Patents by Inventor Akihisa Fujimoto

Akihisa Fujimoto has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8671227
    Abstract: A host apparatus, into which a card having a nonvolatile semiconductor memory is inserted, issues a check command to the card. The check command instructs to send information on whether the card supports a termination process in which the card shifts into a state ready for a stop of power supply from the host apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Akihisa Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20140068111
    Abstract: A host device is configured to read and write information from and into a card and to supply a supply voltage that belongs to a first voltage range or a second voltage range which is lower than the first voltage range, and issues a voltage identification command to the card. The voltage identification command includes a voltage range identification section, an error detection section, and a check pattern section. The voltage range identification section includes information indicating which one of the first voltage range and the second voltage range the supply voltage belongs. The error detection section has a pattern configured to enable the card which has received the voltage identification command to detect errors in the voltage identification command. The check pattern section has a preset pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Akihisa FUJIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20140059273
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a host apparatus is capable of accessing memory device. The host apparatus includes application software, a dedicated file system, and an interface circuit. The application software issues, to a file system, a request for access to the memory device. The dedicated file system manages a memory area of the memory device in accordance with a method appropriate to a flash memory in response to the access request. The dedicated file system manages logical address spaces by predetermined unit areas, and sequentially writes data into one of reserved unit areas. The application software issues the access request to the dedicated file system without recognizing a size of the unit area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Akihisa FUJIMOTO, Hiroyuki Sakamoto, Shinichi Matsukawa, Jun Sato
  • Publication number: 20140032805
    Abstract: When initializing a card-shaped device inserted in a card interface, operation mode acquiring means incorporated in an electronic device acquires operation mode information, stored in a register file incorporated in the card-shaped device, by a predetermined procedure using a predetermined pin. Operation mode setting means incorporated in the electronic device executes signal assignment on a plurality of data pins peculiar to an operation mode indicated by the acquired operation mode information, thereby switching a data transfer width, and allowing the card-shaped device to operate in the operation mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Kosei OKAMOTO, Hiroyuki SAKAMOTO, Akihisa FUJIMOTO, Masao SUGA
  • Publication number: 20140013062
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, a controller, an extended function section, and an extension register. The controller controls the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device. The extended function section is controlled by the controller. The extension register which is provided with a certain block length capable of defining an extended function of the extended function section. The controller processes a first command to write header data of a command to operate the extended function section to the extended function section through the extension register, and a second command to read header data of a response from the extended function section through the extension register.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shinichi MATSUKAWA, Akihisa FUJIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20140013050
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, a controller, an extended function section, and an extension register. The controller controls the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device. The extended function section is controlled by the controller. The extension register which is provided with a certain block length capable of defining an extended function of the extended function section. The controller processes a first command to write header data of a command to operate the extended function section to the extended function section through the extension register, and a second command to read header data of a response from the extended function section through the extension register.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shinichi MATSUKAWA, Akihisa Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20140013049
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, a controller, an extended function section, and an extension register. The controller controls the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device. The extended function section is controlled by the controller. The extension register which is provided with a certain block length capable of defining an extended function of the extended function section. The controller processes a first command to write header data of a command to operate the extended function section to the extended function section through the extension register, and a second command to read header data of a response from the extended function section through the extension register.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shinichi Matsukawa, Akihisa Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20140006710
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a non-transitory medium, a controller, a memory, an extension function section, and an extension register. The controller controls the non-transitory medium. The memory which is serving as a work area is connected to the controller. The extension function section is controlled by the controller. The extension register which is provided on the memory is provided with a certain block length capable of defining an extension function of the extension function section. The controller processes a first command to write header data of a command to operate the extension function section to the extension function section through the extension register, and a second command to read header data of a response from the extension function section through the extension register.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Shinichi MATSUKAWA, Akihisa FUJIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20130332675
    Abstract: A host apparatus, into which a card having a nonvolatile semiconductor memory is inserted, issues a check command to the card. The check command instructs to send information on whether the card supports a termination process in which the card shifts into a state ready for a stop of power supply from the host apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Akihisa FUJIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20130326257
    Abstract: A memory card includes a memory controller configured to perform control for sending and receiving a command signal, a response signal, a data signal, and a status signal in synchronization with a clock signal, and a memory-side pattern signal storage unit configured to store a tuning pattern signal to be sent to a host device. The tuning pattern signal is used by the host device to adjust the phase of the clock signal for use as a sampling clock signal. The memory card sends a first tuning pattern signal through a command line and a second tuning pattern signal through a data line concurrently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Akihisa FUJIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20130326129
