Flash Memory Ground Lead Segmentation for Host Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mini USB flash drives without a housing may not correctly connect to a host, leading to potential damage from high voltage due to incorrect grounding, as the ground lead may not electrically connect to the host.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a second ground lead on the substrate that electrically connects to the host first upon plugging, ensuring the high voltage is led out and preventing circuit damage, and optionally using a protrusion to facilitate correct angled insertion and ensure proper grounding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ground lead is connected to the host first during plugging, then the high voltage is led out and circuit damage is prevented, but the device structure becomes more complex with additional ground leads required
Solution Approach 1:
The ground connection is segmented into multiple separate ground leads (first ground lead and second ground lead) instead of using a single ground connection. This segmentation allows different ground leads to make contact with the host at different times during plugging, ensuring that at least one ground lead connects first to prevent high voltage damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the ground leads and their corresponding connection ports such that the ground lead makes contact with the host before the power lead during the plugging process. This preliminary grounding action ensures that the device is grounded before receiving power, preventing high voltage damage from improper plugging sequence.
2Reliability
If a protrusion is added to facilitate correct insertion angle, then proper grounding is ensured, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A protrusion is added to the device body at a specific asymmetric position to guide the insertion angle. This asymmetric feature ensures that the device can only be inserted in the correct orientation, guaranteeing that the ground lead connects to the corresponding ground connection port first before the power lead connects to the power connection port.
Data Source
AI summary
A flash memory storage apparatus is provided. The flash memory storage apparatus includes a substrate, a control and storage circuit unit, a ground lead, at least a signal lead, and a power lead. The control and storage circuit unit, the power lead, the signal lead, and the ground lead are disposed on the substrate, in which the power lead, the signal lead, and the ground lead respectively electrically connect to the control and storage circuit unit. Moreover, the flash memory storage apparatus further includes an extra ground lead electrically connected to the ground lead or a protrusion on the substrate, such that the ground lead first electrically connects to a host when the flash memory storage apparatus is plugged into the host.