DATA STORAGE DEVICES

• US 20110182040A1
• Filed: 07/14/2009
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter Anthony Ronald Ellul
• Original Assignee: Goosewire Holdings Limited
• Inventors: Brown, Stephen James, Ellul, Peter Anthony Ronald
• Granted Patent: US 8,670,242 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: G06K 19/07733 the record carrier containing at least one further contact interface not conform ISO-7816
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07769 the further communication means being a galvanic interface, e.g. hybrid or mixed smart cards having a contact and a non-contact interface

Abstract

A data storage device comprising a card-shaped body, a memory within the card-shaped body, and a connector for connecting the memory to a personal computer. The card-shaped body comprises a swipable portion with a magnetic stripe arranged to be read by a magnetic stripe card reader. The card-shaped body can comprise a main portion with a recess and a connector portion comprising the memory and connector. In that case, the connector portion is hingably mounted on the main portion to be rotatable between a closed position in which the connector portion is located within the recess, and an open position in which the connector of the connector portion is located outside of the recess so that it can be used to connect the memory to a personal computer.

Claims

1. A data storage device comprising:

a card-shaped body;

a memory within the card-shaped body;

a connector for connecting the memory to a personal computer; and

wherein the card-shaped body comprises a swipable portion with a magnetic stripe arranged to be read by a magnetic stripe card reader.

2. A data storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory and connector are located in a memory portion of the card-shaped body, and wherein the thickness of the memory portion from the front face to the back face of the card-shaped body is greater than the thickness of the swipable portion from the front face to the back face of the card-shaped body.

3. A data storage device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a radio-frequency identification (RFID) transponder.

4. A data storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connector is a universal serial bus (USB) type connector.

5. A data storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is stored in the memory data relating to and/or a computer application which provides functions relating to the use of the magnetic stripe.

6. A data storage device comprising:

a card-shaped body;

a memory within the card-shaped body;

a connector for connecting the memory to a personal computer; and

wherein the card-shaped body comprises a subscriber identity module (SIM).

7. A data storage device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the SIM is located in a removable portion of the card-shaped body.

8. A data storage device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the removable portion when removed can be used as a miniature SIM card.

9. A data storage device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the memory and connector are located in a memory portion of the card-shaped body, the SIM is located in a SIM portion of the card-shaped body, and wherein the thickness of the memory portion from the front face to the back face of the card-shaped body is greater than the thickness of the SIM portion from the front face to the back face of the card-shaped body.

10. A data storage device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the connector is a universal serial bus (USB) type connector.

11. A data storage device as claimed in claim 6, wherein there is stored in the memory data relating to and/or a computer application which provides functions relating to the use of the SIM.

12. A data storage device comprising:

a card-shaped body;

a memory within the card-shaped body;

a connector for connecting the memory to a personal computer; and

wherein the card-shaped body comprises a radio-frequency identification (RFID) transponder.

13. A data storage device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the connector is a universal serial bus (USB) type connector.

14. A data storage device as claimed in claim 12, wherein there is stored in the memory data relating to and/or a computer application which provides functions relating to the use of the RFID transponder.

15. A data storage device comprising:

a card-shaped body;

a memory disposed within the card-shaped body;

a connector for connecting the memory to a personal computer; and

wherein the card-shaped body comprises a pharmaceutical storage portion comprising one or more removable pharmaceutical products and/or medical devices.

16. A data storage device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the storage portion comprises a plastics sheet with a foil backing comprising pharmaceutical products, and the pharmaceutical products are stored within pockets formed between the plastics sheet and the foil backing.

17. A data storage device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the storage portion comprises a pocket formed in the card-shaped body, and the plastics sheet is disposed within the pocket.

18. A data storage device as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a leaflet portion comprising printed information.

19. A data storage device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the leaflet portion is hingably mounted on the card-shaped body.

20. A data storage device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the leaflet portion comprises a pocket, and the printed information is printed on a leaflet removably located within the pocket.

21. A data storage device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the connector is a universal serial bus (USB) type connector.

22. A data storage device as claimed in claim 15, wherein there is stored in the memory data relating to and/or a computer application which provides functions relating to the use of the pharmaceutical products and/or medical devices.

23. A data storage device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the card-shaped body comprises:

a main portion comprising a recess;

a connector portion comprising the memory and connector; and

wherein the connector portion is hingably mounted on the main portion to be rotatable between a closed position in which the connector portion is located within the recess, and an open position in which the connector of the connector portion is located outside of the recess so that it can be used to connect the memory to a personal computer.

24. A data storage device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the connector portion is hingably mounted at a corner of the main portion.