is entered on a keypad of the electronic lock box.

When a portable terminal apparatus 11 which is a data processing apparatus downloads digital contents from a server 12, the portable terminal apparatus 11 acquires right data 52 which takes into consideration not only contents data 51 but also a first DRM system in this portable terminal apparatus 11 and a second DRM system in a memory card 13 which is the export destination. The portable terminal apparatus 11 handles the contents data 51 according to the right data 52 and converts, when the digital contents are exported to the memory card 13, the right data 52 so as to be adaptable to the second DRM system and outputs the contents data 51 and converted right data 52A.