PORTABLE DATA STORAGE DEVICE

• US 20080052453A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Trek 2000 International Limited (Trek Technology Singapore PTE Limited)
• Original Assignee: Trek 2000 International Limited (Trek Technology Singapore PTE Limited)
• Inventors: Cheng, Chong
• Application Number:
  US11/928,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20080052453A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/12 Protecting executable software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• 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 21/79 in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/85 interconnection devices, e.g. bus-connected or in-line devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0634 by changing the state or mode of one or more devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0664 at device level, e.g. emulation of a storage device or system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 16/102 External programming circuits, e.g. EPROM programmers; In-circuit programming or reprogramming; EPROM emulators
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 16/22 Safety or protection circuits preventing unauthorised or accidental access to memory cells

Abstract

A portable data storage device (10) includes a universal serial bus (USB) coupling device (1) and an interface device (2) is coupled to the USB coupling device (1). The portable data storage device (10) also includes a memory control device (3) and a non-volatile solid-state memory device (4). The memory control device (3) is coupled between the interface device (2) and the memory device (4) to control the flow of data from the memory device (4) to the USB coupling device (1).

Claims

1. A portable data storage device comprising a coupling device for coupling to a computer serial bus, an interface device coupled to the coupling device, a memory control device and a non-volatile solid-state memory device;

the memory control device being coupled between the interface device and the memory device to control the flow of data from the memory device to the coupling device.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the non-volatile solid-state memory device is a read/write memory device.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the read/write memory device is a flash memory device.

4. A device according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the memory control device controls the flow of data to and from the memory device.

5. A device according to any of claims 2 to 4, further comprising a manually operated switch movable between a first position in which writing of data to the memory device is enabled, and a second position in which writing of data to the memory device is prevented.

6. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the memory control device comprises a micro-controller.

7. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling device comprises a universal serial bus coupling device and the interface device comprises a USB driver.

8. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling device comprises an IEEE 1394 (Firewire) protocol coupling device and the interface device is a Firewire protocol driver.