Selective flash memory drive with quick connector

• US 7,780,463 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Henry Milan
• Original Assignee: Henry Milan
• Inventors: Milan, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Leon, Edwin A.
• Application Number:
  US11/931,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20080293274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 439/171, 439/513, 439/500, 439/357, 439/347, 439/296, 439/298, 439/289, 439/929, 439/700, 361/692, 361/679.3, 361/679.34, 361/679.59
• US Class Current: 439/171
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus

Abstract

A flash memory device having a housing for enclosing a flash memory drive, a host chip for selectively operating the flash memory drive in a host mode or a slave mode, and a control chip for controlling the operations of the flash memory device. The flash memory device further includes a universal connector mounted in the housing and configured for electrical connection to enable the connection of the flash memory device to at least one peripheral device. The flash memory device also preferably including a display screen and interface control for user operations of the device.

Claims

1. A flash memory device comprising:

a housing having opposed first and second ends and opposed front and back sides;

a flash memory drive enclosed in said housing, said flash memory drive selectively operable in one of a host mode and a slave mode;

wherein the host mode enables the flash memory device to operate as a host device when connected to a slave mode operating device, and wherein the slave mode enables the flash memory device to operate as a slave device when connected to a host mode operating device;

a host chip operably connected to said flash memory drive for selectively operating said flash memory drive in one of a host mode and a slave mode;

a control chip enclosed in said housing and operably connected to said memory drive and said host chip for controlling the operations of said flash memory device; and

a universal connector permanently mounted in said housing and operably connected to said control chip, said universal connector providing separate electrical connectivity to at least one of a first interchangeable connector and a second interchangeable connector to interconnect the flash memory device with a second device.

2. The flash memory device according to claim 1, wherein said universal connector has a plurality of pins exposed at one of said ends of said housing, said pins being configured for electrical connection to a selected one of at least a first interchangeable connector and a second interchangeable connector, the first interchangeable connector having a first pin configuration for mating with said pins of said universal connector and being connected to a second pin configuration different from the first pin configuration, the second interchangeable connector having the first pin configuration for mating with said pins of said universal connector and being connected to a third pin configuration different from the first pin configuration and the second pin configuration.

3. The flash memory device according to claim 2, wherein the second and third pin configurations are pin configurations of different types of conventional connectors.

4. The flash memory device according to claim 1, wherein said universal connector has a pin receptacle to receive a plurality of pins for electrical connection to a selected one of at least a first interchangeable connector and a second interchangeable connector, the first interchangeable connector having a first pin configuration of a plurality of exposed pins for mating with said pin receptacle of said universal connector and being connected to a second pin configuration different from the first pin configuration, the second interchangeable connector having the first pin configuration for mating with said pin receptacle of said universal connector and being connected to a third pin configuration different from the first pin configuration and the second pin configuration.

5. The flash memory device according to claim 4, wherein the second and third pin configurations are pin configurations of different types of conventional connectors.

6. The flash memory device according to claim 1, wherein one of said front side and back side of said housing includes a display screen for displaying flash memory device information.

7. The flash memory device according to claim 1, wherein one of said front side and back side of said housing includes at least one interface control for providing user interaction with said flash memory device.

8. The flash memory device according to claim 1, wherein said housing further encloses a battery for powering said flash memory device.

9. The flash memory device according to claim 1, further including a power button mounted in said housing.

10. The flash memory device according to claim 1, further including a reset button mounted in said housing.

11. The flash memory device according to claim 1, wherein said flash memory device further includes a wireless module enclosed in said housing for providing said flash memory device with wireless communication capability.

12. The flash memory device according to claim 7 wherein one of said at least one interface control is a touch pad.

13. The flash memory device according to claim 1 further including at least one of a speaker, a microphone, a headphone jack, and a radio.

