Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Input/output data processing – Peripheral configuration
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-28
2004-08-03
Perveen, Rehana (Department: 2182)
Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/
Input/output data processing
Peripheral configuration
C710S052000, C710S072000, C710S108000, C712S225000, C709S215000, C711S100000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06772233
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data storage device, and particularly to a small-sized card type data storage device of a simple structure which can be removably inserted into and connected with a connection slot of an information processing device for connection to an external device so as to perform data transfer therebetween.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the past, storage elements such as magnetic disks and nonvolatile semiconductor memories have widely been used as readable/writable storage mediums for personal computers, etc. For example, a hard disk
70
and a flash memory
60
are separately installed on a personal computer
300
, as shown in FIG.
9
. When the data prepared by the personal computer
300
is backed up, a main control section
89
carries out control in such a manner that the data is stored into the hard disk
70
through a hard disk control section
84
or into the flash memory
60
through a memory control section
82
using a buffer
83
, depending upon the state of a power supply, etc.
In this case, the hard disk
70
is characteristic in that it has a large storage capacity with large power consumption, whereas the flash memory
60
is characteristic in that it has limited power consumption with a small storage capacity. Thus, in the past, these storage devices have generally been used separately for different purposes in such a manner that the hard disk
70
is primarily used for stationary or desktop type models whereas the flash memory
60
is used for portable type models. However, in recent years, there is a growing demand for dealing with mass data such as music data, image data, etc., even with portable type equipment. To satisfy such a demand, there is a trend in that efforts have been made toward miniaturizing storage devices so as to adapt them to the portable type equipment. Alternatively, there is another trend in that the storage capacities of semiconductor memories are increased while keeping the current sizes or dimensions thereof.
As described above, various efforts have been made in the past so as to reduce the physical sizes of storage devices having large storage capacities or increase the storage capacities of semiconductor memories in spite of their current dimensions in order to meet the intended purpose of storing mass data for portable type equipment, but it is not easy to meet the demand for desired storage devices or semiconductor memories of low power consumption with large capacities. In addition, there is another problem in that in the configurations of the current information processing devices such as personal computers, etc., once a certain device is installed into a slot of an information processing device, it is impossible to install another device into the same slot. Moreover, there is also a further demand that one wishes to collect data from desired locations through wireless communications while carrying a small-sized storage device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and has for its object to provide a card type data storage device which is of low power consumption and has a large storage capacity, and which can be removably attached to a slot or the like that is provided on an information processing device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a card type data storage device which can optionally pick up data through wireless communications.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a card type data storage device which can pick up data independently of an information processing device.
In order to obviate the problems as referred to above, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data storage device of the card type adapted to be removably attached to an information processing device to perform data transfer therewith, the device comprising: a storage element for storing data; and an auxiliary device being different from the storage element and adapted to be detachably connected with the storage element for performing data transfer with at least one of the storage element and the information processing device.
With this arrangement, it is possible to write mass data into the storage element, and a semiconductor memory, if used as the auxiliary device, can be efficiently used with low electric power. Alternatively, if a wireless communication card is used as the auxiliary device, data can be easily picked up or transmitted from the storage device or the information processing device connected therewith through wireless communications. Here, note that for the storage element, there may be used a magnetic disk, a phase-change optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, etc., all of which are easily available, thus making it possible to provide the storage element at low cost.
The data storage device, being a card type data storage device which is adapted to be detachably connected with the information processing device as an external unit, can be used independently of the information processing device, and is convenient to carry. In addition, the auxiliary device in the form of a semiconductor memory for example, being detachably connected with the storage element, can be used as a data storage medium common to other equipment such as a digital camera and so on. Moreover, such a semiconductor memory can be replaced with another auxiliary device in the form of a wireless communication card, etc., thus improving ease of use.
In a preferred form of the present invention, the data storage device further comprises a control section for controlling the storage element and the auxiliary device thereby to control data transfer between the storage element and the auxiliary device connected therewith or data transfer among the storage element, the auxiliary device and the information processing device.
With this arrangement, the data storage device can perform data processing independently of the information processing device, so it can also carry out data handling independently. In this case, when the data storage device is installed to the information processing device, electric power can be supplied to the control section from the information processing device so that electric power can be further supplied from the control section to the storage element and the auxiliary device thereby to drive them. Additionally, with this arrangement, it is not necessary to provide a separate power supply in the data storage device, and power can be automatically supplied to the data storage device upon installation or connection thereof with the information processing device.
In another preferred form of the present invention, when the data storage device is installed on the information processing device, electric power is supplied from the information processing device to the control section, which in turn supplies electric power to the storage element and the auxiliary device thereby to drive the storage element and the auxiliary device.
With this arrangement, it is not necessary to provide a separate power supply in the data storage device, and power can be automatically supplied to the data storage device upon installation or connection thereof with the information processing device.
In a further preferred form of the present invention, the auxiliary device comprises a semiconductor memory.
With this arrangement, the storage element and the semiconductor memory can be properly used for efficient utilization of electric power.
In a yet further preferred form of the present invention, the semiconductor memory is a memory device comprising a nonvolatile memory.
In a still further preferred form of the present invention, the nonvolatile memory comprises any one of a flash memory, a ferroelectric memory and a magnetic memory.
These memories unlike DRAMs do not lose their data even without any power being supplied thereto, and hence are suitable for portable use or the like in which there are limitations on power supply.
In a further preferred
Fukazawa Mitsunori
Iida Atsuo
Kanda Shinji
Okabayashi Keiju
Fujitsu Limited
Mai Rijue
Perveen Rehana
Staas & Halsey , LLP
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