Data storage device

• US 20020083239A1
• Filed: 08/28/2001
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Storage Device Incorporated (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Fukazawa, Mitsunori, Okabayashi, Keiju, Iida, Atsuo, Kanda, Shinji
• Granted Patent: US 6,772,233 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/74
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0625 Power saving in storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0655 Vertical data movement, i.e. input-output transfer; data movement between one or more hosts and one or more storage devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A portable card type data storage device with a large capacity and low power consumption is provided which enalbes two storage mediums with different features to be installed into a single slot of an information processing device. The card type data storage device 100 of the invention includes a case 10 having a connection slot 10a, a first connector 11 adapted to be inserted into and connected with a connection slot 201 of an information processing device such as a PC 200, a hard disk 13 housed in the case 10, a second connector 12 for connection with a semiconductor memory 18 inserted into the connection slot 10a, and a storage device control section 20. When the first connector 11 is inserted into and connected with the information processing device 200, the storage device control section 20 receives electric power from the information processing device 200, and makes the hard disk 13 and the semiconductor memory 18, which is inserted into the connection slot 10a and connected with the second connector 12, function as external storages of the information processing device 200. Thus, two storage mediums comprising the semiconductor memory 18 of low power consumption and the hard disk 13 of a large capacity can be connected with the information processing device 200 through the single slot 201 thereof.

Claims

1. A data storage device of the card type adapted to be removably attached to an information processing device to perform data transfer therewith, said device comprising:

a storage element for storing data; and

an auxiliary device being different from said storage element and adapted to be detachably connected with said storage element for performing data transfer with at least one of said storage element and said information processing device.

2. The data storage device according to claim 1, further comprising a control section for controlling said storage element and said auxiliary device thereby to control data transfer between said storage element and said auxiliary device connected therewith or data transfer among said storage element, said auxiliary device and said information processing device.

3. The data storage device according to claim 2, wherein when said data storage device is installed on said information processing device, electric power is supplied from said information processing device to said control section, which in turn supplies electric power to said storage element and said auxiliary device thereby to drive said storage element and said auxiliary device.

4. The data storage device according to claim 2, wherein said auxiliary device comprises a semiconductor memory.

5. The data storage device according to claim 4, wherein said semiconductor memory is a memory device comprising a nonvolatile memory.

6. The data storage device according to claim 5, wherein said memory device comprising a nonvolatile memory comprises any one of a flash memory, a ferroelectric memory and a magnetic memory.

7. The data storage device according to claim 4, wherein said control section stores data in said storage element when the capacity of the data to be stored is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and stores data in said semiconductor memory when the capacity of the data is less than the predetermined value.

8. The data storage device according to claim 4, wherein said control section stores data in said storage element when the data to be stored is streaming data related to image or music.

9. The data storage device according to claim 4, wherein said control section determines, upon installation of said semiconductor memory, whether there is data to be saved to said semiconductor memory, and stores data in said storage element when there is data to be saved.

10. The data storage device according to claim 2, wherein said auxiliary device comprises a wireless communication card.

11. The data storage device according to claim 10, wherein said control section stores data, which is received by said wireless communication card, in said storage element.

16. The data storage device according to claim 12, wherein said information processing device has a PC card slot, and said first connector is adapted to be inserted into said PC card slot of said information processing device, and said storage device control section has a PC card interface through which data can be transferred between said storage device control section and said information processing device via said first connector.

17. The data storage device according to claim 1, wherein said storage element comprises any of a magnetic disk, a phase-change optical disk and a magneto-optical disk.

12. A data storage device of the card type adapted to be removably inserted into and connected with an external device connection slot of an information processing device to perform data transfer therewith, said device comprising:

a first connector for connection with said information processing device;

a built-in storage element;

a second connector for connection with a semiconductor memory; and

a storage device control section connected to said information processing device, said built-in storage element and said second connector for performing control thereon;

wherein when said first connector is inserted into and connected with said information processing device, said storage device control section receives electric power from said information processing device, and makes said storage element and said semiconductor memory connected with said second connector function as external storages of said information processing device.

13. A data storage device of the card type adapted to be removably inserted into and connected with an external device connection slot of an information processing device to perform data transfer therewith, said device comprising:

a first connector for connection with said information processing device;

a built-in storage element;

a second connector for connection with a wireless communication card; and

a storage device control section connected to said information processing device, said built-in storage element and said second connector for performing control thereon;

wherein when said first connector is inserted into and connected with said information processing device, said storage device control section receives electric power from said information processing device, and makes said storage element function as an external storage of said information processing device, and when said wireless communication card is inserted into and connected with said second connector, said storage device control section performs control in such a manner that data received by said wireless communication card is selectively stored in said storage element, or supplied directly to said information processing device.

14. A data storage device of the card type adapted to be removably inserted into and connected with an external device connection slot of an information processing device to perform data transfer therewith, said device comprising:

a first connector for connection with said information processing device;

a battery;

a built-in storage element;

a second connector for connection with a semiconductor memory; and

a storage device control section connected to said information processing device, said battery, said built-in storage element and said second connector for performing control thereon;

wherein when said first connector is not inserted in and connected with said information processing device, said storage device control section is driven by said battery to store data, which is stored in said semiconductor memory inserted into and connected with said second connector, in said storage element, and when said first connector is inserted into and connected with said information processing device, said storage device control section receives electric power from said information processing device, and makes said storage element and said semiconductor memory inserted into and connected with said second connector function as external storages of said information processing device.

15. A data storage device of the card type adapted to be removably inserted into and connected with an external device connection slot of an information processing device to perform data transfer therewith, said device comprising:

a first connector for connection with said information processing device;

a battery;

a built-in storage element;

a second connector for connection with a wireless communication card; and

a storage device control section connected to said information processing device, said battery, said built-in storage element and said second connector for performing control thereon;

wherein when said first connector is not inserted in and connected with said information processing device, said storage device control section is driven by said battery to store data, which is received by said wireless communication card inserted into and connected with said second connector, in said storage element, and when said first connector is inserted into and connected with said information processing device, said storage device control section receives electric power from said information processing device, and makes said storage element function as an external storage of said information processing device.

18. A data storage device of the card type adapted to be removably attached to an information processing device to perform data transfer therewith, said device comprising:

a card-shaped case having a first end and a second end on opposite sides thereof, said case being provided at its first end with a connection slot into which a semiconductor memory is adapted to be inserted;

a storage element housed in said case for storing data;

a first connector provided at the second end of said case for connection with said information processing device; and

a second connector disposed in said case at a location near said connection slot for connection with said semiconductor memory which is inserted into said connection slot.