Flash memory with integrated male and female connectors

• US 20060028803A1
• Filed: 01/03/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dolores Elizabeth Pocrass
• Original Assignee: Alan L. Pocrass
• Inventors: Pocrass, Alan L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,511,233 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/737
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• 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: H05K 1/18 Printed circuits structurally associated with non-printed electric components H05K1/0201, H05K1/023, H05K1/0243, and H05K1/16 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention is a flash memory drive including a printed circuit board, a male connector mounted to the printed circuit board, a female connector mounted to the printed circuit board, a flash memory chip mounted on the printed circuit board and electrically coupled to the male connector and the female connector and a download/copy logic chip for enabling data to be transferred to or from the flash memory chip. The female connector is configured to mate with another male connector for transferring data to or from the flash memory chip.

Claims

1. A flash memory drive comprising:

a printed circuit board;

a male connector mounted to the printed circuit board;

a female connector mounted to the printed circuit board and configured to mate with the male connector;

a flash memory chip mounted on the printed circuit board and electrically coupled to the male connector and the female connector; and

means for enabling data to be transferred to or from the flash memory chip, wherein;

the female connector is configured to mate with another male connector for transferring data to or from the flash memory chip.

2. The drive of claim 1, further comprising a battery coupled to provide power to the flash memory chip.

3. The drive of claim 1, further comprising means for facilitating electrical connection of at least one of the female connector and the male connector to at least one of a cable, another drive and a peripheral device.

4. The drive of claim 1, further comprising a switch for causing the transfer of data to or from the flash memory chip.

5. The drive of claim 1, further comprising a master/slave switch for setting the drive to transfer data to or from the flash memory chip as a function of the setting of said master/slave switch.

6. The drive of claim 1, further comprising an LED for indicating that the transfer of data is in progress.

7. The drive of claim 1, further comprising an enclosure surrounding the printed circuit board.

8. The drive of claim 7, further comprising:

means for retrieving digital audio data from the flash memory chip;

means for decoding the retrieved digital audio data;

means for converting the decoded digital audio data to an analog signal; and

an output connector for outputting the analog signal.

9. The drive of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of buttons accessible via the enclosure for controlling the digital audio chip.

10. The drive of claim 9, further comprising a display screen viewable via the enclosure for providing a visual indication of information related to the digital audio data.

11. A method of transferring data from a first flash memory drive having an integrated male connector to a second flash memory drive having an integrated female connector comprising:

inserting the male connector of the first flash memory drive into the female connector of the second flash memory drive; and

transferring data from a flash memory chip of the first flash memory drive to a flash memory chip of the second flash memory drive, or vice versa.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first flash memory drive includes a master/slave switch set to one of a master position and a slave position and the second flash memory drive includes a master/slave switch set to the other of the master position and the slave position.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the master/slave switch of the first flash memory drive in the master position sets the first flash memory drive to transfer data from its flash memory chip to the flash memory chip of the second flash memory drive, and the master/slave switch of the second flash memory drive in the slave position sets the second flash memory drive to receive data from the flash memory chip of the first flash memory drive.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein at least the first flash memory drive includes a switch for initiating the transferring of data from the first flash memory drive to the second flash memory drive, or vice versa, when pressed.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first flash memory drive includes an integrated female connector and the second flash memory drive includes an integrated male connector.

16. A flash memory drive comprising:

an enclosure;

a male USB connector at least partially disposed within the enclosure;

a female USB connector at least partially disposed within the enclosure;

a flash memory chip disposed in the enclosure and electrically coupled to the male connector and the female connector; and

means disposed in the enclosure for enabling data to be transferred to or from the flash memory chip, wherein;

the male USB connector is configured to mate with another female USB connector for transferring data to or from the flash memory chip.

17. The drive of claim 16, further comprising a battery coupled to provide power to the flash memory chip.

18. The drive of claim 16, further comprising a switch for initiating the transfer of data to or from the flash memory chip.

19. The drive of claim 16, further comprising a master/slave switch for causing data to be transferred to or from the flash memory chip as a function of the setting of the switch.

20. The drive of claim 16, further comprising means for facilitating electrical connection of at least one of the female USB connector and the male USB connector to another male USB connector and another female USB connector, respectively, of another device.