Memory card comprising an optical memory disc and microelectronic memory component, and apparatus for transferring information to and from such card

Apparatus for transferring data and supplementary information between a data processor and a rectangular memory card, which card comprises:

• a disc-shaped optical memory unit retained in a recess of one surface of said card, said memory unit having a surface substantially coplanar with said card surface and which has thereon a continuous succession of data storage tracks which are substantially complete circles concentric around the center of the memory unit, such tracks being optically readable from said surface of the memory unit;
• and
• at least one microelectronic component included in said card which is connected to connection points on said one surface thereof, such microelectronic component being adapted to store said other information therein;
• such apparatus comprising:
• rotary retaining means for supporting said card and rotating at least said memory unit therein about an axis of rotation of said rotary retaining means, said rotary retaining means being further adapted to position said card thereon so that the center of said memory unit is substantially colinear with said axis of rotation;
• scanning means for producing a scanning beam incident on said optical memory unit and continuously displacing such beam radially with respect to said axis of rotation so as to successively scan the successive tracks of said memory unit during rotation thereof and thereby transfer data between said memory unit and said data processor;
• and
• an information transfer unit coupled to the connection points on said surface of said card and to said data processor for transferring said supplementary information between said microelectronic component and said data processor.