Super Talent Electronics, Inc.

Ma Laboratories, Inc.

Ren-Kang Chiou

Jim C Ni

Kuang-Yu Wang

Edward W Lee

Horng-Yee Chou

Tzu-Yih Chu

Jim Chin-Nan Ni

Szu-Kuang Chou

Paul Y Hsueh

Ben Wei Chen

Edward Kihyen Lee

I-Kang Yu

KuangYu Wang

A metal-wrapped flash-memory-drive device has an integrated slim Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) connector that fits into a standard USB socket. The slim USB connector has 4 metal contacts on a circuit board that is encapsulated by a plastic case. Components are mounted onto the circuit board. A metal wrap conforms to the general shape of a plastic sub-assembly of the plastic case and a plastic cover that enclose the circuit board. The metal wrap can be bent around the plastic sub-assembly in a forming process, or can be pre-formed into a metal tube that the plastic sub-assembly is inserted into. Alignment holes in the metal wrap can fit over plastic stubs on the plastic sub-assembly, or friction can hold the metal wrap to the plastic sub-assembly. The plastic cover and case can be bonded together by molding, ultrasonically, with adhesive films, or using snaps to form the plastic sub-assembly.

Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) flash-memory device with metal wrap formed over plastic housing

Extended Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) plugs and sockets are disclosed. The extended USB plug includes an extended pin substrate having an extended substrate length longer than a length of a pin substrate of an industry-standard USB connector plug. There is further included a plurality of USB connector contacts configured to carry USB signals and a plurality of non-USB connector contacts configured to carry non-USB signals. The extended Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) plug, which includes an extended pin substrate having an extended substrate length longer than a length of a pin substrate of an industry-standard USB connector plug. There is included a plurality of USB connector contacts configured to carry USB signals and a plurality of non-USB connector contacts configured to carry non-USB signals.

Extended UBS protocol connector and socket

A slimmaleUniversal-Serial-Bus (USB) connector fits on only one side of the connector substrate in a standard female USB connector. Wobble or vertical play is reduced by locking depressions in the slimmaleUSB connector that engage metal springs on a metal case that surrounds the female USB connector, locking the two connectors together. Between metal contacts on the slim USM connector are dividers that help fill in gaps when the two connectors are connected together, further reducing play. End rails on the slim USB connector fill in gaps on the sides. The connector substrate of the slimmaleUSB connector can be separate or can be integrated with a circuit board that holds a flash memory chip and a USB controller chip. The connector is wider than the standard width for a better fit. A slim female USB connector for assemblyusewith the slim male USB connector is also disclosed.

Assembly including slim female USB connector and slim male USB connector with spring-engaging depressions, stabilizing dividers and wider end rails

A light-weight flash hard drive includes a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) mounted in a housing formed by a plastic frame and a pair of metal panels that are mounted on the plastic frame over the PCBA. The PCBA includes a PC board and a plug connector that is mounted on a front edge of the PCB. The plastic frame includes first and second parallel side rails and a back end rail extending between back ends of the first and second side rails. The frame defines an open front end and a longitudinal platform for receiving and supporting the PCBA such that the plug connector is exposed through the open front end. The metal panels are either snap-coupled to the plastic frame or to each other. Alternatively, or in addition, an adhesive or insulating film is provided between the metal panels and the IC devices mounted on the PCBA.

Light-weight flash hard drive with plastic frame

A portable memory device includes a molded housing and a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) encased with the molded housing such that a plug connector extends from one end. A lower housing portion is produced by injection molding using a first apparatus, and then the lower housing portion is transferred to a second molding apparatus. The PCBA is mounted onto the lower housing such that the plug connector is received in a protected region. The second molding apparatus is then closed, and an upper housing portion is injected molded over the PBCA and exposed peripheral edges of the lower housing portion such that the upper housing portion becomes fused to the lower housing portion. Multiple lower housing portions connected together by plastic tethers to form a plastic strip, which facilitates efficient transfer to the second molding apparatus as a unit. The tethers are subsequently removed (e.g., singulated) to form individual memory devices.

