Smart diskette device adaptable to receive electronic medium

• US 6,315,207 B1
• Filed: 10/19/1999
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Kagaku Media Company Limited (Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SmartDisk Corporation
• Inventors: Barrett, Paul, Ryan, Andrew, Tantony, Shaun, Holy, Peter, Eisele, Raymund, Burkart, Axel
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Felten, Daniel S
• Application Number:
  US09/421,072
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/493, 235/481
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0607 by facilitating the process of upgrading existing storage systems, e.g. for improving compatibility between host and storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0658 Controller construction arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07741 comprising a first part operating as a regular record carrier and a second attachable part that changes the functional appearance of said record carrier, e.g. a contact-based smart card with an adapter part which, when attached to the contact card makes the contact card function as a non-contact card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0013 by galvanic contacts, e.g. card connectors for ISO-7816 compliant smart cards or memory cards, e.g. SD card readers connectors in general H01R13/00; connectors for SIM cards used in mobile phones or the like H04B1/3816
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/0327 for special applications not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 25/04 using flat record carriers, e.g. disc, card
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/00 Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus with cameras or projectors G03B31/00 ; recording/reproducing of music for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/0033; automatic arrangements for answering calls or for recording messages for absent subscribers H04M1/64; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with dictation recording and playback systems H04M11/10; connection of TV recorder with other related apparatus, e.g. TV camera or receiver, in which the TV signal is significantly involved H04N, e.g. H04N23/00, H04N5/765; combination of radio or TV with other apparatus, e.g. with vehicles H05K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/142 Contactless power supplies, e.g. RF, induction, or IR
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/00 Arrangements for writing information into, or reading information out from, a digital store G11C5/00 takes precedence; auxiliary circuits for stores using semiconductor devices G11C11/4063, G11C11/413

Abstract

An element which can be plugged into an electronic data processing (EDP) device, for receiving a user card which is equipped with components, including at least one of a processor and/or data memory, a frame having an exterior form, which is designed to accommodate the user card, a first interface for transferring data between the element and the EDP device, and a second interface formed by contacts on the user card and on the frame, for transferring data to and from the user card. The exterior form of the frame is that of a diskette so that it can be inserted into a diskette station of an EDP device. The first interface between the element and the EDP device is designed in a standard fashion, so that data can be transferred using a standard read/write device already present in the diskette station of the EDP device. The frame carries a battery for supplying current via the interface to the components located on the user card, if required, and carries an additional processor and data memory for providing the element with additional processor and storage capacity.

Claims

1. A data transfer device for use in transferring data between an electronic data processor having a magnetic media drive including a magnetic media receiving station for receiving media inserted therein, and an electronic card having a memory for storing data, said data transfer device comprising:

a frame that can be inserted into a magnetic media reading station of said electronic data processor, said frame including an insertion port having a recess for receiving and surrounding at least most of the side periphery of said electronic card;

a data link for data exchange between said electronic data processor and said electronic card;

a data transfer device processor, coupled to said data link, for controlling data exchange between said electronic data processor and said electronic card;

a memory operatively coupled to said data transfer device processor for storing program instructions for execution by said data transfer device processor for controlling data exchange between said electronic data processor and said electronic card;

a data transfer device random access memory (RAM), coupled to said data transfer device processor for storing data transferred between said electronic data processor and said memory card; and

interface circuitry, coupled to said data transfer device processor, for transferring data between said data transfer device and said magnetic media receiving station of said electronic data processor;

wherein the electronic card includes a select line coupled to said memory for storing data, and wherein when the select line is at a predetermined logic level said RAM can not be selected.

2. A data transfer device according to claim 1, wherein said insertion port is operable to receive an electronic memory card for a digital camera.

3. A data transfer device according to claim 1, wherein said electronic card includes a flash memory device.

4. A data transfer device according to said claim 1, wherein said data transfer device processor is operable to execute at least one of said program instructions to send a command and an address to said memory included in said electronic card.

5. A data transfer device according to said claim 1, wherein said data transfer device processor is operable to execute at least one of said program instructions to control a DMA operation involving said memory included in said electronic card.

6. A data transfer device, according to claim 1, wherein information stored in said memory included in said electronic card is transferred to said RAM.

