Information storage apparatus and information processing apparatus using the same

• US 7,104,459 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2003
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Iwasaki, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Stcyr, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Franklin, Jamara A.
• Application Number:
  US10/704,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20040240260A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 235/487, 235/492, 710/13, 710/62, 710/16
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/24 Memory cell safety or protection circuits, e.g. arrangements for preventing inadvertent reading or writing; Status cells; Test cells
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 8/20 Address safety or protection circuits, i.e. arrangements for preventing unauthorized or accidental access

Abstract

In a small and thin memory module for sharing data among electronic devices such as information processing apparatuses, a write prohibit state can be visually recognized. A conductive seal is attached to a predetermined position on a support member, thereby setting the memory module in the write prohibit state. The conductive seal visually indicates the write prohibit state. When the memory module is mounted in a connector section of a card-shaped holder, connector pins are electrically connected to each other via the conductive seal. Thus, a write prohibit mechanism is realized at low cost.

Claims

1. An information storage apparatus comprising:

storage medium means in which information is written;

a support member incorporating said storage medium means; and

a state-indicating conductive member provided on a surface of the support member, indicating a state of said storage medium means in which writing of information to the storage medium means is prohibited.

2. The information storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage medium means comprises a storage medium device including at least one non-volatile semiconductor memory device.

3. The information storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said support member has a recess in which said state-indicating conductive member is provided.

4. The information storage apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said state-indicating conductive member is a seal.

5. The information storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said support member is of non-conductive, and said state-indicating conductive member is of conductive to indicate the information write prohibit state of the storage medium means.

6. The information storage apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said state-indicating conductive member is a seal.

7. The information storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said state-indicating conductive member is a seal.

8. An information storage apparatus comprising:

storage medium means in which information is written;

a support member incorporating said storage medium means; and

a state-indicating non-conductive member provided on a surface of the support member, indicating a state of said storage medium means in which writing of information to the storage medium means is prohibited.

9. The information storage apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said storage medium means comprises a storage medium device including at least one non-volatile semiconductor memory device.

10. The information storage apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said support member has a recess in which said state-indicating non-conductive member is provided.

11. The information storage apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said state-indicating non-conductive member is a seal.

12. The information storage apparatus according to claim 8, wherein when said support member is conductive, and said state-indicating non-conductive member is non-conductive to indicate the information write prohibit state of the storage medium means.

13. The information storage, apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said state-indicating non-conductive member is a seal.

14. The information storage apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said state-indicating non-conductive member is a seal.

15. An information processing apparatus comprising:

an information storage device wherein information writable storage medium means is incorporated in a support member and a state-indicating conductive member is visibly provided, the state-indicating conductive member indicating a state of the storage medium means in which writing of information to the storage medium means is prohibited; and

a processing device for receiving said information storage device, the processing device having discriminating means for detecting the conductivity of said state-indicating conductive member to discriminate the prohibit state of writing information to the storage medium means.

16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said storage medium means comprises a storage medium device including at least one non-volatile semiconductor memory device.

17. The information processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said support member has a recess in which said state-indicating conductive member is provided.

18. The information processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said state-indicating conductive member is a seal.

19. The information processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said state-indicating conductive member is a seal.

20. The information processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said discriminating means discriminates the prohibit state of writing information to the storage medium means by detecting the conductive state of said state-indicating conductive member.

21. The information processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said discriminating means discriminates the prohibit state of writing information to the storage medium means by bringing two or more connection pins into contact with said state-indicating conductive member and detecting the conductivity of the state-indicating conductive member.

22. The information processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said processing device is a processing device including a driving mechanism for driving said information storage device.

23. The information processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said processing device includes a card-shaped holder detachably attached to the processing device and including a driving mechanism for driving the information storage device incorporated in the card-shaped holder.

24. An information processing apparatus comprising:

an information storage device wherein information writable storage medium means is incorporated in a support member and a state-indicating non-conductive member is visibly provided, the state-indicating non-conductive member indicating a state of the storage medium means in which writing of information to the storage medium means is prohibited; and

a processing device for receiving said information storage device, the processing device having discriminating means for detecting the non-conductivity of said state-indicating non-conductive member to discriminate the prohibit state of writing information to the storage medium means.

25. The information processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said storage medium means comprises a storage medium device including at least one non-volatile semiconductor memory device.

26. The information processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said support member has a recess in which said state-indicating non-conductive member is provided.

27. The information processing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said state-indicating non-conductive member is a seal.

28. The information processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said state-indicating non-conductive member is a seal.

29. The information processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said discriminating means discriminates the prohibit state of writing information to the storage medium means by detecting the non-conductive state of said state-indicating non-conductive member.

30. The information processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said discriminating means discriminates the prohibit sate of writing information to the storage medium means by bringing two or more connection pins into contact with said state-indicating non-conductive member and detecting the non-conductivity of the state-indicating non-conductive member.

31. The information processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said processing device is a processing device including a driving mechanism for driving said information storage device.

32. The information processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said processing device includes a card-shaped holder detachably attached to the processing device and including a driving mechanism for driving the information storage device incorporated in the card-shaped holder.