Insertable storage card containing a portable memory card having a connection interface

• US 8,381,987 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2009
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: STRATA Skin Sciences, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mela Sciences, Inc.
• Inventors: Tanaka, Kazuna, Kapec, Jeffrey S., Naoi, Yukiko, Butler, Christiano, Wicksman, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M
• Assistant Examiner(s): LY, TOAN C
• Application Number:
  US12/512,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20110024507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 235/487, 235/486, 235/492
• US Class Current: 235/486
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07739 comprising a first part capable of functioning as a record carrier on its own and a second part being only functional as a form factor changing part, e.g. SIM cards type ID 0001, removably attached to a regular smart card form factor

Abstract

Among other things, a portable memory card that conforms to a size, shape, and connection interface of an industry-standard memory card is smaller than and held by a support that conforms to a shape and size of an industry-standard credit card. The support is insertable into a receptacle with the connection interface of the memory card mated with a corresponding connection interface of the receptacle.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a portable memory card that conforms to a size, shape, and connection interface of an industry-standard memory card, the portable memory card comprising edges, and

a support holding the portable memory card, the support comprising grooves that engage the edges of the portable memory card, the portable memory card being smaller than the support, and at least some dimensions of the support being similar to a shape and size of an industry-standard credit card,

the support having a leading edge and being insertable with the portable memory card into a receptacle leading edge first along an insertion direction, the insertion direction being different from a direction along which the leading edge extends, the inserted support having the connection interface of the memory card mated with a corresponding connection interface of the receptacle, and

the support having an alignment slot that opens at the leading edge and extends into the support along a direction opposite to the insertion direction.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the alignment slot corresponds to an alignment tab on the receptacle, the alignment slot and the alignment tab permitting insertion of the support into the receptacle to enable mating of the corresponding connection interfaces and to prevent insertion of the support into the receptacle otherwise.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which the alignment slot is wider at its opening than the width of the alignment tab.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the memory card is between one side of the alignment slot and an edge of the support.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which the leading edge of the support is broader than an edge of the memory card that bears the connection interface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the alignment slot includes a tapered edge.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the memory card comprises a Secure Digital (SD) card.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the support comprises a plastic housing.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 in which the support includes a cover attached to the plastic housing and the memory card is between the cover and the housing.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the support comprises a cover that includes a metalized sheet.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 in which the support comprises a housing and the cover is permanently attached to the housing.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the support bears a label to receive writing.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the receptacle is part of a medical device.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the memory card contains data representing a diagnostic image of a patient.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the data relates to skin of the patient.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the support comprises a housing and a cover, the cover being epoxied to the housing and the portable memory card.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the memory card is attached to the support in a manner that renders the memory card unusable in a normal way if the memory card is removed from the support.

2. An apparatus comprising

a portable memory card that conforms to a size, shape, and connection interface of an industry-standard memory card, the portable memory card comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, and

a support holding the portable memory card, the lower surface of the portable memory card being attached to and partially covered by a portion of the support, the portable memory card being smaller than the support, and at least some dimensions of the support being similar to a shape and size of an industry-standard credit card,

the support having a leading edge and being insertable with the portable memory card into a receptacle leading edge first along an insertion direction, the insertion direction being different from a direction along which the leading edge extends, the inserted support having the connection interface of the memory card mated with a corresponding connection interface of the receptacle, and

the support having an alignment slot that opens at the leading edge and extends into the support along a direction opposite to the insertion direction.

19. A unit for storing diagnostic image data of skin of a patient from a medical device, the unit comprising

a Secure Digital (SD) memory card to hold the data, the SD memory card having edges,

a support in which the SD memory card is held, the support comprising grooves that engage the edges of the SD memory card, the support having a leading edge to be inserted into a reader of the medical device and having sizes similar to an industry-standard credit card,

the support having an alignment slot along the leading edge to mate with an alignment tab of a receptacle of the medical device, the alignment slot being offset along the leading edge to prevent the support from being inserted incorrectly into the receptacle, the alignment slot including a tapered edge to guide the support into the receptacle,

the SD memory card having sockets exposed along the leading edge to one side of the alignment slot,

the support including a housing and a cover with the SD memory card between the housing and the cover,

the SD memory card being attached to the support in a manner that renders the SD memory card unusable in a normal way if the SD memory card is removed from the support.

20. A unit for storing diagnostic image data of skin of a patient from a medical device, the unit comprising

a Secure Digital (SD) memory card to hold the data, the memory card comprising an upper surface and a lower surface,

a support in which the memory card is held, the lower surface of the memory card being attached to and partially covered by the support, the support having a leading edge to be inserted into a reader of the medical device and having sizes similar to an industry-standard credit card,

the support having an alignment slot along the leading edge to mate with an alignment tab of a receptacle of the medical device, the alignment slot being offset along the leading edge to prevent the support from being inserted incorrectly into the receptacle, the alignment slot including a tapered edge to guide the support into the receptacle,

the memory card having sockets exposed along the leading edge to one side of the alignment slot,

the support including a housing and a cover with the memory card between the housing and the cover,

the memory card being attached to the support in a manner that renders the memory card unusable in a normal way if the memory card is removed from the support.