Computer memory cards using flash EEPROM integrated circuit chips and memory-controller systems
First Claim
1. For use with a memory controller having a connector to removably receive a memory card and adapted (1) to receive address, user data and command signals from a host system according to a given protocol and (2) provide user data and status signals to the host system according to said given protocol, said controller including at least one microprocessor that executes commands from the host to operated the memory card and a buffer memory that temporarily stores user data being written to or read from an addressed portion of a memory card, the memory card comprising:
- a connector that mechanically mates with the controller connector to provide a removable electrical connection between the controller and the card, said card connector being connected to an integrated circuit array of floating gate memory cells organized in groups of cells that are individually addressable for simultaneous erasure of the cells of a group, said memory card additionally being formed in a package having a width less that 5.5 centimeters and length less than 9.0 centimeters, and a serial communications circuits connected with the card connector to transfer user data through the card connector between the buffer memory of said controller and at least one of said memory cell groups accessed in accordance with an address received from the controller through the memory card connector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A very small computer memory card is densely packed with a large number of flash EEPROM integrated circuit chips. A computer memory system provides for the ability to removably connect one or more of such cards with a common controller circuit that interfaces between the memory cards and a standard computer system bus. Alternately, each card can be provided with the necessary controller circuitry and thus is connectable directly to the computer system bus. An electronic system is described for a memory system and its controller within a single memory card. In a preferred physical arrangement, the cards utilize a main circuit board with a plurality of sub-boards attached thereto on both sides, each sub-board carrying several integrated circuit chips.
138 Citations
18 Claims
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1. For use with a memory controller having a connector to removably receive a memory card and adapted (1) to receive address, user data and command signals from a host system according to a given protocol and (2) provide user data and status signals to the host system according to said given protocol, said controller including at least one microprocessor that executes commands from the host to operated the memory card and a buffer memory that temporarily stores user data being written to or read from an addressed portion of a memory card, the memory card comprising:
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a connector that mechanically mates with the controller connector to provide a removable electrical connection between the controller and the card, said card connector being connected to an integrated circuit array of floating gate memory cells organized in groups of cells that are individually addressable for simultaneous erasure of the cells of a group, said memory card additionally being formed in a package having a width less that 5.5 centimeters and length less than 9.0 centimeters, and a serial communications circuits connected with the card connector to transfer user data through the card connector between the buffer memory of said controller and at least one of said memory cell groups accessed in accordance with an address received from the controller through the memory card connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A portable data storage device, comprising:
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a card having a non-volatile integrated circuit memory cell array encased therein and a plurality of electrical contacts accessible from outside the card in a manner to be contacted when inserted into a mating receptacle, the card having a width less than 5.5 centimeters, a length less than 9.0 centimeters, and thickness less than 6.0 millimeters, and a data communication circuit encased within the card, said communication circuit being connected to transfer data serially through the electrical contacts and with the integrated circuit memory cell array. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A memory card, comprising:
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an array of flash EEPROM memory cells encased within the card, a plurality of electrical contacts accessible from outside the card in a manner to be contacted when inserted into a mating receptacle, and a data register encased within the card, said data register being connected serially with the electrical contacts in order to serially transfer data between the data register and outside of the card, said data register further being connected in parallel with the array of memory cells in order to transfer data in parallel between the data register and the array of memory cells. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A memory card, comprising:
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an array of non-volatile memory cells encased within the card, a plurality of electrical contacts accessible from outside the card in a manner to be contacted when inserted into a mating receptacle, the card having a width less than 5.5 centimeters, a length less than 9.0 centimeters, and a thickness less than 6.0 millimeters, a serial data link encased within the card and connected with less than all of the electrical contacts, a data register encased within the card, said data register being connected to transfer data serially through said serial data link to and from outside of the card, said data register also being connected in parallel with the array of non-volatile memory cells to program data thereinto and read data therefrom in parallel, a command register encased within the card and connected to serially receive commands through said serial data link from outside of the card, and a command decoder connected in parallel with the command register to receive and decode commands from the command register. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification