Memory Card

• US 20130258576A1
• Filed: 03/29/2012
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Ben-Gad, Gadi, Pomerantz, Itzhak
• Application Number:
  US13/434,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20130258576A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/182 with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/0806 using an arrangement for ejection of an inserted card
• 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: G11C 16/04 using variable threshold transistors, e.g. FAMOS
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/023 Handles; Grips
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 Covers

Abstract

A memory card is provided comprising a plurality of electrical contacts, a controller, and a memory, where a housing encloses the controller and the memory and exposes the plurality of electrical contacts. In one embodiment, the memory card further comprises an extendible gripping portion movable between first and second positions, wherein the extendible gripping portion is more exposed from the housing in the second position than in the first position. In another embodiment, the end of the housing forms a notch shaped to mate with a mating removal tool. In yet another embodiment, the length of the memory card is less than about 32 mm and the width of the memory card is about 24 mm, and the memory card has a fingernail grip on the housing. Other embodiments are possible, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.

Claims

1. A memory card comprising:

a memory;

a plurality of electrical contacts;

a controller interfacing between the memory and the plurality of electrical contacts;

a housing enclosing the controller and memory and exposing the plurality of electrical contacts; and

an extendible gripping portion movable between first and second positions, wherein the extendible gripping portion is more exposed from the housing in the second position than in the first position.

2. The memory card of claim 1, wherein the housing is sized such that a rear surface of the housing is substantially flush with an outer surface of a host device when the memory card is inserted into a memory card slot of the host device.

3. The memory card of claim 1, wherein the memory is a flash memory.

4. The memory card of claim 1 further comprising a spring mechanism, wherein the extendible gripping portion is substantially flush with the housing when the extendible gripping portion is in the first position, and wherein the spring mechanism is configured to push the extendible gripping portion outwards into the second position.

5. The memory card of claim 1, wherein a length of the memory card when the extendible gripping portion is in the first position is about 22 mm

6. The memory card of claim 1, wherein a length of the memory card when the extendible gripping portion is in the second position is less than about 32 mm.

7. The memory card of claim 6, wherein the length of the memory card when the extendible gripping portion is in the second position is about 25.5 mm.

8. The memory card of claim 1, wherein the extendible gripping portion comprises a raised edge.

9. A memory card comprising:

a memory;

a plurality of electrical contacts;

a controller interfacing between the memory and the plurality of electrical contacts; and

a housing enclosing the controller and memory and exposing the plurality of electrical contacts;

wherein an end of the housing forms a notch shaped to mate with a mating removal tool.

10. The memory card of claim 9, wherein the housing is sized such that a rear surface of the housing is substantially flush with an outer surface of a host device when the memory card is inserted into a memory card slot of the host device.

11. The memory card of claim 9, wherein the memory is a flash memory.

12. The memory card of claim 9, wherein a length of the memory card is less than about 32 mm.

13. The memory card of claim 11, wherein a length of the memory card is about 22 mm.

14. The memory card of claim 9, wherein an opening of the notch is along an edge of the housing, and wherein the opening is the narrowest portion of the notch.

15. The memory card of claim 9, wherein the notch is trapezoidal in shape.

16. A memory card comprising:

a memory;

a plurality of electrical contacts;

a controller interfacing between the memory and the plurality of electrical contacts;

a housing enclosing the controller and memory and exposing the plurality of electrical contacts; and

a fingernail grip on the housing;

wherein a length of the memory card is less than about 32 mm and wherein a width of the memory card is about 24 mm.

17. The memory card of claim 16, wherein the housing is sized such that a rear surface of the housing is substantially flush with an outer surface of a host device when the memory card is inserted into a memory card slot of the host device.

18. The memory card of claim 16, wherein the memory is a flash memory.

19. The memory card of claim 16, wherein the length of the memory card is about 22 mm.

20. The memory card of claim 16, wherein the fingernail grip is a groove.

21. The memory card of claim 16, wherein the fingernail grip is a protrusion.