Abstract: A controller chip for coupling a computer system with a flash storage system is disclosed. The controller chip comprises an interface mechanism for determining whether the Flash storage system includes a controller and an adapter for providing the appropriate interface to the computer system to allow the computer system to communicate with the Flash storage system. In a preferred embodiment, the flash storage system comprising at least a portion of a medium ID section; and a flash section, wherein the medium ID section contains specifications of the medium ID. Through the use of this system a plurality of different adapters and a flash storage system can be managed while utilizing the same hardware components.

Abstract: A multi-flash-card reader is disclosed. The multi-flash-card reader comprises an active adapter chip for converting multiple flash-card interfaces to a plurality of output interfaces for a device. The multiple flash-card interfaces include a CompactFlash interface and smaller interfaces having fewer pins that the CompactFlash interface. The reader includes a CompactFlash connector, coupled to the active adapter chip, for receiving a CompactFlash card through a single slot in the single slot multi-flash-card reader. The CompactFlash connector makes electrical connection with the CompactFlash card for signals in the CompactFlash interface. The reader also includes an adapter, having a physical shape to removably insert into the CompactFlash connector. The adapter has a mating CompactFlash connector that fits the CompactFlash connector. The adapter also has a smaller connector. The smaller connector is for fitting to other flash-memory cards having the smaller interfaces.

Abstract: A single-slot multi-flash-card reader is disclosed. The flash card reader includes an Integrated Device Electronics (IDE) interface for transferring data to a personal computer; and an IDE converter, coupled to the IDE interface, for converting multiple flash-card interfaces to a format used by the personal computer interface. The multiple flash-card interfaces include a CompactFlash interface and smaller interfaces having fewer pins that the CompactFlash interface. The flash card reader includes a CompactFlash connector, coupled to the IDE converter, for receiving a CompactFlash card through a single slot in the single-slot multi-flash-card reader, the CompactFlash connector making electrical connection with the CompactFlash card for signals in the CompactFlash interface. The flash card reader also includes an adapter, having a physical shape to remove or insert into the CompactFlash connector. The adapter has a mating CompactFlash connector that fits the CompactFlash connector.

Abstract: A flash-memory-card reader reads and writes multiple types of flash-memory cards, including CompactFlash, and the smaller SmartMedia, MultiMediaCard, Secure Digital, and Memory Stick. A converter chip converts the different card signals for transfer to a host personal computer (PC). Serial-to-parallel data conversion is performed for the smaller card formats with serial data interfaces, but not for CompactFlash with a parallel-data interface. A single slot has a 50-pin connector for CompactFlash cards or passive adapters. The passive adapters have the CompactFlash form factor and a smaller connector fitting smaller flash cards. Passive adapters have no components but simply wire the smaller connector to the CompactFlash connector. A pin mapping allows card-type detection by sensing the LSB address pins of the CompactFlash interface. A larger CompactFlash reader has multiple slots for each card type. The reader is connected to the PC by a cable, or located within the PC chassis in a drive bay.

Abstract: A field-operable stand-alone apparatus for recovering data from corrupted flash media and regenerated damaged flash media. The apparatus enables users in the field to recover data from and/or regenerate damaged flash media without requiring the use of a computer. In one aspect, recovery comprises using a low-level access scheme that enables data to be recovered when high-level interfaces, such as file systems, are damaged. The type of flash media is determined, and a corresponding access scheme is employed. Depending on the type of damage to the media, a physical-to-logical table may be built and employed to sequentially access the flash media in search of indicia from which selectable file-types can be identified, or the media may be accessed using normal operating system commands. Once the file indicia are found, the location of corresponding file data is identified, whereupon the file data are read and stored.

Abstract: A flash-memory-card reader reads and writes multiple types of flash-memory cards, including CompactFlash, and the smaller SmartMedia, MultiMediaCard, Secure Digital, and Memory Stick. A converter chip converts the different card signals for transfer to a host personal computer (PC). Serial-to-parallel data conversion is performed for the smaller card formats with serial data interfaces, but not for CompactFlash with a parallel-data interface. A single slot has a 50-pin connector for CompactFlash cards or passive adapters. The passive adapters have the CompactFlash form factor and a smaller connector fitting smaller flash cards. Passive adapters have no components but simply wire the smaller connector to the CompactFlash connector. A pin mapping allows card-type detection by sensing the LSB address pins of the CompactFlash interface. A larger CompactFlash reader has multiple slots for each card type. The reader is connected to the PC by a cable, or located within the PC chassis in a drive bay.

Abstract: An external mass storage device is secured against unauthorized access. A fingerprint reader is integrated on the external mass storage device. An initialization routine is executed when the device is plugged into a personal computer (PC) using a USB, IEEE 1394, PCMCIA, or other interface. The initialization routine scans the user's fingerprint and extracts biometric information. The biometric information is compared to stored biometric records to determine if the user is authorized to access the external mass storage device. When authorization fails, the initialization routine halts, preventing the PC from mounting the external mass storage, thus blocking access. When authentication passes, initialization continues and the external mass storage is mounted and accessible from the PC. Since the initialization routine and stored biometric records are stored on the external mass storage, the external mass storage is protected even when moved to a different PC.

Abstract: A universal cable connects a personal computer's parallel port or PCMCIA socket to a variety of types of external peripheral devices. The universal cable contains a translator circuit that converts signals from the parallel port or PCMCIA socket to external interface signals. The translator circuit combines together bytes from the parallel port to out put words when the external peripheral is an IDE or ATAPI device, or a subset of the ISA or AT bus. The translator circuit passes bytes through to 8-bit SCSI peripherals. The 16 data bits from the PCMCIA socket are passed through to IDE, ATAPI, and ISA devices, but split into bytes for SCSI devices. General-purpose I/O for external peripherals is also supported using separate input and output signals rather than bi-directional I/O. Software on the personal computer controls the configuration of the translator circuit, allowing the universal cable to be re-configured for different types of external peripherals.

Abstract: An external hard disk is connected to a personal computer (PC) through the parallel port. A parallel-port expansion card is installed on the AT bus in the PC for communicating with the external hard disk. The parallel-port expansion card has a ROM containing intercept code. The address of the ROM is automatically configured when the system BIOS scans for expansion ROMs during booting. When no other ROM drives the data bus when an address is scanned, the parallel-port card latches the address and has the ROM drive its data onto the bus. Future accesses to the latched address access the ROM. The ROM's code replaces the interrupt table's starting address of the hard-disk-controller routine with the address of an intercept routine. All hard-disk operations using the interrupt first execute the intercept routine. The intercept routine copies any data writes to the external disk. Thus the external disk has a redundant copy of the PC's internal hard disk.

Abstract: A moving target discriminator uses only bearing information obtained from passive observations together with information about the movement of an observation platform to discriminate whether an object is moving. An underlying principle of the moving target discriminator is that the intercepts of successive line-of-sight observations taken from the moving platform will move only if the object is moving. In a specific embodiment, three line-of-sight observations are made, and an intercept is computed for two different pairs of observations. If the intercepts coincide, the cited object is classified as stationary otherwise, it is classified as moving. Measurement statistics are used to compensate the computed intercepts for navigational and observation errors.