ELECTRONIC DATA FLASH CARD WITH VARIOUS FLASH MEMORY CELLS

• US 20080052452A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Abraham Ma, Charles Lee, David Chow, Frank Yu, Ming-Shiang Shen
• Original Assignee: Abraham Ma, Charles Lee, David Chow, Frank Yu, Ming-Shiang Shen
• Inventors: Lee, Charles, Chow, David, Shen, Ming-Shiang, Yu, Frank, Ma, Abraham
• Application Number:
  US11/929,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20080052452A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/00 Accessing, addressing or allocating within memory systems or architectures digital input from, or digital output to record carriers, e.g. to disk storage units, G06F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0246 in block erasable memory, e.g. flash memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/1416 by checking the object accessibility, e.g. type of access defined by the memory independently of subject rights G06F12/1458 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/7202 Allocation control and policies
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/7208 Multiple device management, e.g. distributing data over multiple flash devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07354 by biometrically sensitive means, e.g. fingerprint sensitive fingerprint sensors in general G06V40/12; biometrically activated access control G07C9/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence

Abstract

An electronic data flash card is accessible by a host computer, and includes a processing unit connected to a flash memory device that stores a data file, and an input-output interface circuit activated so as to establish a communication with the host computer. In an embodiment, the electronic data flash card uses a USB input/output interface circuit for communication with the host computer. A flash memory controller includes an index for converting logical addresses sent by the host computer into physical addresses associated with sectors of the flash memory device. The index is controlled by arbitration logic referencing to values from various look up tables and valid data stored in the flash memory device. The flash memory controller further includes a first-in-first-out unit (FIFO) for recycling obsolete sectors of the flash memory device in the background process so that they are available for reprogramming.

Claims

1. An electronic data flash card adapted to be accessed by a host computer, said electronic data flash card comprising:

a non-volatile memory device for storing a reference data possessed by a person authorized to access the host computer, wherein the reference data is stored in said non-volatile memory device, wherein said non-volatile memory device is a multi-level-cell (MLC) flash memory;

an input/output interface circuit for establishing communication with the host computer, wherein said input/output interface circuit is a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) interface circuit;

a flash memory controller mounted on the card body and electrically connected to said flash memory device and said input/output interface circuit, wherein the flash memory controller comprises;

(a) means for determining whether the flash memory device is supported by a processing unit of the flash memory controller in accordance with a flash detection algorithm code,

(b) an index for storing a plurality of logical block addresses and a plurality of physical block addresses such that each said physical block address is assigned to an associated said logical block address, where each said physical block address corresponds to an associated plurality of memory cells of the flash memory device,

wherein said flash memory controller includes;

means for selectively operating in a programming mode in which said flash memory controller activates said input/output interface circuit to receive the data file from said host computer and stores the data file in said non-volatile memory device, a data retrieving mode in which said flash memory controller accesses the data file stored in said non-volatile memory device and activates said input/output interface circuit to transmit the data file to said host computer, and a data resetting mode in which the flash memory controller facilitates erasing of the data file from said non-volatile memory device;

means for mode switching of the electronic data flash card among the programming mode, the data retrieving mode, and the data resetting mode;

security means for entering security data for comparison with the reference data stored in said non-volatile memory device;

means for controlling said flash memory controller when the electronic data flash card is in the programming mode such that when the security data entered through said security means matches with the reference data stored in said non-volatile memory device, the flash memory controller transfers from the host computer at least one of the data file and the reference data through the input/output interface circuit into said non-volatile memory device;

means for controlling said flash memory controller when the electronic data flash card is in the data retrieving mode such that when the security data entered through said security means matches with the reference data stored in said non-volatile memory device, the flash memory controller transfers the data file stored in the non-volatile memory device through the input/output interface circuit to the host computer; and

a card body usable as a substrate on which said non-volatile memory device, said input/output interface circuit, and said flash memory controller are mounted.