Sony Corporation

Yoshio Kondo

Takumi Okaue

Toshiharu Kobayashi

Akira Sassa

Haruo Oba

Kunihito Sawai

Takashi Masuda

Akihiro Kikuchi

Takuro Hibino

Naoki Nagano

Akinari Mori

Kenichi Fukahori

Hideo Terasawa

The object of the present invention is to enable to prevent an erroneous erase of a data stored or writing another data on the data as well as to enable to easily switch an erroneous erase prevention switch. A command generator, upon reception of a register instruction for checking a state of a memory cardreceived via an S/P & P/S sequencer, sets a state of an erroneous erase prevention switchin a register and transmits this register content via the S/P & P/S sequnecerto a host computer. According to the register content from the memory card, the host computer decides whether a write protect is ON and executes a write inhibit processing when the write protect is ON.

External storage apparatus and control apparatus thereof, and data transmission/reception apparatus

The object of the present invention is to enable to prevent an erroneous erase of a data stored or writing another data on the data as well as to enable to easily switch an erroneous erase prevention switch. A command generatorupon reception of a register instruction for checking a state of a memory cardreceived via an S/P & P/S sequencer, sets a state of an erroneous erase prevention switchin a register and transmits this register content via the S/P & P/S sequnecerto a host computer. According to the register content from the memory card, the host computer decides whether a write protect is ON and executes a write inhibit processing when the write protect is ON.

A memory card is disclosed which has a card body () having a concavity () formed at the forward end thereof in the inserting direction and in which terminals () are disposed and projections () are formed between the terminals () to prevent the terminals () from being touched or accessed from outside. A receptacle for the memory card is also disclosed. The memory card has a simple structure designed to positively protect the terminals and easily let out dust or the like from inside, thereby permitting to assure a positive connection with the receptacle.

Memory card, and receptacle for same

A command generator , upon reception of a register instruction for checking a state of a memory card received via an S/P & P/S sequencer, sets a state of an erroneous erase prevention switch in a register and transmits this register content via the S/P & P/S sequnecer to a host computer. According to the register content from the memory card, the host computer decides whether a write protect is ON and executes a write inhibit processing when the write protect is ON.

External storage apparatus and control apparatus thereof, and data transmission reception apparatus

A memory card and apparatus used therewith. The memory card comprises a rectangular card body having terminals in the vicinity of one end and a storage device disposed in the card body for storing data. A switch on the card is operable to a state to prevent stored data from being erased; and a status signal representing the state of the switch is supplied to one or more of the terminals. The apparatus with which the card is used has mating terminals to receive the status signal. Depending upon the state of that status signal, the apparatus is selectively inhibited from writing data to the memory card or erasing data stored in the memory card.

Memory card with write protection switch

A memory card is disclosed which has a card body ( ) having a concavity ( ) formed at the forward end thereof in the inserting direction and in which terminals ( ) are disposed and projections ( ) are formed between the terminals ( ) to prevent the terminals ( ) from being touched or accessed from outside. A receptacle for the memory card is also disclosed. The memory card has a simple structure designed to positively protect the terminals and easily let out dust or the like from inside, thereby permitting to assure a positive connection with the receptacle.

A memory card is disclosed which has a card body (,) having a concavity (,) formed at the forward end thereof in the inserting direction and in which terminals (,) are disposed and projections (,) are formed between the terminals (,) to prevent the terminals (,) from being touched or accessed from outside. A receptacle for the memory card is also disclosed. The memory card has a simple structure designed to positively protect the terminals and easily let out dust or the like from inside, thereby permitting to assure a positive connection with the receptacle.

Growing community of inventors

Chiba, Japan

Yoshio Kondo