Abstract: A low-profile Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) assembly includes a modular USB core component that is mounted into a swivel casing. The modular USB core component includes a PCBA in which all passive components and unpackaged IC chips are attached to a single side of a PCB opposite to the metal contacts. The IC chips (e.g., USB controller, flash memory) are attached to the PCB by wire bonding or other chip-on-board (COB) technique. The passive components are attached by conventional surface mount technology (SMT) techniques. The swivel casing includes a holder that is pivotably mounted into an external housing by way of a pivot pin. The pivot pin is either a separate structure that is inserted into holes formed in the holder and housing, or is integrally formed on the holder.

Abstract: A low-profile Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) assembly includes a modular USB core component that is retractably mounted into an external housing. The modular USB core component includes a PCBA in which all passive components and unpackaged IC chips are attached to a single side of a PCB opposite to the metal contacts. The IC chips (e.g., USB controller, flash memory) are attached to the PCB by wire bonding or other chip-on-board (COB) technique. The passive components are attached by conventional surface mount technology (SMT) techniques. The housing includes a retractable mechanism that facilitates selective exposure of metal contacts, either by sliding a front portion of the modular USB core component into and out of a front opening of the housing, or by providing a cover plate that slidably covers the front portion of the modular USB core component.

Abstract: A solid state drive (SSD) device includes a printed-circuit board assembly (PCBA), a connector mounted on the circuit board, an open-frame support-type housing including first and second parallel elongated brackets extending along opposing peripheral edges of said circuit board, each bracket including a first connecting structure for securing the circuit board to the housing, and a second connecting structure for connecting the housing to an internal rack frame of a host system. The open-frame support type housing does not include a top cover and a bottom cover, whereby both of said opposing first and second surfaces are exposed by first and second openings. The housing includes optional end rails that form a box-like frame. The elongated brackets are formed using die-cast metal, stamped metal, or molded plastic with copper posts. Optional clamp-type brackets clamp along side edges of the PCBA.

Abstract: A dual-personality card reader system supports both USB and micro-SD devices using a card reader and an extended 9-pin USB socket. The card reader includes a PCBA having four standard USB metal contact pads and several extended purpose contact pads disposed on an upper side, components and IC chips covered by a molded case on a lower side, a molded lead-frame connector mounted on the PCBA and including five forward-facing extended purpose pins and eight rear-facing micro-SD connector pins that communicate with the PCBA through the extended purpose contact pads, and a housing including a slot for receiving a micro-SD card such that it communicates with the PCBA through the micro-SD connector pins. The extended 9-pin USB socket includes standard USB contacts and extended use contacts that communicate with the PCBA through the standard USB metal contacts and forward-facing extended purpose pins. The PCBA includes dual-personality electronics for SD/USB communications.

Abstract: Embodiments of a plug and cap of a Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) device have been presented. In one embodiment, a USB device includes a main body, a piece of string, and a cap. The main body has a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) and a casing, wherein the PCBA is partially housed in the casing, and the PCBA further includes a USB connector protruding out of the casing at a first end of the casing. The piece of string is coupled to the main body and the cap. The cap is detachably coupled to the first end of the casing of the main body to cover the USB connector, wherein the cap remains indirectly coupled to the casing via the piece of string when the cap is detached from the first end of the casing to expose the USB connector.

Abstract: A Universal Serial Bus (USB) memory card includes a tube metal housing that is rectangularly-shaped and a Chip-On-Board (COB)-Universal Serial Bus (USB) device and a carrier substrate having a U-block disposed on one side of thereof and vertically extending upwardly from a bottom surface of the U-block, the COB-USB device positioned on the carrier substrate forming a USB card sub-assembly, the USB card sub-assembly being securely located inside the metal housing with the U-block serving to stop the COB-USB device from slipping out of the metal housing.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention, the hollow shell of a mid-seam memory card is composed of three, independently formed, plastic pieces—a bottom plastic piece, a top plastic piece, and a plastic lid. The plastic pieces are cross-linked using, for example, ultraviolet light (UV) activated epoxy, or ultrasonic-press methods. A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, including memory, is positioned within the cavity of the plastic pieces, and the lid is attached. The PCB assembly can be made using chip on board (COB) or surface mount technology (SMT) components attached using ball grid array (BGA) or thin and small outline package (TSOP) connections. Various read-write/write-protect devices are possible, and can be implemented in the form of a physical feature present on one of the lateral sides of the bottom and top plastic pieces.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention, a memory card includes a bottom plastic piece having a plurality of lateral sides, one of which includes a notch, and a cavity interposed along the lateral sides. A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, including memory, is positioned in the cavity. A fin-structure is created as part of the manufacturing process of the bottom plastic piece of the card. The memory card is configured to function in a read-write mode when the fin-structure is present, and in a write-protect mode when the fins are snapped off, and the notch is exposed. Alternatively, a plug device can be insertably positioned into the notch, causing the memory card to function in a read-write mode when the plug device is positioned into the notch, and in a write-protect mode when the plug device is removed and the notch is exposed.

