Kingston Technology Corporation

Kingston Digital, Inc.

Storcase Technology, Inc.

Choon-Tak Tang

Dieter G Paul

Kam Cheong Chin

David Sun

George Shiu

Ngoc V Le

Chin-Tang Yen

Ke-Chun Chou

A system and method for data storage are disclosed. In a first aspect, the system comprises a printed circuit board, a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the printed circuit board, an USB connector coupled to the CPU, and an USB receptacle connector coupled to the CPU. In a second aspect, the system is a smart USB device that includes a smart USB module and a USB drive coupled to the smart USB module.

Smart USB modules and method of making

A management hub is disclosed. The management hub comprises an interface; a master hub controller coupled to the interface; a plurality of ports coupled to the master hub controller; a microcontroller coupled to the master hub controller; and hub setting switch and a slave hub controller coupled to the microcontroller and the plurality of ports. The management hub also includes a memory device coupled to the microcontroller, the memory device including a hidden drive information partition and a hidden drive organizer partition for managing and identifying information in various drives coupled to the plurality of ports, wherein when the management hub is first connected to a host system the drives are displayed in an inactive state.

Managing and indentifying multiple memory storage devices

A USB connector including a metal shield for holding at least a portion of a printed circuit board having a plurality of connector contacts on a top side of the at least a portion of the printed circuit board, the metal shield including prongs which are attachable to the printed circuit board. A top support is separate from the printed circuit board and is provided within the metal shield above the at least a portion of the printed circuit board, the top support supporting the top side of the printed circuit board.

USB connector

A memory card system is disclosed. The memory card system comprises at least one flash memory card and a module for holding the at least one memory card. The module comprises a plurality of supports. The supports include rails to guide the at least one memory card in place and a latch system for securing the at least one memory card to the module. The present invention provides a modular flash memory card expansion system using any standard Secure Digital card; the flash memory card can be any flash-based memory card, such as SD, Compact Flash (CF), MMC, Memory Stick or others.

Modular flash memory card expansion system

A memory card system is disclosed. The memory card system comprises at least one flash memory card and a module for holding the at least one memory card. The module comprises a plurality of supports. The supports include rails to guide the at least one memory card in place and a latch system for securing the at least one memory card to the module. The memory card system includes at least one layer of pins coupled to module and a controller coupled to the module. The module electrically connects the at least one layer of pins to the controller. The present invention provides a modular flash memory card expansion system using any standard Secure Digital card; the flash memory card can be any flash-based memory card, such as SD, Compact Flash (CF), MMC, Memory Stick or others.

A computer drive carrier to be removably received within a receiving frame so that a computer drive transported by the carrier can be interfaced with a host computer. A handle is pivotally connected to the computer drive carrier and adapted to be rotated between a closed position when the carrier is received within the receiving frame and an open position when it is desirable to remove the carrier and its drive from the receiving frame to be replaced by a different carrier. A key controlled lock is mounted on the receiving frame and includes a locking pawl that is rotatable from an unlocked position, at which to permit the handle to be rotated from the closed position to the open position so that the computer drive carrier can be removed from its receiving frame, to a locked position, at which to prevent the handle from being rotated to the open position so that the computer drive carrier is locked in place in the receiving frame. A microcontroller is located on the receiving frame and responsive to when a SAS computer drive has been inserted within a SATA receiving frame so as to initiate a LED warning signal to indicate a potential overheating condition. The microcontroller also prevents a manual shutdown of the computer drive when the drive carrier is locked within its receiving frame.

Receiving frame having removable computer drive carrier and lock

A universal receiving frame to be mounted in a drive bay of a chassis or storage enclosure that is interfaced with a host computer. The universal receiving frame is capable of interchangeably receiving different removable computer drive carriers having respective remote computer drives that are configured for parallel and serial operation. A printed circuit board is mounted on the back wall of the universal receiving frame in which an incoming removable drive carrier is slidably received. A suitable (e.g. a Serial ATA) interface and a serial-to-parallel bridge are located on the printed circuit board of the frame, whereby different removable carriers, regardless of drive configuration, can communicate with the chassis by way of the same receiving frame. In an alternate embodiment, which eliminates the universal receiving frame, the removable carriers are connected to one side of a backplane within the chassis and pull-out peripheral circuit boards are connected to the opposite side. A serial-to-parallel bridge is mounted on each of the removable carriers and a serial-to-serial or serial-to-parallel converter is mounted on each of the peripheral circuit boards.

Growing community of inventors

Irvine, CA, United States of America

Choon-Tak Tang