Sandisk Corporation

Sandisk Technologies Inc.

Discretix Technologies Ltd.

Micky Holtzman

Yosi Pinto

Yoram Cedar

Reuven Elhamias

Wesley G Brewer

Thomas N Toombs

Andrew John Tomlin

Ron Barzilai

Hagai Bar-El

Baruch Boris Cohen

Eli Harari

Aviad Zer

David Deitcher

Simon Stolero

Meiri Azari

Rony S Shapiro

Ronen Greenspan

A removable electronic circuit card having both a memory module with a non-volatile mass storage memory and a separate input-output module so that data transfers may be made through the input-output module directly to and from the mass storage memory in a direct memory access (DMA) type transfer when the card is inserted into the host system but without having to pass the data through the host system. Once the host gives a DMA command, the data transfer is accomplished independently of the host system, except for the host supplying power and possibly a clock signal and other like support, during such a data transfer directly with card. The data for the transfer can be communicated between the input-output module and the exterior device through either wireless or an electrical connection means.

Combination non-volatile memory and input-output card with direct memory access

A data storage device includes one or more data paths through electrical contacts of the data storage device. The data paths are operably connected to allow bits to be transferred into and out of the data storage device. The data storage device stores an indication of a number of the one or more data paths in a configuration register. A method includes performing, while the data storage device is operatively coupled to a host device, receiving a command of the host device to read the configuration register and providing the indication via at least one of the one or more data paths. Providing the indication enables indicating to the host device the number of the one or more data paths.

Data storage device with host-accessible indicator

A memory card of one published standard, such as the Multi-Media Card (MMC) or Secure Digital Card (SD), is modified to include the function of a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) according to another published standard. The controller of the memory card communicates between electrical contacts on the outside of the card and both the memory and the SIM. In one specific form, the memory card has the physical configuration of the current Plug-in SIM card with a few external contacts added to accommodate the memory controller and data memory. In another specific form, the memory card has the physical configuration of the current SD card, including external contacts.

Memory cards including a standard security function

A secure memory card with encryption capabilities comprises various life cycle states that allow for testing of the hardware and software of the card in certain of the states. The testing mechanisms are disabled in certain other of the states thus closing potential back doors to secure data and cryptographic keys. Controlled availability and generation of the keys required for encryption and decryption of data is such that even if back doors are accessed that previously encrypted data is impossible to decrypt and thus worthless even if a back door is found and maliciously pried open.

Secure memory card with life cycle phases

A data storage device includes one or more electrical contacts and one or more data paths through the electrical contacts. The one or more electrical contacts enable bits to be transferred into and out of the data storage device via the one or more data paths. The data storage device also includes a memory that stores an indication of a number of the one or more data paths. The data storage device is configured to provide the indication via at least one of the one or more data paths while the data storage device is operatively coupled to a host device to indicate to the host device the number of the one or more data paths.

Enhanced data storage device

A memory card that adapts its operation according to the application to which it applied or the conditions under which it is operated. This allows the card to dynamical self optimize. In a first set of embodiments, the card uses host profiling where it will learn about the host during host-card interactions and the card's controller will optimize its algorithms accordingly. In another set of embodiments, the host and card will report to one another their capabilities for a quality of service negotiation. A further set of embodiments allows the storage device to memorize access sequences issued by the host under various predefined conditions, such as host reset or a power on boot sequence. The storage device can use this information to optimize operation for the expected commands. On deviation from an expected sequence, the device would memorize the new command sequence and save it, thus operating in a self-adaptive manner.

Optimized non-volatile storage systems

In a non-volatile memory system, test data may be retrieved by means of a circuit without the help of firmware. The circuit is triggered into action when it detects an abnormality in the processor or host interface. In such event, it formats the self test or status signals from the various blocks in the non-volatile memory system controller and sends a test message to the outside world without the assistance of the system processor or interface controller. When implemented in memory systems with multiple data lines, only one of the data lines may be utilized for such purpose, thereby allowing the testing to be performed while the system is still performing data transfer. Preferably, the system includes the test mode communication controller, which can select between a test channel and a host interface channel for the test message transfer so that the same testing may be performed when the memory system is in the test package as well as in an encapsulated package. The test message is transmitted repeatedly and the test message is structured so that it is easier for the receiver host to decipher the message without a handshake with the memory system. A communication controller preferably detects whether any of the communication channels is not used by the controller of a non-volatile memory system for sending signals and sends diagnostic signals through such channel.

Non-volatile memory system with self test capability

Methods used in a secure memory card with life cycle phases

A method of transmitting a stream of data bits from a memory card to a host device includes determining, at the memory card, a first number of data lines between the memory card and the host device, from one to a plurality of data lines. If the first number of data lines is determined to be a plurality of data lines, the method includes switching, at the memory card, the data stream between one of the first number of data lines and another of the first number of data lines after each occurrence of a second number of one or more bits of the data stream having passed toward the host device. The method also includes, if the first number of data lines is determined to be one data line, transmitting, from the memory card, the stream of data bits over the one data line to the host device.

Enhanced data communication by a non-volatile memory card

A device with mass storage capability that uses a readily available non secure memory for the mass storage but has firmware (and hardware) that provides security against unauthorized copying of data. This is true even though the firmware itself is stored in the non secure mass storage memory, and therefore potentially vulnerable to hacking. An indication of the authenticity of the firmware must be present before it will be executed by the device. This protects the device contents from unauthorized duplication or tampering. Additional functionality can be added to the device with additional firmware applications, and the authenticity of those additional applications will also be verified before they will be executed. This further prevents unauthorized copying or tampering of secure content through any mechanisms that may be unscrupulously introduced. Any data within the mass storage memory may also be encrypted.

Growing community of inventors

Kfar-Vradim, Israel

Micky Holtzman