Sandisk Corporation

Sandisk Il Ltd.

Sandisk Technologies Inc.

Yosi Pinto

Micky Holtzman

Yoram Cedar

Wesley G Brewer

Reuven Elhamias

Michael Holtzman

Amir Fridman

Eitan Mardiks

Aviad Zer

Eli Harari

Robert F Wallace

Andrew John Tomlin

Asher Druck

Simon Stolero

Meiri Azari

Amir Tsuri

Geoffrey Steven Gongwer

Yacov Duzly

Bhavin Odedara

Jayaprakash Naradasi

Krishnamurthy Dhakshinamurthy

Shajith Musaliar Sirajudeen

Rampraveen Somasundaram

Anand Sharma

Oren N Honen

Eyal F Hakoun

Eyal Hakoun

Mickael Holtzman

A method includes receiving an enumeration message via a host interface of a device that is operatively coupled to a host device and to one or more other devices. The method includes identifying the enumeration message as a command originated by the host device or as a response message from one of the other devices. In response to identifying the enumeration message as a command, an enumeration response message is sent to the host device. The enumeration response message indicates a distinctive device identifier value. The method also includes, in response to identifying the enumeration message as a response message from one of the other devices, reading from the response message an identifier value used by such other device and at least temporarily storing this identifier value at the device to enable the device to select the distinctive device identifier value.

Device identifier selection

A non-source-synchronous system may include a clock-sending device and a clock-receiving device that communicate via a communications bus. The clock-sending device and the clock-receiving device may perform a tuning operation, in which the clock-receiving device sends one or more data signals on one or more data lines of the communications bus to the clock-sending device. The clock-sending device may delay its internal clock signal by an amount based on the one or more data signals. The clock-sending device may then perform sampling of data signals received from the clock-receiving device based on the tuning operation. The tuning operation may be performed in accordance with SDR or DDR, and thus allow for SDR or DDR communication with optimal sampling for systems that do not use a data strobe.

Tuning circuitry and operations for non-source-synchronous systems

A memory card includes a first set of contacts and a second set of contacts. A first edge of the memory card includes an indentation. Insertion of the memory card into a first slot of a host device engages the first set of contacts. The indentation is configured to accept a pivoting lever arm located in the first slot when the memory card is inserted into the first slot.

Dual interface card with backward and forward compatibility

A host device includes a slot configured to receive a first type of memory card having an indentation and a mechanical structure. The mechanical structure includes a pivot structure and a lever arm. The lever arm is configured to pivot on the pivot structure and a portion of the lever arm is configured to at least partially fit into the indentation to distinguish the first type of memory card from a second type of memory card.

Host for use with dual interface card with backward and forward compatibility

Systems and methods for automatically and controlling operation of one or more devices in a system are provided. In a particular embodiment, a command is received by a device in order for the device to determine whether to perform an operation (such as perform initialization of the device). The command may include information indicative of resource capabilities of at least a part of the system. Using the information, the device may determine whether to begin performing the operation (such as initialization), and perform the operation if it is determined to do so.

Method and system for controlling operation of interconnected devices by circulating host capability without a centralized manager

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

Systems and methods of device identifier selection are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method includes receiving an enumeration message via a host interface of a device operatively coupled to a host device as well as to one or more other devices and identifying the enumeration message as a command originated by the host device or as a response message from one of the other devices. The method includes, in response to identifying the enumeration message as a command, selectively sending an enumeration response message to the host device. The enumeration response message indicates a distinctive device identifier value. The method also includes, in response to identifying the enumeration message as a response message from one of the other devices, reading from the response message an identifier value used by such other device and at least temporarily storing this identifier value at the device to enable the device to select the distinctive device identifier value.

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

Systems and methods of device identifier selection are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method includes, at a hub device having a plurality of ports including a first port, a second port, and a third port, receiving a first message from a host device. The first message including a broadcast indicator. The method also includes, in response to determining that the first message requests enumeration, emulating a ring communication topology by serially propagating messages including an enumeration indicator to a first device via the first port and to a second device via the second port. The method further includes, in response to determining that the first message does not request enumeration, selectively sending the first message to the first device substantially concurrently with sending the first message to the second device. Emulating the ring communication topology enables the hub device to provide a first distinctive identifier value of the first device and a second distinctive identifier value of the second device to the host device.

A bridge includes a host interface via which data/commands are received from and transferred to a host, and a storage device interface via which data/commands are received from and transferred to a storage device. The bridge also includes one SDPC, a controller and a switching system that is configurable by the controller to connect the protocol converter to the host interface and the storage device interface if the storage device protocol used by the host device differs from the storage device protocol used by the storage device, and to connect the host device interface to the storage device interface, not via the bi-directional protocol converter, if the two storage device protocols are the same. The bridge may include two SDPCs, each for converting a different protocol to the host protocol and vice versa, with the switching system being configurable to switch between the two SDPCs. The bridge may omit the SDPC altogether, with the switching system being configurable to switch between connecting (1) the host device interface to the storage device interface, and (2) bypassing the storage device interface.

Multi-protocol storage device bridge

Techniques are presented that allow a memory card operable according to two protocols (such as a legacy protocol and newer protocol), and having a corresponding dual interface, to be used with hosts that support the new protocol as well as having backward compatibility with legacy hosts, while preventing the use of legacy cards with hosts that support the new protocol but do not support the legacy protocol. The card that supports the new protocol has a similar form factor to the legacy card, includes an indentation. A host that supports the new, but not the legacy, type card includes a mechanical structure within the attachment slot that, based on the card indentation, can distinguish the card types and prevent the non-supported card from being attached.

Growing community of inventors

Kfar-Vradim, Israel

Yosi Pinto