Credit card sized USB flash drive
AssigneeSanDisk Corporation
InventorsCarlos J. Gonzalez, Edwin J. Cuellar, Robert C. Miller, Ronald LaPedis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flash memory mass storage drive stores user files in a convenient credit card sized drive. Embodiments function as both a credit card and a mass storage drive. Communication may be through a host interface connector such as a USB connector, a magnetic interface, a smart card interface, and/or a near field communication interface. In certain embodiments the drive comprises a portion that is sufficiently thin to be swiped through a standard credit card, ATM, or point of sale device. The USB connector of the drive can easily be plugged into even a crowded receptacle of a host computing device.
Claims18
A flash memory drive comprising:
- a re-programmable non-volatile flash memory;
- and
- a body having a perimeter and two principal faces, the faces having a length and a width of a credit card such that there is a long side and a short side of the body,
- a member extendable some distance away from the body of the drive, the member comprising a USB connector on a distal portion of the member,
- the member rotating about an axis of rotation at a proximal end of the member, the axis of rotation operable to change location within the perimeter of the body.
A portable credit card system comprising:
- a first element comprising a credit card interface for conducting credit card transactions;
- and
- a second element comprising:
- a USB flash memory drive comprising a mass storage flash memory, a memory controller, and a USB connector coupled to the memory controller,
- the second element detachable from the first element in order to be connected to a USB port of a host computing device,
- the second element attachable to the first element in order to be stored in a wallet, such that when the first and second element are attached, the credit card system has a length and width of a credit card.
A flash memory drive comprising:
- a re-programmable non-volatile flash memory;
- a body having a length and a width of a credit card;
- and
- a rigid member comprising a USB connector on a distal portion of the member,
- a portion of the body having a thickness acceptable for insertion into a standard credit card reader,
- the body configured to bend back upon itself thereby sufficiently exposing the USB connector of the member so that it may be inserted into a USB receptacle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.