Cooperative Interconnection and Operation of a Non-Volatile Memory Card and an Input-Output Card

• US 20060264109A1
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Socket Communications, Inc., SanDisk Technologies LLC (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Socket Communications, Inc.
• Inventors: Brewer, Wesley G., Miller, Robert C., Cedar, Yoram, Wallace, Robert F., Mills, Kevin J., Ott, Leonard L., Gifford, Michael L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,680,974 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/630
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07743 External electrical contacts
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0047 for reading/sensing record carriers having edge contacts

Abstract

Very small non-volatile memory cards are modified to include a connector to which a connector on a separate data input-output card electrically and mechanically mates when pushed together. The input-output card transfers data directly between an external device and the non-volatile memory, without having to go through the host to which the memory card is connected. The input-output card communicates with the external device through a wired or a wireless communication channel.

Claims

1. A method of communicating data between a non-volatile memory card connected with a host system and an external device, comprising electrically and mechanically attaching an input-output card to the memory card and communicating data between the memory card and the external device through the input-output card rather than through the host system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein data is wirelessly communicated between the input-output card and the external device through an antenna included within the input-output card.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein attaching the input-output card to the memory card includes engaging mating connectors provided on edges of the memory and input-output cards, wherein the memory card connector is positioned on an opposite side of the memory card from an edge along which electrical contacts are positioned that are connected with the host.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein engaging mating connectors includes laterally pushing said mating connectors together in a manner to automatically both establish electrical contact between and mechanically latch the memory and input-output cards together to resist their pulling apart.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating data between the memory card and the external device through the input-output card utilizes a controller in the memory card that also controls the transfer of data between the memory in the memory card and the host system.