Abstract: A nonvolatile storage device includes a nonvolatile memory configured to store user data and management information used to manage the user data on a file system, and a medium controller configured to determine whether a command input from a host device is used for the user data or the management information, the command describing content of processing performed for the user data or the management information, and switch between control methods used for the nonvolatile memory on the basis of the determination result.

Abstract: A device and method is provided for commonly and securely allowing, as access control on a memory card, a plurality of information processing apparatuses to lock/unlock the memory. On the basis of a lock command input from an information processing apparatus serving as a host, such as a PC, an information storage device, such as a memory card, determines whether (a) a standard lock key set serving as a key set prohibiting output or (b) an export lock key set serving as a key set permitting output is detected and stores corresponding key set information. Only when the export lock key set is detected, output is permitted provided that predetermined verification succeeds.

Abstract: A memory device and controlling method for nonvolatile memory are provided. The memory device and the controlling method for a nonvolatile memory are provided by which, where a file management system wherein there is a tendency that lower logic addresses are used frequently like the MS-DOS is adopted, physical blocks of a flash memory are used in an averaged fashion and the life of the flash memory can be elongated thereby.

Abstract: A device and method is provided for commonly and securely allowing, as access control on a memory card, a plurality of information processing apparatuses to lock/unlock the memory. On the basis of a lock command input from an information processing apparatus serving as a host, such as a PC, an information storage device, such as a memory card, determines whether (a) a standard lock key set serving as a key set prohibiting output or (b) an export lock key set serving as a key set permitting output is detected and stores corresponding key set information. Only when the export lock key set is detected, output is permitted provided that predetermined verification succeeds.

Abstract: The present invention has been made to realize a storage device capable of normally reading out data from the erase processing applied area. In a semiconductor storage device 1, when data read processing is performed for the erase-processing applied area in a memory section 2 to read out erase-state actual data Ddr and erase-state parity data Ddp each containing only “1s”, the erase-state actual data Ddr and erase-state parity data Ddp are inverted by a third data inverting circuit 13 to make all the values thereof “0”, followed by execution of the error detection processing. With the above configuration, it is possible to prevent an error from being detected in the error detection processing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a memory apparatus comprising: a nonvolatile memory configured to allow data to be written thereto and read therefrom in units of a cluster and to permit data to be deleted therefrom in units of a block made up of a plurality of sectors; a control circuit configured to control access operations to said nonvolatile memory; a management area; a user data area; and a cache area; said management area includes a logical/physical table, and the addresses of physical blocks in said cache area.

Abstract: This invention provides a memory card (1) that is to be used as a storage medium in a host apparatus that can record and reproduce data. The memory card has a first memory (12-1), a second memory (12-2), a first switch (13) for changing over one memory to the other, and a second switch (14) for connecting and disconnecting an insertion/removal detecting terminal INS. The first and second switches work as a slide switch (6) provided on the housing is operated. The first switch has a contact for selecting the first memory, a contact for selecting the second memory, and a contact located between these two contacts, for selecting neither memory. The second switch connects the terminal INS to the ground while the first switch remains connected to the contact for selecting the first memory or the contact for selecting the second memory. The second switch opens the terminal INS while the first switch remains connected to the contact for selecting neither memory.

Abstract: The invention provides a data storage device and a method of updating management information, capable of dealing with management information in a highly reliable manner so that information is not easily lost when an error occurs. File management information such as a FAT serving as address management information in a flash memory is stored in a management information area of the memory, a pair of blocks is assigned as blocks for use to store data of the FAT, and writing of updated FAT information is performed by alternately using the two blocks of the block pair such that previous FAT information is retained in one of the two blocks of the block pair, and updated FAT information is written in the other block of the block pair, whereby, even when an error occurs in the middle of the process of writing the updated management information, a process using the retained previous FAT information is possible.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a lens barrel, a lens holding frame made movable in an optical axis direction inside the lens barrel, a movable lens held in the lens holding frame, a yoke inserted into the lens barrel and attached to the lens barrel, a magnet attached to the yoke, and a driving coil that is attached to the lens holding frame and located to be opposed to the magnet and gives propulsion to the lens holding frame. A pair of first fitting sections is provided in the lens barrel. A pair of second fitting sections is provided in the lens barrel. An interval between the first fitting sections is set larger than an interval between the second fitting sections. A distance from the optical axis to the respective first fitting sections is set larger than a distance from the optical axis to the respective second fitting sections.

Abstract: A data storage device detachably connected to a host device, the data storage device including: a memory having a logical space composed of at least one logical unit; a logical space managing table for managing the logical space; and a controlling section configured to control a managing operation of the logical space managing table, and when the host device makes a request to divide the logical space, searching the logical space for unused logical blocks, dividing a logical space composed of the unused logical blocks from the logical space, and performing control to manage a plurality of the obtained logical spaces as different logical units, respectively.