Abstract: A slim USB memory card is provided with retractable protection shield. A printed circuit board has a surface formed thereon a plurality of metal contacts. A main frame piece has two frame edges parallel with and opposite to each other for housing the printed circuit board. Each frame edge has an inner edge defined therein a track. A protection shield piece has two lateral sides. Each lateral side has a sliding bar, wherein the sliding bars sit on the tracks at the inner edges of the main frame piece, so as to glide back and forth on the tracks to perform cover and retract movement to protect the metal contacts.

Abstract: A low-profile Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) assembly includes a modular USB core component and an external case. The modular USB core component includes a PCBA in which all passive components and unpackaged IC chips are attached to a single side of a PCB opposite to the metal contacts. The IC chips (e.g., USB controller, flash memory) are attached to the PCB by wire bonding or other chip-on-board (COB) technique. The passive components are attached by conventional surface mount technology (SMT) techniques. A molded housing is then formed over the IC chips and passive components such that the device has a uniform thickness. The modular USB core component is then inserted or otherwise combined with an external plastic case to provide a USB assembly. An optional carrying case is disclosed.

Abstract: A molded secured digital (SD) card having a bottom plastic piece having a plurality of lateral sides, said bottom plastic piece further having a cavity interposed along said plurality of lateral sides, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The molded SD card further having a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly positioned in said cavity, one of said plurality of lateral sides of said bottom plastic piece having a notch recess, said molded SD card further having a male guide insertably positioned into said notch recess, said molded SD card further having a female switch clamped onto said male guide to form a write-protect switch.

Abstract: An MMC/SD core unit includes a PCBA in which all passive components and unpackaged IC chips are attached to a single side of a PCB opposite to the metal contacts. The IC chips include, for example, a controller chip and a flash memory chip, or a single-chip (combined controller/flash memory) chip. Multiple flash IC chips are optionally stacked to increase storage capacity. The IC chip(s) are attached to the PCB by wire bonding or other chip-on-board (COB) technique. The passive components are attached by conventional surface mount technology (SMT) techniques. A molded housing is then formed over the IC chips and passive components such that the device has a uniform thickness. The MMC/SD core unit is then inserted or otherwise mounted in an eternal casing to provide a finished MMC/SD device.

Abstract: A low-profile Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) device includes a PCBA in which all passive components and unpackaged IC chips are attached to a single side of a PCB opposite to the metal contacts. The IC chips include, for example, a USB controller chip and a flash memory chip, or a single-chip (combined USB controller/flash memory) chip. Multiple flash IC chips are optionally stacked to increase storage capacity. The IC chip(s) are attached to the PCB by wire bonding or other chip-on-board (COB) technique. The passive components are attached by conventional surface mount technology (SMT) techniques. A molded housing is then formed over the IC chips and passive components such that the device has a uniform thickness. The low-profile USB device is optionally used as a modular insert that is mounted onto a metal case to provide a USB assembly having a plug shell similar to a standard USB male connector.

Abstract: A secured digital (SD) card including a bottom plastic piece having a plurality of lateral sides, said bottom plastic piece further having a cavity interposed along said plurality of lateral sides, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The SD card further having a top cover and a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly positioned in said cavity, said top cover for covering said PCB assembly inside said cavity, one of said plurality of lateral sides of said bottom plastic piece having a notch, said SD card further having a male guide insertably positioned inside said notch, said SD card further having a female switch clamped onto said male guide to form a write-protect switch.

Abstract: An wire under dam package and method for packaging image-sensor. The image-sensor package includes: a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, a sensing chip being laid on the first surface, the sensing chip having multiple soldering pads; multiple inner electric contacts arranged on the first surface, the soldering pads and the inner electric contacts being electrically connected via soldering wires; a frame bank attached to the first surface, rear ends of the soldering wires soldered with the inner electric contacts being sandwiched between the frame bank and the first surface; and a transparent board laid on the frame bank for sealing the sensing chip.