Multi-Receptacle Electronic Library for Concurrent Memory Card Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current card readers can only handle one memory card at a time, requiring physical swapping or multiple readers connected to a computer, which is expensive and inefficient, especially when dealing with limited I/O ports and drive letter designations.
Innovation Solution
An electronic library with multiple receptacles for various types of removable data storage devices, allowing concurrent access and management, presenting all connected devices as a single storage unit with folder organization to a host computer, and featuring a memory refresh module for data integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple card readers are attached to access multiple memory cards concurrently, then access efficiency is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple card reader functions into a single device. The housing contains multiple receptacles for different card types (SD, microSD, miniSD, memory stick, etc.), and a single controller manages all card interfaces, presenting them as one unified storage device to the host computer. This eliminates the need for multiple separate readers while maintaining concurrent access capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The single card reader device is designed to support multiple card formats simultaneously through different receptacles. The controller can identify and access various card types (SD, microSD, miniSD, memory stick, RS-MMC, etc.) through a unified interface, making the device universal and eliminating the need for multiple specialized readers.
2Productivity
If multiple card readers are used to access multiple memory cards, then concurrent access is improved, but I/O port consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple card reader interfaces are merged into a single physical device that connects to the host computer through one I/O port. The housing integrates multiple receptacles and a single controller that manages all card connections, allowing concurrent access to multiple cards while consuming only one I/O port resource.
3Device complexity
If physical swapping of memory cards is performed to access multiple cards, then device complexity is reduced, but access time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments multiple card receptacles within a single housing, allowing each card to remain inserted in its own receptacle. The controller can independently access any card without requiring physical removal or swapping, enabling parallel or sequential access to multiple cards simultaneously housed in one device.
4Productivity
If multiple drive letter designations are assigned to multiple card readers, then concurrent access is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple card interfaces are merged and presented to the host computer as a single storage device with one drive letter designation. The controller internally manages multiple virtual folders or partitions corresponding to different cards, allowing concurrent access without requiring multiple drive letters or complex system configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic library for managing data from removable data storage devices is described. The electronic library may have a stand-alone housing with a plurality of receptacles, at least two of the receptacles sized to connect with at least a first type of removable data storage device. An interface positioned on the housing permits concurrent access to removable data storage devices connected with the plurality of receptacles. A data access module in the housing may be configured to emulate a single removable data storage device containing data folders with corresponding to each removable data storage device. A refresh module in the housing may be configured to refresh each memory address of a removable data storage device in communication with one of the plurality of receptacles so that data integrity may be preserved.