US 7,126,559 B2 · USB flash-memory drive with dazzling marquee-pattern driver for multi-LED display

Abstract

A multi-light-emitting diode (LED) display for a USB flash drive produces a visually dazzling display. When accessed, a USB flash controller drives pulses onto an activity signal that increments a counter on a pattern-decoding generator. The pattern-decoding generator decodes the count and drives signals to data outputs. The data outputs connect to LED's, turning LED's on and off according to a display pattern. The pattern can be programmed by the USB flash controller into the pattern-decoding generator, or can be a hardwired pattern. Marquee patterns having a lit LED appearing to move down a line of LED's have more visual appeal than single LED indicators. Each data line can drive two LED's in different parts of a dual display, reducing costs. Multi-color LED's can be used to improve variety. The multiple LED's and the pattern-decoding generator can be mounted on a flexible PCB.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A portable memory device comprising:

a memory;
a device controller that receives commands from a host over a serial bus and controls access to the memory for the host;
wherein the device controller generates an activity signal when the memory is being accessed;
a pattern-decoding generator that receives the activity signal from the device controller, the pattern-decoding generator generating a sequence of data signals on a plurality of data lines, the sequence being activated in response to the activity signal;
and
a display having a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LED's) that are driven by the plurality of data lines from the pattern-decoding generator to produce a visually changing sequence of illuminated LED's;
wherein the visually changing sequence of illuminated LED's comprises at least four visually different states,
whereby the visually changing sequence on the display is generated when the memory is being accessed.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

USB flash-memory drive with dazzling marquee-pattern driver for multi-LED display

Life of this patent

USB flash-memory drive with dazzling marquee-pattern driver for multi-LED display

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6