    Abstract: A storage device includes a semiconductor memory storing data. A controller instructs to write data to the semiconductor memory in accordance with a request the controller receives. A register holds performance class information showing one performance class required to allow the storage device to demonstrate best performance which the storage device supports, of performance classes specified in accordance with performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Akihisa FUJIMOTO
  • Patent number: 8596548
    Abstract: A host device is configured to read and write information from and into a card and to supply a supply voltage that belongs to a first voltage range or a second voltage range which is lower than the first voltage range, and issues a voltage identification command to the card. The voltage identification command includes a voltage range identification section, an error detection section, and a check pattern section. The voltage range identification section includes information indicating which one of the first voltage range and the second voltage range the supply voltage belongs. The error detection section has a pattern configured to enable the card which has received the voltage identification command to detect errors in the voltage identification command. The check pattern section has a preset pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Akihisa Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20130318281
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory system, such as a SDIO card, includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, a control section, a memory, an extended function section, and an extension register. The extended function section is controlled by the control section. A first command reads data from the extension register in units of given data lengths. A second command writes data to the extension register in units of given data lengths. A extension register includes a first area, and second area different from the first area, information configured to specify a type of the extended function and controllable driver, and address information indicating a place to which the extended function is assigned, the place being on the extension register, are recorded in the first area, and the second area includes the extended function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Akihisa FUJIMOTO, Hiroyuki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8539140
    Abstract: A storage device includes a semiconductor memory storing data. A controller instructs to write data to the semiconductor memory in accordance with a request the controller receives. A register holds performance class information showing one performance class required to allow the storage device to demonstrate best performance which the storage device supports, of performance classes specified in accordance with performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Akihisa Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 8533367
    Abstract: A host apparatus, into which a card having a nonvolatile semiconductor memory is inserted, issues a check command to the card. The check command instructs to send information on whether the card supports a termination process in which the card shifts into a state ready for a stop of power supply from the host apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Akihisa Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 8533521
    Abstract: A memory card includes a memory controller configured to perform control for sending and receiving a command signal, a response signal, a data signal, and a status signal in synchronization with a clock signal, and a memory-side pattern signal storage unit configured to store a tuning pattern signal to be sent to a host device. The tuning pattern signal is used by the host device to adjust the phase of the clock signal for use as a sampling clock signal. The memory card sends a first tuning pattern signal through a command line and a second tuning pattern signal through a data line concurrently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Akihisa Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20130232283
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, the host controller includes a register set to issue command, and a direct memory access (DMA) unit and accesses a system memory and a device. First, second, third and fourth descriptors are stored in the system memory. The first descriptor includes a set of a plurality of pointers indicating a plurality of second descriptors. Each of the second descriptors comprises the third descriptor and fourth descriptor. The third descriptor includes a command number, etc. The fourth descriptor includes information indicating addresses and sizes of a plurality of data arranged in the system memory. The DMA unit sets, in the register set, the contents of the third descriptor forming the second descriptor, from the head of the first descriptor as a start point, and transfers data between the system memory and the host controller in accordance with the contents of the fourth descriptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Akihisa FUJIMOTO
  • Patent number: 8527730
    Abstract: A data updating method, a memory system and a memory device in which the memory device is connectable to a host device and has a memory section and a memory controller, the memory section consists of a first memory section which can be divided into partitions having multiple different attributes, and a work space which is managed by the memory controller, and the method of updating data which is stored in the memory device uses one of the writing methods which has been selected from among multiple different writing methods of writing data into the partition, depending on the attribute of the partition, to perform an updating process, and can securely update the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Akihisa Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 8516178
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system having a non-volatile programmable memory and a controller is provided. The system has data pins that are configured to be accessed in one of a first mode and a second mode such that, in the first mode, the system receives information using one of the data pins and, in the second mode, the system receives information using four of the data pins. The system also has a command pin that is configured to receive a first command, a second command, and a third command, the first command requesting a current operation mode of the data pins, the second command requesting operation voltage information of the system, and the third command setting the system into one of the first and second modes. Additionally, the system has a power signal pin configured to receive power for the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kosei Okamoto, Hiroyuki Sakamoto, Akihisa Fujimoto, Masao Suga
  • Patent number: 8489802
    Abstract: A recordable memory device includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, and a controller controlling the nonvolatile semiconductor memory based on a recordable system. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory has a user area capable of directly making an access from a host, and a system area managed by the controller. A data writing to the reformatted user area of the nonvolatile semiconductor memory executes from a start point which is an unused area after the final physical address of old recordable data recorded in the user area before the reformat. The data writing executes from a start point which is a top physical address in the user area, when the start point exceeds the final physical address in the user area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Akihisa Fujimoto