Adapter apparatus for interfacing an insertable and removable digital memory device to a host port

• US 20010038547A1
• Filed: 12/06/2000
• Published: 11/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David K. Wong, Robin J. Jigour
• Original Assignee: David K. Wong, Robin J. Jigour
• Inventors: Wong, David K., Jigour, Robin J.
• Application Number:
  US09/730,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20010038547A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 365/43
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/409 Mechanical coupling back panels H05K7/1438
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07732 the record carrier having a housing or construction similar to well-known portable memory devices, such as SD cards, USB or memory sticks housings for electrical equipment in general, see H05K5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07741 comprising a first part operating as a regular record carrier and a second attachable part that changes the functional appearance of said record carrier, e.g. a contact-based smart card with an adapter part which, when attached to the contact card makes the contact card function as a non-contact card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07743 External electrical contacts
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0021 for reading/sensing record carriers having surface contacts
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2216/30 Reduction of number of input/output pins by using a serial interface to transmit or receive addresses or data, i.e. serial access memory
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/066 Means for reducing external access-lines for a semiconductor memory clip, e.g. by multiplexing at least address and data signals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Each device of a family of removable digital media devices may be plugged into a host to permits the host to store data in it or to retrieve data from it. The form factors of the digital media devices and the connector system used by them are compact for minimizing the volume of space occupied in portable devices and for easy storage. Preferably, the digital media devices of the family use serial memory requiring few power and signal lines, so that few electrical contacts are required. For example, a small number of durable contact pads form the contact arrays on the digital media devices, which in conjunction with corresponding contact pads mounted into a suitable socket provide for easy and convenient insertion and removal and for robust and reliable electrical contact over a long insertion lifetime. The digital media devices interface to the host either directly or through adapters.

Claims

1. An adapter to interface a digital media device to a port of a host, comprising:

a host port connector;

a socket for receiving a digital media device; and

a circuit mapping the host port connector to the socket.

2. An adapter as in

claim 1

wherein:

the host port connector comprises a serial data conductor, a power conductor, a ground conductor, and a clock conductor; and

the serial data conductor, the power conductor, the ground conductor, and the clock conductor are mapped to respective contact pads in the socket.

3. An adapter as in

claim 2

wherein the socket conforms to an SPI protocol.

4. An adapter for interfacing a memory device to a port of a host, comprising:

a host port connector;

a socket having a plurality of surface pad contacts and an orifice for receiving a generally planar memory device having a plurality of surface pads; and

a circuit mapping the host port connector to the surface pad contacts of the socket.

5. An adapter as in

claim 4

wherein:

the host port connector comprises a serial data conductor, a power conductor, a ground conductor, and a clock conductor; and

the serial data conductor, the power conductor, the ground conductor, and the clock conductor are mapped to respective contact pads in the socket.

6. An adapter as in

claim 5

wherein the socket conforms to an SPI protocol.

7. An adapter for interfacing a memory device to a port of a host, comprising:

a host port connector comprising a serial data contact, a clock contact, and a ground contact;

a socket having a plurality of surface pad contacts and an orifice for receiving a generally planar memory device having a plurality of surface pads; and

a circuit mapping the data contact, the clock contact, and the ground contact of the host port connector to respective ones of the surface pad contacts of the socket.

8. An adapter as in

claim 7

wherein the surface pad contacts of the socket conform to an SPI interface protocol.

9. An adapter as in

claim 7

wherein the surface pad contacts of the socket conform to an NXS interface protocol.

10. An adapter for interfacing a memory device to a port of a host, comprising:

a host port connector comprising a serial data contact, a clock contact, and a ground contact;

a socket having a plurality of contacts and an orifice for receiving a generally planar memory device about 15 mm wide; and

a circuit mapping the data contact, the clock contact, and the ground contact of the host port connector to respective ones of the contacts of the socket.