USB flash memory device

A memory device, comprising

• a circuit board;
• an I/O controller;
• a data memory;
• a memory controller;
• and
• an electrical connector having terminals for electrical connection to another device,
• wherein the terminals of the electrical connector are on the circuit board, and
• wherein the electrical connector includes a housing having a form factor to plug directly into a connector port of the other device, and the circuit board contains a step to locate at least part of the circuit board centrally within the housing to provide space above and below the circuit board, and at least one component comprising the group of the controller, data memory, memory controller and terminals is attached to each side of the circuit board.

A memory device able to connect directly to a peripheral and connect directly to a computer, comprising:

• a data memory;
• a controller;
• and
• an electrical connector having terminals to connect to another device,
• wherein the electrical connector includes a housing having a form factor to plug directly into a connector port of the computer;
• and
• wherein a plurality of components of the group comprising the data memory, the controller, and the connector terminals is attached to a circuit board, and the circuit board contains a step to locate at least part of the circuit board centrally within the housing to provide space above and below the circuit board, and at least one component is attached to each side of the circuit board.

A storage apparatus, comprising:

• a memory unit for preserving data received from an electronic device;
• a connector for connecting the apparatus to an electronic device;
• a communication control system between the connector and the memory unit for arranging data received from a connected electronic device through the connector and the memory unit to the desired format for transmission to the memory unit and a connected electronic device, respectively;
• and
• a casing retaining the memory unit, the communication control system, and the connector as an integral unit, the casing having a form factor in at least two directions comparable to the form factor in the same two directions of a standard electrical connector casing;
• and
• wherein the integral unit is attached to a circuit board, and the circuit board contains a step to locate at least part of the circuit board centrally within the casing to provide space above and below the circuit board, and at least one component of the integral unit is attached to each side of the circuit board.

A storage apparatus, comprising:

• a connector for connecting the apparatus to an electronic device and for being a medium for data sent between the apparatus and the electronic device;
• and
• at least one memory unit for preserving data received from the connected electronic device and for later retrieval of the data by the electronic device or another electronic device;
• and
• a communication control system between the connector and the memory unit for arranging data received from the connected electronic device through the connector and the memory unit to the desired format for transmission to the memory unit and the connected electronic device respectively;
• and
• wherein the connector includes a housing containing at least part of the memory unit and at least part of the communication control system, and wherein the storage apparatus is small enough to fit fully or nearly fully within at least one of the electronic devices, and wherein the dimensions of the storage apparatus housing are the same in at least two dimensions as a standard connector;
• and
• wherein a plurality of components of the group comprising the memory unit or communications control system is attached to a circuit board, and the circuit board contains a step to locate at least part of the circuit board centrally within the housing to provide space above and below the circuit board, and at least one component is attached to each side of the circuit board.

An electronic memory device, comprising

• a non-volatile memory, and
• a housing having electrical conductivity for at least one of grounding, guarding and static discharge,
• the memory being at least partly in the housing,
• a memory controller at least partly in the housing;
• the housing having a form factor to plug directly into a connector port of an electronic device, and
• the housing fitting either completely or nearly completely into some electronic devices;
• and
• wherein the memory and memory controller are attached to a circuit board, and the circuit board contains a step to locate at least part of the circuit board centrally within the housing to provide space above and below the circuit board, and at least one of the memory or memory controller is attached to each side of the circuit board.

A memory device for interconnection with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Series A type receptacle of an electronic device, comprising:

• a housing wherein the housing is largely rectangular, with the width and height of a USB Series A plug standard housing;
• a connector within the housing;
• electrical terminals in the housing;
• the housing and terminals of a form to connect with the USB Series A receptacle of the electronic device;
• and
• a data memory and a controller within the housing;
• wherein at least one component, including the controller and the data memory, is attached to a circuit board and at least part of the circuit board is in the housing;
• and
• wherein the terminals are attached directly to the circuit board;
• and
• wherein the circuit board has a number of grooves and the respective terminals are positioned in the respective grooves, and wherein the grooves are elongated in an axial direction and the terminals are bowed in a convex curvature generally partially about such axial direction.

A USB style electrical device comprising:

• a circuit board having electrical components thereon,
• electrical terminals attached to the circuit board providing electrical connection for at least one electrical component,
• an electrically conductive housing having an interior in which at least a substantial portion of the circuit board and at least one electrical component are contained, and
• stand-offs between the circuit board and the housing positioning the circuit board in the interior of the housing;
• and
• wherein the housing has an entrance to receive a connector and the circuit board having a step to position the electrical terminals to engage terminals of the connector inserted into the housing.

A memory device for interconnection with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Series A type receptacle of an electronic device, comprising:

• a housing wherein the housing is largely rectangular, with the width and height of a USB Series A plug standard housing;
• a connector within the housing;
• electrical terminals in the housing;
• the housing and terminals of a form to connect with the USB Series A receptacle of the electronic device;
• and
• a data memory and a controller within the housing;
• and
• wherein at least one component, including the controller and the data memory, is attached to a circuit board, and at least part of the circuit board is located centrally within the housing;
• and
• wherein the terminals are attached directly to the circuit board;
• and
• wherein the circuit board has a number of grooves and the respective terminals are positioned in the respective grooves, and wherein the grooves are elongated in an axial direction and the terminals are bowed in a convex curvature generally partially about such axial direction.