Abstract: An apparatus that includes a serial port configured to interface with a separate host, one serial interface engine (SIE) connected to the serial port, and at least a first interface unit and a second interface unit connected to the one serial interface engine. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a virtual hub comprising a firmware unit configured to emulate a hub having multiple ports. In an alternative embodiment, the first interface unit is a keyboard interface, and the second interface unit is a flash media drive interface. In another alternative embodiment, is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) peripheral and the serial port is a Universal Serial Bus port. In another alternative embodiment, apparatus is housed within a keyboard.

Abstract: A memory card interface apparatus including a bay to receive a memory card for accessing data stored on the card, and a separate storage cavity configured to store a memory card. In one embodiment, the cavity includes an aperture providing access to remove a card from the storage cavity. In one embodiment, the cavity includes an element protruding out a side of the storage cavity to retain a card within the storage cavity. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes at least a second separate storage cavity configured to store a memory card. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes at least a third separate storage cavity configured to store a memory card. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a toner configuration. In one embodiment, the apparatus is configured to attach to a separate add-on configuration, the separate add-on configuration providing storage for additional memory cards.

Abstract: A multi-memory media adapter comprised of a first planar element having an upper surface and a lower surface, a second planar element having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a spacer disposed between them. The two planar elements form a port capable of receiving a memory media card. The adapter has at least one set of contact pins protruding from the lower surface of the first planar element or the upper surface of the second planar element such that the at least one set of contact pins are disposed within the port. The at least one set of contact pins are capable of contacting the contacts of a memory media card inserted into the port. A third planar element, having a standard system connector surface-mounted thereon, is adjacent to the second planar element. The standard system connecter is electrically connected to the at least one contact pin set.

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 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: An embodiment of the invention provides a connector interface frame comprising a plurality of detachable limbs. When one or more specified limbs are detached, the connector interface frame accommodates a particular one of a plurality of host processing system connector interfaces. Depending on which limbs are detached, the frame can accommodate either a CF card or a PCMCIA card. In alternative embodiments, the frame accommodates other host processing system connector interfaces. Embodiments of the invention, therefore, allow a production run that allow the production of a standard frame kit that can be used for multiple types of host processing system connector interfaces.

Abstract: A multi-memory media adapter comprised of a first planar element having an upper surface and a lower surface, a second planar element having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a spacer disposed between them. The two planar elements form a port capable of receiving a memory media card. The adapter has at least one set of contact pins protruding from the lower surface of the first planar element or the upper surface of the second planar element such that the at least one set of contact pins are disposed within the port. The at least one set of contact pins are capable of contacting the contacts of a memory media card inserted into the port. A third planar element, having a standard system connector surface-mounted thereon, is adjacent to the second planar element. The standard system connecter is electrically connected to the at least one contact pin set.

Abstract: A device for allowing secure identification of an individual when accessing information is disclosed. The device comprises a serial port and a controller coupled to the serial port. The device further includes a storage medium coupled to the controller; the storage medium including security information which can be accessed by the controller. A device in accordance with the present invention may take a variety of physical forms. In a preferred embodiment, a USB (universal serial bus) connection is utilized for connecting the device to a computer. Such a device has a unique ID embedded in an integrated circuit inside the device. The device can optionally store in excess of 1 gigabyte of information. Information within the device can be protected by various layers of security (password layer, unique ID layer, encryption layer). The level of security can include all of these layers, as well as any subset of these layers.

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: The timing of control signals in a parallel port is measured and adjusted to achieve optimum timing of these control signals. At boot-up, a routine writes alternating data to the control register of the parallel port. The control register drives control signal over a parallel-port cable to an external parallel-port device connected to the parallel port of a personal computer (PC). Transitions of the control signal trigger an external timer in the external parallel-port device which measures the pulse width of the control signal. The measured pulse width is sent back to the PC over the parallel cable and compared to a target pulse width. When the measured pulse width is less than the target, additional intervening instructions are inserted between writes to the parallel-port control register. The intervening instructions are a simple delay loop. Alternately the internal timer on the PC may be used. Since the accuracy is less for the internal timer, many IO writes are performed to average out errors.

Abstract: A front-panel display of a PC has several 7-segment light-emitting diode (LED) displays. A serial link is provided from an I/O port on the PC motherboard to the front panel display. This serial link uses the turbo-in line that is normally used to light the turbo LED indicator. A microcontroller on the front-panel display samples the turbo-in line and extracts serial data once a start sequence is detected. The serial data is converted to parallel form, and then encoded into a code that can be decoded by the 7-segment LED displays. The microcontroller drives this code to the 7-segment displays so that the serial data from the I/O port on the PC motherboard is displayed by the 7-segment displays on the front panel. Software on the PC periodically writes to the I/O port to update the data bit transmitted. This software can thus alter the front panel display. Information displayed on the front panel can include the temperature of the CPU or power reduction in suspend modes.