7. A data transfer device according to claim 1, wherein said transfer device processor is operable to execute instructions to determine where in RAM information from said memory included in said electronic card is stored.

8. A method of transferring data from a removable memory to a computer having a magnetic media drive including a magnetic media receiving station for receiving media inserted therein, and a processing system for executing a control program for controlling said computer, said method of transferring comprising the steps of:

inserting a magnetic media emulating data transfer device into said magnetic media receiving station of said computer, said data transfer device having a frame that can be inserted into a magnetic media reading station of said computer and including a removable memory, digital processing circuitry, and an interface for transferring data to said computer via said magnetic media receiving station;

encoding information to be transferred to said computer as an MFM signal;

transferring said information indicative of a characteristic of said removable memory to said computer encoded as part of an MFM signal; and

transferring information stored in said removable memory to said computer via said data transfer device as part of an MFM signal.

9. A method according to claim 8, further including the step of accessing information from said removable memory indicative of a characteristic of said removable memory.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said characteristic of said removable memory relates to the removable memory storage capacity.

11. A method according to claim 8, further including the step of identifying a location of data in said removable memory which can not be accessed, and remapping at least a part of the removable memory address space in response to the identification of the location of data in said removable memory which can not be accessed.

12. A method according to claim 8, wherein said step of encoding includes the step of encoding track header information.

13. A method according to claim 8, wherein said step of encoding includes the step of encoding sector header information.

14. A method according to claim 8, wherein said step of encoding includes the step of encoding data header information.

15. A method according to claim 8, wherein said step of encoding includes the step of encoding tail information.

16. A method according to claim 8, wherein said step of encoding includes the steps of outputting a track header, outputting a sector header for each sector, outputting a data header, and outputting data.

17. A method according to claim 8, further including the step of selecting the source of information to output to the computer.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein said step of selecting includes the step of setting a control register to a predetermined value to indicate the information source.

19. A method according to claim 8, wherein said removable memory includes a flash memory device.

20. A method according to claim 8, wherein the removable memory includes a select line for selecting the removable memory, and further including the step of selecting said removable memory for accessing via said select line.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein said data transfer device includes a RAM, and wherein when the select line for selecting the removable memory is at a predetermined logic level, said RAM can not be selected.

22. A method according to said claim 8, further including the step of sending a command and an address to said removable memory.

23. A method according to claim 8, further including the step of executing at least one program instruction by said digital processing circuitry to control a DMA operation involving said removable memory.

24. A method according to claim 8, further including the step of transferring information stored in said removable memory to said RAM memory.

25. A method according to claim 24, further including the step of determining where in RAM memory information from said removable memory is stored.

26. A method of transferring digital data from a removable memory to a computer having a magnetic media drive including a magnetic media receiving station for receiving media inserted therein, and a processing system for executing a control program for controlling said computer, said method of transferring comprising the steps of:

inserting a magnetic media emulating data transfer device into said magnetic media receiving station of said computer, said data transfer device having a frame that can be inserted into a magnetic media reading station of said computer and including a removable memory, digital processing circuitry, and an interface for transferring data to said computer via said magnetic media receiving station therein;

accessing information from said removable memory;

storing said information accessed from said removable memory in a RAM on said data transfer device; and

performing a DMA transfer of said information from said RAM memory to said computer encoded as part of an MFM signal.

27. A method according to claim 26, further including performing an error checking operation on at least part of said MFM signal.

28. A method according to claim 26, further including the steps of removing said removable memory from a digital device and inserting said removable memory into an insertion port in said frame.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein said digital device is a digital camera.

30. A method according to claim 26, wherein said step of storing data in said RAM includes the step of writing data from said computer to said RAM via an MFM decoder.

31. A method according to claim 26, wherein said step of performing a DMA transfer includes the step of executing at least one instruction by said digital processing circuitry for enabling the DMA operation.

32. A method according to claim 26, wherein the step of performing a DMA transfer includes the step of controlling said DMA transfer with a timer associated with said digital processing circuitry.

33. A method according to claim 26, wherein said step of performing a DMA transfer includes the step of transferring RAM information sectors.

