Registers – Coded record sensors – Holding devices
Reexamination Certificate
1997-01-08
2002-10-01
Lee, Michael G. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Coded record sensors
Holding devices
C235S441000, C439S945000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06457647
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data memory system utilizing an adaptor for connecting a memory card, which is detachably insertable in a memory card slot of for example a digital electronic still camera for exchanging information signals with said digital electronic still camera, with a computer such as a work station or a personal computer.
2. Related Background Art
In the conventional apparatus for data writing into and/or data reading from a detachable memory medium such as a magnetic disk, a magnetooptical disk, a rigid disk or a semiconductor memory such as flash memory, EEPROM, SRAM or DRAM, each time the kind of memory medium is changed or a new memory medium is developed, it has been necessary to replace the memory medium control means (hereinafter called a driver) and the means for memorizing said driver (hereinafter called a driver storage element) provided in the above-mentioned apparatus with a driver capable of driving such new memory medium or to add a new driver storage element itself in the apparatus.
The technology of the recent card-shaped memory media (hereinafter called IC card) is being diversified, utilizing various memory media such as the magnetooptical disk, the rigid magnetic disk and semiconductor memories such as flash memory, and even includes IC cards not provided with means for controlling the memory elements within the memory medium itself. On the other hand, in equipment showing marked tendency of compactization, such as digital still cameras or notebook personal computers, it is considered essential to be equipped with not only an internal memory medium but also a detachable memory medium. Based on these two factors, the above-mentioned IC card not provided with control means for the memory elements is anticipated effective for further compactization of various equipment, such as those mentioned above.
However, in such equipment in the course of compactization, the selection of the memory medium is often influenced by the trend of development of memory media. Also, for adding new plural memory media to those in the equipment or for upgrading such memory media already used to new ones, it becomes necessary to increase the number of the driver storage elements provided in the equipment, and there is required a large space therefor. Consequently, such increase or upgrading of memory media is difficult in equipment requiring compactization, such digital still cameras and notebook-sized personal computers.
As explained in the foregoing, though the recent memory media can respectively provide various advantages, it has not been possible to select such recording media easily and inexpensively according to the application,or situation. Also it has been difficult to adapt promptly to improvements in performance or capacity of the memory medium when the form thereof is changed, and to maintain compatibility depending on the equipment employing such memory media.
Also, the connector of the memory card, constituting a memory medium, is based on standard specifications and can therefore be inserted into the memory card slots of most computers. However, such connector, not being designed in consideration of very frequent attachments and detachments of the memory card, has a very large number of connecting contacts and may therefore suffer from defective contact. Also such connector with a large number of contacts may lead to the destruction of the connector as it requires a large force in extraction from the memory card slot.
On the other hand, a memory card connector not based on standard specifications can be improved in mechanical strength by increase in size of the connecting contacts, as the number thereof can be decreased. However, such memory card connector, not based on the standard specifications, cannot be used by direct insertion into the memory card slot of computers. For this reason, for connecting such memory card to the computer, there is required an external device such as an exclusive memory card drive equipped with an external interface such as RS-232C or SCSI, and there inevitably results an increase in the total cost of the system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In consideration of the foregoing, a first object of the present invention is to provide an adaptor for the memory card, enabling use of a memory card provided with a serial interface not based on the standard specifications, in the same manner as the memory card provided with a parallel interface based on the standard specifications, without the use of an external device such as an exclusive memory card drive.
The above-mentioned object can be attained, according to an embodiment of the present invention, by an adaptor comprising an adaptor main body detachably insertable into the memory card slot of an information equipment. A first connector which is provided on said adaptor main body, is based on the standard specifications and can be connected to the connector in said memory card slot. A mounting portion is provided on said adaptor main body and detachably receives a memory card that is detachably insertable in a memory card slot of an external equipment, different from said information equipment, for effecting exchange of information signals in serial data with said information equipment, while a second connector, which is provided in said mounting portion, is not based on the standard specifications and is adapted to be connected to a connector corresponding to the connector in the memory card slot of said external equipment, wherein said adaptor main body, with said memory card mounted on said mounting portion, is inserted into the memory card slot of said information equipment, thereby enabling the exchange of information signals in serial data between said information equipment and said memory card.
According to the above-mentioned embodiment, by inserting a memory card with a serial interface into the mounting portion of the adaptor main body and inserting said adaptor main body into the memory card slot of the information equipment, the information signals can be exchanged in serial data format between said information equipment and said memory card.
A second object of the invention of the present application is to enable the use of plural memory media in a single piece of equipment.
The third object of the invention of the present application is to enable a piece of equipment to adapt to a variation in the memory medium, without modification in the equipment itself.
The fourth object of the invention of the present application is to enable variation of the memory medium, within a limited space in a piece of equipment.
The fifth object of the invention of the present application is to maintain compatibility of the memory medium, by enabling access, in an equipment, to the data of a memory medium recorded in another piece of equipment.
The sixth object of the invention of the present application is, in the case of a change in the memory medium, to enable loading of the driver, memorized in a detachable memory medium, into a driver memory device.
The seventh object, of the invention of the present application is, in the case of a change in the memory medium, to enable loading of the driver, corresponding to a detachable memory medium, from the main body of the equipment into a driver storage element.
The eighth object of the invention of the present application is to minimize the number, to one at minimum, of the slots provided in the equipment.
The ninth object of the invention of the present application is to facilitate discrimination as to whether a detachable memory medium mounted on a piece of equipment can be handled by said equipment.
The tenth object of the invention of the present application is to facilitate identification of the content, application and property of a detachable memory medium mounted on a piece of equipment.
The eleventh object of the invention of the present application is to reduce the running cost, and the design and manufacturing costs of the equipment including the data storage device.
Kurihashi Toshiya
Morita Masahiko
Cyr Daniel St.
Lee Michael G.
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