Fixed write-protect seamless memory card

• US 7,866,562 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Super Talent Technology, Corporation
• Original Assignee: Supertalent Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Ni, Jim Chin-Nan, Hiew, Siew Sin, Nan, Nan, Ma, Abraham Chih-Kang
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech; Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US11/770,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20080037308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• Field of Search: 235/487, 235/488, 235/492
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07724 the record carrier being at least partially made by a molding process molding in general B29C45/14
• 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 2029/4402 Internal storage of test result, quality data, chip identification, repair information
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/04 Supports for storage elements , e.g. memory modules; Mounting or fixing of storage elements on such supports
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/5388 for flat cards, e.g. credit cards cards per se G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/50 Multistep manufacturing processes of assemblies consisting of devices, each device being of a type provided for in group H01L27/00 or H01L29/00 H01L21/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/117 Pads along the edge of rigid circuit boards, e.g. for pluggable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09063 Holes or slots in insulating substrate not used for electrical connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0909 Preformed cutting or breaking line
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10053 Switch
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10159 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10446 Mounted on an edge
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/1316 Moulded encapsulation of mounted components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/0052 Depaneling, i.e. dividing a panel into circuit boards; Working of the edges of circuit boards
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/284 for encapsulating mounted components H05K1/185 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49155 Manufacturing circuit on or in base

Abstract

In an embodiment of the present invention, a memory card includes a bottom plastic piece having a plurality of lateral sides, one of which includes a notch, and a cavity interposed along the lateral sides. A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, including memory, is positioned in the cavity. A fin-structure is created as part of the manufacturing process of the bottom plastic piece of the card. The memory card is configured to function in a read-write mode when the fin-structure is present, and in a write-protect mode when the fins are snapped off, and the notch is exposed. Alternatively, a plug device can be insertably positioned into the notch, causing the memory card to function in a read-write mode when the plug device is positioned into the notch, and in a write-protect mode when the plug device is removed and the notch is exposed.

Claims

1. A memory card comprising:

a bottom plastic piece having a plurality of lateral sides, said bottom plastic piece further having a cavity interposed along said plurality of lateral sides; and

a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, including memory, and positioned in said cavity;

a notch formed on one of said plurality of lateral sides of said bottom plastic piece, the notch having a length that is smaller than the length of each of the plurality of lateral sides; and

a read-write plug insertably positioned into said notch where the memory card is configured to function in a read-write mode when the read-write plug is positioned into the notch and in a write-protect mode when the notch is exposed.

2. A memory card, as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory card is a secure digital (SD) card.

3. A memory card, as recited in claim 1, wherein the read-write plug is a female read-write plug.

4. A memory card, as recited in claim 3, wherein the read-write plug is a male read-write plug.

5. A memory card, as recited in claim 4, further including a label disposed on top of the bottom plastic piece to protect the PCB and to provide a seamless appearance thereto.

6. A memory card, as recited in claim 5, wherein the memory card is coupled to a host device to transfer information between said memory card and said host device.

7. A memory card, as recited in claim 6, to further include an interface adapted to couple the memory card to the host device.

8. A memory card, as recited in claim 1, wherein the notch includes a clamp-bar into which the read-write plug is snapped into place.

9. A memory card, as recited in claim 1, wherein the cavity is rectangular in shape.

10. A memory card comprising:

a bottom plastic piece having a plurality of lateral sides, said bottom plastic piece further having a cavity interposed along said plurality of lateral sides;

a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, including memory, and positioned in said cavity; and

a removable fin-structure formed on one of the plurality of lateral sides, where the fin-structure causes the card to function in read-write mode when intact, and to function in write-protect mode when removed.

11. A memory card, as recited in claim 10, further including a notch formed in substantially the same location as the fin-structure within the bottom plastic piece, which is exposed upon removal of the fin-structure.

12. A memory card, as recited in claim 11, further including a label disposed on top of the bottom plastic piece to protect the PCB and to provide a seamless appearance thereto.