Abstract: A storage device includes a plurality of memories storing data; and a controller controlling the memories, the controller performing in parallel in a number of the memories, the number being specified by a supplied specifying signal, one of a data writing process for writing data supplied from a connection destination device to which the storage device is connectable and a data reading process for reading data requested by the connection destination device.

Abstract: A card type peripheral apparatus connected to a host apparatus for communication therewith according to a specific protocol. The card type peripheral apparatus includes a plurality of configuration registers configured to be accessible by the host apparatus and to be set with diverse set information. At least one of the plurality of configuration registers is a special register configured to be set with data arbitrarily selected and fixedly established by a vendor that either fabricates or markets the card type peripheral apparatus. The special register is set with protocol identification information for discriminating the specific protocol.

Abstract: An information storage apparatus transmits or receives information to or from another information processing apparatus in one of a plurality of data transfer modes. The information storage apparatus includes first storage means for storing the information; information transmission/reception control means for controlling transmission or reception of the information between the first storage means and second storage means contained in the other information processing apparatus; command analysis means for analyzing a command supplied from the other information processing apparatus to determine which of the plurality of data transfer modes should be applied; and configuration means for configuring the information transmission/reception control means based on a result of determination of the data transfer mode by the command analysis means.

Abstract: A memory control method is disclosed which includes: a storing step of storing a logical to physical conversion table retaining relations of correspondence between addresses of logical blocks in a user data area on the one hand, and addresses of physical blocks assigned to the logical blocks on the other hand, along with addresses of physical blocks in a cache area, the physical block addresses corresponding to the physical block addresses in the logical to physical conversion table; a first writing step of writing, to a deleted new cache block in the cache area, data in excess of a designated logical boundary which defines a logical space size in units of a plurality of sectors within a user data block of the user data area; and a second writing step of writing the data starting from the beginning of the new cache block upon data write in the first writing step to the new cache block, regardless of the logical address space of the new cache block.

Abstract: A nonvolatile-memory-access control apparatus controls operations for accessing a nonvolatile memory, which include plural cycles by a processing device. The nonvolatile-memory-access control apparatus includes a nonvolatile-memory-access-operation control unit that is capable of setting information on a series of nonvolatile-memory-access operations of the plural cycles, and when a request for access to the nonvolatile memory is received from the processing device, the unit is capable of controlling a series of operations for accessing the nonvolatile memory on the basis of the information set.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a semiconductor storage device operable in a plurality of operation modes each having a separate maximum current consumption. The device includes: a data communication section configured to be capable of performing data communication in a plurality of communication modes; an attribute information storage section configured to store attribute information indicating the operation and communication modes; and a mode setting section configured to set the device to one of the operation modes and one of the communication modes. The data communication section transmits, to an electronic apparatus to which the device is attached, the information and receives from the apparatus a mode setting command for directing that the device be set to a combination of an operation mode and a communication mode selected from among the information. In accordance therewith, the mode setting section sets the device to the selected combination of modes.

Abstract: A storage device includes a plurality of memories storing data; and a controller controlling the memories, the controller performing in parallel in a number of the memories, the number being specified by a supplied specifying signal, one of a data writing process for writing data supplied from a connection destination device to which the storage device is connectable and a data reading process for reading data requested by the connection destination device.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a lens barrel, a lens holding frame made movable in an optical axis direction inside the lens barrel, a movable lens held in the lens holding frame, a yoke inserted into the lens barrel and attached to the lens barrel, a magnet attached to the yoke, and a driving coil that is attached to the lens holding frame and located to be opposed to the magnet and gives propulsion to the lens holding frame. A pair of first fitting sections is provided in the lens barrel. A pair of second fitting sections is provided in the lens barrel. An interval between the first fitting sections is set larger than an interval between the second fitting sections. A distance from the optical axis to the respective first fitting sections is set larger than a distance from the optical axis to the respective second fitting sections.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for recording data, including a storage unit (4) for reading out management information stored in the flash memory (2) to store read out management information, an updating unit (7) for updating management information stored in the storage unit (4), a management information writing unit (3) for writing management information updated by the updating unit (7) to the page being a unit in writing data to the flash memory (2), and a control unit (7) for controlling the management information writing unit (3) so that, when the management information writing unit (3) writes updated management information to a page of the flash memory (2), a block which is different from a block including a page in which management information just before updating is written is selected, and updated management information is written to a vacant page of thus selected block.

Abstract: The present invention has been made to realize a storage device capable of normally reading out data from the erase processing applied area. In a semiconductor storage device 1, when data read processing is performed for the erase-processing applied area in a memory section 2 to read out erase-state actual data Ddr and erase-state parity data Ddp each containing only “1s”, the erase-state actual data Ddr and erase-state parity data Ddp are inverted by a third data inverting circuit 13 to make all the values thereof “0”, followed by execution of the error detection processing. With the above configuration, it is possible to prevent an error from being detected in the error detection processing.