14. A flash memory device comprising:

a housing having opposed first and second ends and opposed front and back sides;

a flash memory drive enclosed in said housing, said flash memory drive selectively operable in one of a host mode and a slave mode;

wherein the host mode enables the flash memory device to operate as a host device when connected to a slave mode operating device, and wherein the slave mode enables the flash memory device to operate as a slave device when connected to a host mode operating device;

a host chip operably connected to said flash memory drive for selectively operating said flash memory drive in one of a host mode and a slave mode;

a control chip enclosed in said housing and operably connected to said flash memory drive and said host chip for controlling the operations of said flash memory device;

a display screen operably connected to said control chip for displaying flash memory device information;

at least one interface control operably connected to said control chip for providing interaction with said flash memory device;

a universal connector permanently mounted in said housing and operably connected to said control chip, said universal connector providing separate electrical connectivity to at least one of a first interchangeable connector and a second interchangeable connector to interconnect the flash memory device with a second device; and

a battery enclosed in said housing for providing power to said flash memory device.

15. The flash memory device according to claim 14, wherein said universal connector has a plurality of pins exposed at one of said ends of said housing, said pins being configured for electrical connection to a selected one of at least a first interchangeable connector and a second interchangeable connector, the first interchangeable connector having a first pin configuration for mating with said pins of said universal connector and being connected to a second pin configuration different from the first pin configuration, the second interchangeable connector having the first pin configuration for mating with said pins of said universal connector and being connected to a third pin configuration different from the first pin configuration and the second pin configuration.

16. The flash memory device according to claim 15, wherein the second and third pin configurations are pin configurations of different types of conventional connectors.

17. The flash memory device according to claim 14, wherein said universal connector has a pin receptacle to receive a plurality of pins for electrical connection to a selected one of at least a first interchangeable connector and a second interchangeable connector, the first interchangeable connector having a first pin configuration of a plurality of exposed pins for mating with said pin receptacle of said universal connector and being connected to a second pin configuration different from the first pin configuration, the second interchangeable connector having the first pin configuration for mating with said pin receptacle of said universal connector and being connected to a third pin configuration different from the first pin configuration and the second pin configuration.

18. The flash memory device according to claim 17, wherein the second and third pin configurations are pin configurations of different types of conventional connectors.

19. The flash memory device according to claim 14, further including a power button mounted in said housing.

20. The flash memory device according to claim 14, further including a reset button mounted in said housing.

21. The flash memory device according to claim 14, wherein said flash memory device further includes a wireless module enclosed in said housing for providing said flash memory device with wireless communication capability.

22. The flash memory device according to claim 14 wherein one of said at least one interface control is a touch pad.

23. The flash memory device according to claim 14 further including at least one of a speaker, a microphone, a headphone jack, and a radio.

24. A flash memory device comprising:

a housing having opposed first and second ends and opposed front and back sides;

a flash memory drive enclosed in said housing, said flash memory drive selectively operable in one of a host mode and a slave mode;

wherein the host mode enables the flash memory device to operate as a host device when connected to a slave mode operating device, and wherein the slave mode enables the flash memory device to operate as a slave device when connected to a host mode operating device;

a host chip operably connected to said flash memory drive for selectively operating said flash memory drive in one of a host mode and a slave mode;

a control chip enclosed in said housing and operably connected to said memory drive and said host chip for controlling the operations of said flash memory device;

a universal connector permanently mounted in said housing and operably connected to said control chip, said universal connector providing separate electrical connectivity to at least one of a first interchangeable connector and a second interchangeable connector to interconnect the flash memory device with a second device; and

wherein said universal connector has a plurality of pins exposed at one of said ends of said housing, said pins being configured for electrical connection to a selected one of at least a first interchangeable connector and a second interchangeable connector, the first interchangeable connector having a first pin configuration for mating with said pins of said universal connector and being connected to a second pin configuration different from the first pin configuration, the second interchangeable connector having the first pin configuration for mating with said pins of said universal connector and being connected to a third pin configuration different from the first pin configuration and the second pin configuration.