34. A method according to claim 26, wherein said step of performing a DMA transfer includes the step of executing at least one instruction by said digital processing circuitry for indicating the source of the data to be transferred.

35. A method according to claim 26, wherein step of performing a DMA transfer includes the step of coupling the data to be transferred to an MFM encoder.

36. A method according to claim 26, wherein said step of performing a DMA transfer includes the step of transferring information to the computer in the format of at least one track of a magnetic media.

37. A method according to claim 36, wherein said step of transferring information to the computer includes the step of transmitting a track header and padding characters.

38. A method according to claim 36, wherein said step of transferring information to the computer includes the step of transmitting boot record data.

39. A method according to claim 36, wherein the step of transferring information to the computer includes the step of repetitively transmitting sector information.

40. A method according to claim 39, wherein the step of repetitively transmitting sector information includes the step of accessing a sector header and transmitting the associated data header.

41. A method of transferring digital data from a removable memory to a computer having a magnetic media drive including a magnetic media receiving station for receiving media inserted therein, and a processing system for executing a control program for controlling said computer, said method of transferring comprising the steps of:

inserting a magnetic media emulating data transfer device into said magnetic media receiving station of said computer, said data transfer device having a frame that can be inserted into a magnetic media reading station of said computer and including a removable memory, digital processing circuitry, and an interface for transferring data to said computer via said magnetic media receiving station therein;

accessing information from said removable memory indicative of a characteristic of said removable memory;

transferring said information indicative of a characteristic of said removable memory to said computer encoded as part of an MFM signal; and

storing in a transfer device memory at least one command from said computer for accessing said removable memory.

42. A method according to claim 41, wherein said step of storing at least one command from said computer includes the step of storing a read command.

43. A method according to claim 42, further including the step of executing the read command by setting up an array of removable memory addresses from which to read.

44. A method according to claim 42, wherein said removable memory is a flash memory and further including the step of executing the read command by accessing a block of flash memory based upon an absolute flash memory address, storing accessed information in a RAM memory embodied on said data transfer device, and outputting said information from said RAM memory to said computer.

45. A method according to claim 44, wherein said outputting step includes the step of performing a DMA transfer operation.

46. A method according to claim 41, wherein said step of storing at least one command from said computer includes the step of storing a write command.

47. A method according to claim 41, wherein said step of storing at least one command from said computer includes the step of storing an erase command.

48. A method according to claim 41, wherein said step of storing at least one command from said computer includes the step of storing a command for obtaining information relating to said removable memory.

49. A method according to claim 41, further including the step of executing instructions for performing the function indicated by said at least one command.

50. A method according to claim 49, wherein said step of executing instructions for performing the function indicated by said at least one command includes the step of using a table to associate a command received by said computer with a command handling function for performing the command.

51. A method according to claim 41, further including the steps of executing instructions for performing the function indicated by said at least one command and identifying the address of a removable memory location which can not be accessed.

52. A method according to claim 41, further including the steps of performing the function indicated by a command from the computer, returning a response to a command including incrementing a command response related number.

53. A method according to claim 52, wherein said response is returned to a response buffer.

54. A method of transferring data from a removable memory to a computer having a magnetic media drive including a magnetic media receiving station for receiving media inserted therein, and a processing system for executing a control program for controlling said computer, said method of transferring comprising the steps of:

inserting a magnetic media emulating data transfer device into said magnetic media receiving station of said computer, said data transfer device having a frame that can be inserted into a magnetic media reading station of said computer and including a removable memory, digital processing circuitry, and an interface for transferring data to said computer via said magnetic media receiving station;

initializing an predetermined counter;

placing the digital processing circuitry in a low power state when the counter has reached a predetermined count.

55. A method according to claim 54, wherein said step of placing the digital processing circuitry in a low power state includes the step of reducing the digital processing circuitry clock rate.

56. A method according to claim 54, wherein said step of placing the digital processing circuitry in a low power state includes the steps of clearing a power save mode bit.

57. A method according to claim 54, wherein said step of placing the digital processing circuitry in a low power state includes the step of setting a power save mode bit.

58. A method according to claim 54, wherein said step of placing the digital processing circuitry in a low power state occurs in conjunction with outputting information to said computer.