13. A memory card, as recited in claim 12, wherein the memory card is coupled to a host device to transfer information between said memory card and said host device.

14. A memory card, as recited in claim 13, further include an interface adapted to couple the memory card to the host device.

15. A memory card, as recited in claim 10, wherein the cavity is rectangular in shape.

16. A memory card comprising:

means having interposed therein a cavity, and having a plurality of lateral sides for housing a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly;

means for storing information, positioned within said cavity;

notch means formed, in its entirety, in one of the plurality of lateral sides for indicating to a host device that the memory card is in write-protect mode, said notch having a length that is smaller than the length of each of the plurality of lateral sides; and

plug means that is removably positioned into said notch for causing the memory card to be read-write mode.

17. A memory card, as recited in claim 16, wherein the memory card is a secure digital (SD) card.

18. A memory card, as recited in claim 16, wherein the read-write plug is a female read-write plug.

19. A memory card, as recited in claim 18, wherein the read-write plug is a male read-write plug.

20. A memory card, as recited in claim 19, further including a label disposed on top of the bottom plastic piece to protect the PCB and to provide a seamless appearance thereto.

21. A memory card, as recited in claim 20, wherein the memory card is coupled to a host device to transfer information between said memory card and said host device.

22. A memory card, as recited in claim 21, to further include an interface adapted to couple the memory card to the host device.

23. A memory card, as recited in claim 16, wherein the notch includes a clamp-bar into which the read-write plug is snapped into place.

24. A memory card, as recited in claim 16, wherein the cavity is rectangular in shape.

25. A memory card comprising:

means having interposed therein a cavity, and having a plurality of lateral sides for housing a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly;

means for storing information, positioned within said cavity;

means formed on one of the plurality of lateral sides and having a length that is smaller than the length of each of the plurality of lateral sides for causing the memory card to operate in read-write mode, and upon removal of the formed means, for causing the memory card to operate in a write-protected mode.

26. A memory card, as recited in claim 25, wherein the memory card is a secure digital card.

27. A memory card, as recited in claim 25, where the formed means is a fin-structure.

28. A memory card, as recited in claim 27, further including a notch formed in substantially the same location as the fin-structure within the bottom plastic piece, which is exposed upon removal of the fin-structure.

29. A memory card, as recited in claim 28, further including a label disposed on top of the bottom plastic piece to protect the PCB and to provide a seamless appearance thereto.

30. A memory card, as recited in claim 29, wherein the memory card is coupled to a host device to transfer information between said memory card and said host device.

31. A memory card, as recited in claim 30, to further include an interface adapted to couple the memory card to the host device.

32. A memory card, as recited in claim 25, wherein the cavity is rectangular in shape.

33. A method of manufacturing a memory card comprising:

forming a bottom plastic piece having a plurality of lateral sides to form a cavity interposed among said lateral sides, and one of said lateral sides having a notch with an exposed clamp-bar therein;

positioning a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, including memory, in said cavity;

filling the cavity of the bottom plastic piece with molten plastic so that a top plastic piece is formed; and

placing a clamp-device onto clamp-bar within said notch.

34. A method of manufacturing, as recited in claim 33, wherein the memory card is a secure digital (SD) card.

35. A method of manufacturing, as recited in claim 33,

wherein during the step of forming the top plastic piece, injecting the molten plastic into the cavity.

36. A method of manufacturing a memory card comprising:

forming a bottom plastic piece having a plurality of lateral sides so as to create a cavity interposed among said lateral sides, and one of said lateral sides having a fin-structure which causes the card to function in read-write mode;

positioning a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, including memory, in said cavity; and

filling the cavity of the bottom plastic piece with molten plastic so that a top plastic piece is formed.

37. A method of manufacturing, as recited in claim 36, wherein the memory card is a secure digital (SD) card.

38. A method of manufacturing, as recited in claim 36,

wherein during the step of forming the top plastic piece, injecting the molten plastic into the cavity.

39. A method of manufacturing a memory card, as recited in claim 36, further including the step of removing the fin-structure to create a notch, and causing the card to function in write-protect mode.