Method for manufacturing a memory device

Universal-serial-bus (USB) flash-memory device with metal wrap formed over plastic housing

A low-profile Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) device includes a PCBA in which all of the ICs are formed on a side of a PCB opposite to the metal contacts. The ICs include, for example, a USB controller chip and flash memory chip or communication chip. A housing is attached over the ICs and extends a minimum height above the metal contacts.

Low-profile USB device

Plastic casings are simultaneously molded onto several PCBAs attached to a carrier in a closely-spaced arrangement. All edges of each PCBA have integral connecting segments that extend through grooves formed in the associated mold assembly, and are pinched when the molds assembly is closed to precisely and reliably position the PCBA inside of an associated cavity during the molding process. In one embodiment, the PCB substrate is positioned in a bent arrangement to accommodate the use of inexpensive memory devices. Write-protect switches are provided.

Molded memory card production using carrier strip

A memory module assembly includes two-plate heat sink attached to one or more of the integrated circuits (e.g., memory devices) of a memory module PCBA by adhesive. The adhesive is either heat-activated or heat-cured. The adhesive is applied to either the memory devices or the heat-sink plates, and then compressed between the heat-sink plates and memory module using a fixture. The fixture is then passed through an oven to activate/cure the adhesive.

Memory module assembly including heat sink attached to integrated circuits by adhesive

A peripheral device having a device processor, a multi-personality bus switch, and an extended Universal-Serial Bus (USB) plug is disclosed. The peripheral device is capable of communicating with a host computer using one or more protocols. The extended Universal-Serial Bus (USB) plug includes an extended pin substrate, the extended pin substrate and at least some of a plurality of contacts thereon being dimensioned to be mechanically compatible with an industry-standard USB socket. The extended USB plug further lacks an industry-standard cover associated with an industry-standard USB plug, thereby causing the extended USB plug to be thinner than the industry-standard USB plug.

Peripheral device having an extended USB plug for communicating with a host computer

An extended Universal-Serial Bus (USB) plug and extended Universal-Serial Bus (USB) socket are disclosed. The extended Universal-Serial Bus (USB) plug includes an extended pin substrate, the extended pin substrate and at least some of a plurality of contacts thereon being dimensioned to be mechanically compatible with an industry-standard USB socket. The extended USB plug further lacks an industry-standard cover associated with an industry-standard USB plug, thereby causing the extended USB plug to be thinner than the industry-standard USB plug. The extended Universal-Serial Bus (USB) socket, which includes an extended cavity having an extended cavity length longer than a length of a cavity of an industry-standard USB connector socket. The extended cavity and at least some of a plurality of pins therein are dimensioned to be mechanically compatible with an industry-standard USB connector plug.

Connectors having a USB-like form factor for supporting USB and non-USB protocols

Secure-digital (SD) type memory cards are produced using one or more prefabricated cover portions and a molded casing portion. A sub-assembly is formed by mounting a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) onto the cover portion such that the contact pads of the PCBA are exposed through associated windows defined in the cover. The sub-assembly is placed into a cavity formed in a mold assembly, and molten thermoplastic material is then injected into each cavity of the mold assembly under heat and pressure using known injection molding techniques, thereby forming a molded plastic casing portion that secures the PCBA to the cover and completes the memory card housing.

Memory card production using prefabricated cover and molded casing portion

A PC card frame kit for housing a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) including a board (PCB) and a connector mounted on a back edge of the PCB. The frame kit includes a frame including first and second parallel side rails and an end rail extending between first ends of the first and second side rails. The frame defines an open end and a longitudinal slot for slidably receiving the PCB. Side panels of the PC card frame kit are then snap-coupled onto the frame.

PC card assembly with frame having longitudinal slot

Extended USB protocol plug and receptacle

Host computers and peripheral devices communicating through extended USB connectors and plugs are disclosed. The host computer and peripheral device communicate via a non-USB communication mode, using the extended capability of the extended USB connectors and plugs. Software and hardware to facilitate such communication are also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Fremont, CA, United States of America

Ren-Kang Chiou