Sandisk Corporation

Sandisk Technologies Inc.

Dhaval Parikh

Steven Theodore Sprouse

Rajeev Nagabhirava

Patricio Collantes

Arjun Kapoor

Robert C Miller

Michael J McCarthy

Carlos J Gonzalez

Ron Barzilai

Shai Traister

Ka Ian Yung

Sukhminder Singh Lobana

Nathan Rapaport

Jr Patricio Collantes

A memory device and techniques for its operation are presented. After operating on power received from a host, the memory device determines that it is no longer receiving host power and, in response, activates a power source on the memory device itself. Using this reserve power, the memory device can then perform data management operations. The techniques can also be applied to a digital appliance having a non-volatile memory. The memory device or digital appliance can prioritize its memory management operation during the host/user operating window based on the ability to perform these operations outside of the host/user operating window. Additionally, in a data write operations, where the memory device receives data from a host, stores the data in volatile memory, and then writes the data into the non-volatile memory, the memory device sends the host an acknowledgment of the data having been written into the non-volatile memory after it has been store in the volatile memory, but before the write into the non-volatile memory is complete.

Leveraging portable system power to enhance memory management and enable application level features

The embodiments described herein generally use a challenge to protect a removable mobile flash memory storage device, where the challenge may be in the form of a 'Completely Automated Public Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart' ('CAPTCHA'). In one embodiment, a method is provided in which a removable mobile flash memory storage device receives a command from a host device, generates a CAPTCHA challenge, provides the CAPTCHA challenge to the host device, receives a response to the CAPTCHA challenge from the host device, determines if the response satisfies the CAPTCHA challenge, and performs the command only if the response satisfies the CAPTCHA challenge. In another embodiment, a removable mobile flash memory storage device is provided for performing these acts.

Method for using a CAPTCHA challenge to protect a removable mobile flash memory storage device

A non-volatile storage device has first and second controllers that provide external access to non-volatile memory using different protocols. In response to a request from the first controller, the second controller retrieves parameters from the non-volatile memory and provides the retrieved parameters to the first controller. In one embodiment, the device parameters are USB descriptors, which may include a vendor ID, a product ID, a product string, and/or a serial number. The first controller may be a Universal Serial Bus (USB) card reader controller. Examples of the second controller include a Secure Digital (SD) controller, a CompactFlash (CF) controller, a MemoryStick controller, or a different type of controller that is able to provide external access to the non-volatile memory. The first controller provides the device parameters to a host during enumeration of the non-volatile storage device. The device parameters may be used to establish settings for the first controller.

Portable memory device with multiple I/O interfaces wherein each I/O interface has respective protocol and device parameters are requested from one I/O interface using only respective protocol

In a first embodiment, an apparatus and a method of fabrication thereof includes a substrate, a controller formed on a first integrated circuit (IC) die and disposed on the substrate, a second IC die embodying circuitry configured to enable communication between the controller and an external device, first I/O pads disposed on the first IC die, second I/O pads disposed on the second IC die, wire bonding interconnections coupling at least one of the first I/O pads with at least one of the second I/O pads, and a memory array formed on a third IC die and configured to enable communication with the controller. In a second embodiment the memory array is alternatively integrated into the first IC die.

Multi-host interface controller with USB PHY/analog functions integrated in a single package

A method is disclosed for making a connector for preventing electrostatic discharge during connection of a USB-type connector. The connector includes a grounding clip provided within a recess formed at least partially down into the surface of the second level of the base block. The grounding clip may have a proximal end affixed to a proximal end of a signal ground pin of the plurality of signal pins, though the grounding clip and signal ground pin may be coupled at other locations along their lengths. The connector including the grounding clip may be affixed to a semiconductor device. A portion of the grounding clip is provided at a height above the surface of the base block such that, when a shroud is slid around the connector, the shroud engages and remains in contact with the grounding clip. Accordingly, any electrostatic discharge built up in the shroud travels from the shroud, through the ESD grounding clip, to the signal ground pin where it is harmlessly dissipated.

Method of making an electrical connector with ESD grounding clip

A portable flash memory drive includes a Bluetooth controller with only a subset of the layers of a Bluetooth stack necessary for operation. This enables usage of a generic Bluetooth controller in the flash drive. Specific configuration for profiles and other aspects of Bluetooth communication are handled by upper layers of the Bluetooth stack that are stored in the flash memory of the drive and thereafter loaded into a host computer. The configuration and make up of the Bluetooth stack can therefore be easily updated and changed when desired.

Methods of configuring a generic bluetooth controller of a flash drive to be compatible with multiple bluetooth peripheral devices

Flash drive that configures generic bluetooth controller of the drive to be compatible with multiple bluetooth peripheral devices

A method and apparatus for storing an n-bit (for n&#x3e;=2) data block in an array of non-volatile memory cells utilizes a predetermined n+k-bit (for k&#x3e;=1) encoding selected to reduce the number of programmed cells required to store the n-bit data block.

Non-volatile memory cell endurance using data encoding

In a non-volatile memory (NVM) device having a controller and a non-volatile memory array controlled by the controller a voltage supervisor circuit monitors an output of a voltage supply powering the NVM device. The voltage supervisor circuit may be part of the NVM device or coupled to it. The voltage supervisor circuit is configured to assert a 'low-voltage' signal responsive to detecting the output of the voltage supply powering the NVM device dropping below a predetermined value. The controller is configured to write data into the memory array while the 'low-voltage' signal is deasserted and to suspend writing data while the &#x201c;low-voltage&#x201d; signal is asserted. In response to assertion of the &#x201c;low-voltage&#x201d; signal, the controller completes a write cycle/program operation, if pending, and prevents any additional write cycles/program operation(s) during assertion of the &#x201c;low-voltage&#x201d; signal.

Enhanced write abort mechanism for non-volatile memory

A Universal Serial Bus flash memory unit having an electrically conductive housing includes a spring that provides an electrically conductive, low-resistance pathway between the housing and the metal shell of the Universal Serial Bus connector so that electrostatic charge can directly discharge from the housing to the metal shell instead of discharging through electronic components within the housing.

Connector with ESD protection

Methods for ESD protection

A connector is disclosed for preventing electrostatic discharge during connection of a USB-type connector. The connector includes a grounding clip provided within a recess formed at least partially down into the surface of the second level of the base block. The grounding clip may have a proximal end affixed to a proximal end of a signal ground pin of the plurality of signal pins, though the grounding clip and signal ground pin may be coupled at other locations along their lengths. The connector including the grounding clip may be affixed to a semiconductor device. A portion of the grounding clip is provided at a height above the surface of the base block such that, when a shroud is slid around the connector, the shroud engages and remains in contact with the grounding clip. Accordingly, any electrostatic discharge built up in the shroud travels from the shroud, through the ESD grounding clip, to the signal ground pin where it is harmlessly dissipated.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Clara, CA, United States of America

Dhaval Parikh