Universal non-volatile memory card used with various different standard cards containing a memory controller

• US 8,752,765 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2012
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sandisk Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Harari, Eliyahou, Ericsson, Bo E., Wallace, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, SEUNG H
• Application Number:
  US13/648,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20130087623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 235/441, 235/492
• US Class Current: 235/441
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/387 for adaptation of different data processing systems to different peripheral devices, e.g. protocol converters for incompatible systems, open system
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/067 Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• 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: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2225/06562 at least one device in the stack being rotated or offset
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00012 Relevant to the scope of the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01057 Lanthanum [La]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01078 Platinum [Pt]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/181 Encapsulation

Abstract

A mother/daughter card non-volatile memory system includes a daughter card containing the memory and a mother card containing the memory controller and host interface circuits. The daughter memory card contains as little more than the memory cell array as is practical, in order to minimize its cost, and has an interface for connecting with a variety of mother controller cards having physical attributes and host interfaces according to a number of different published or proprietary memory card standards. Different types of memory cards may be used when the operating parameters of the memory are stored within it in a protected location, the mother card controller then reading these parameters and adapting its operation accordingly. A radio frequency antenna may be included on a surface of the card along with its electrical contacts, in order to provide a radio frequency identification function.

Claims

1. A storage card comprising:

an electronic and physical interface adapted to connect with a host device;

a receptacle that removably receives one or more non-volatile mass storage memory sub-cards;

a controller connected to the receptacle for operating non-volatile memory within said one or more memory mass storage sub-cards inserted into the receptacle to transfer data between the memory therein and a host device with which the storage card is in communication; and

an area upon an external surface of the storage card adapted to accept user provided annotation thereupon related to the content of one or more of the memory mass storage sub-cards,

wherein the controller can access a protected area of a non-volatile mass storage memory sub-card connected thereto in order to ascertain operating parameters stored in the protected area, thereby enabling the controller to operate said non-volatile mass storage sub-card.

2. The storage card of claim 1, wherein the area is coated with a material to accept said annotation.

3. The storage card of claim 1, wherein the area is adapted to accept annotation in ink.

4. The storage card of claim 1, wherein the area is adapted to accept writing in pen.

5. The storage card of claim 1, wherein the area is adapted to accept writing in pencil.

6. The storage card of claim 1, wherein the data content is transferred between the storage card and the host device using a wireless channel.

7. The storage card of claim 1, wherein the electronic and physical interface includes a plurality of exposed contacts on the surface thereof by which the storage card is electrically coupled to the host device when removably coupled thereto.

8. The storage card of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is formed to have a corresponding one or more sets of electrical contacts on the surface thereof whereby the one or more non-volatile mass storage memory sub-cards can electronically couple to the storage card.

9. The storage card of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is configured with a mechanical and electrical arrangement to enable either or both of removably inserting the one or more non-volatile mass storage memory sub-cards in and removably attaching the one or more non-volatile mass storage memory sub-cards to the storage device.

10. The storage card of claim 9, wherein the mechanical arrangement is a surface area, a slot or a recess in the storage card surface for each of the one or more non-volatile mass storage memory sub-cards.

11. The storage card of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more non-volatile mass storage memory sub-cards includes a non-volatile flash memory device.

12. The storage card of claim 1, wherein the storage card is a mother card and each of the one or more non-volatile mass storage memory sub-cards is a sub card.

13. The storage card of claim 1, wherein the storage card has substantially the same length and width as credit cards or smart cards.

14. The storage card of claim 1, wherein the operating parameters have been stored permanently in the protected area of the non-volatile mass storage memory sub-card during the manufacture thereof.

15. The storage card of claim 1, wherein the protected area is accessible by the controller only upon authentication of the controller to the non-volatile mass storage memory sub-card.