Card Insertion Patents (Class 710/301)
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Publication number: 20090106470Abstract: A multi-host host bus adapter (HBA) can be connected to multiple host devices to allow the multiple host devices to communicate on a SAN fabric. More specifically, the multi-host HBA provides an interface for multiple SAN hosts without necessitating an HBA on each host, eliminating the need for an on-board HBA on each SAN host. The multi-host HBA interfaces to memory in each SAN host to which it is connected using PCI-Express (or a similar protocol), and communicates with other devices on the SAN fabric using Fibre Channel ports. The multi-host HBA communicates by receiving a command from a connected host, forwarding the command to a processor in the multi-host HBA, and sending the command to a device on a SAN. When the multi-host HBA receives a response from the device on the SAN, the multi-host HBA associates the response with the process and sends the response to the host.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2007Publication date: April 23, 2009Applicant: BROCADE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Prateek Sharma, Tony Sonthe Nguyen, Gregory S. Walter, Surya P. Varanasi
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Publication number: 20090100207Abstract: A memory card reader is disclosed. In one embodiment, the memory card reader comprises a first slot to receive a first memory card of a first format; a second slot to receive a second memory card of a second format having fewer interface pins than the first format; an Integrated Device Electronics (IDE) interface for transferring data to a system; and a single IDE converter, coupled to the IDE interface and the first and second slot, to interface with a memory card of the first format inserted in the first slot or a memory card of the second format inserted in the second slot, to convert signals from the first or second memory card into a format for the IDE interface, and the converter to detect a card inserted in the first or second slot by detecting a voltage change in the first or second slot.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2008Publication date: April 16, 2009Applicant: MCM Portfolio LLCInventors: Larry Lawson Jones, Sreenath Mambakkam, Arockiyaswamy Venkidu
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Patent number: 7519756Abstract: A PC card control apparatus includes a PC card connector, a card detector and an interconnection switching circuit. The PC card connector is configured to provide connections for connecting one of a first PC card compliant with specific card standards and a card-adapting card for connecting a second PC card compliant with a different card standard to the PC card control apparatus. The card detector is configured to detect connection of the card-adapting card to the PC card control apparatus and to subsequently output a detection signal. The interconnection switching circuit is configured to switch the connections of the PC card connector to connect the PC card connector to a bus interface dedicated to the second card upon receiving the detection signal from the card detector.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2008Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hitoshi Yamamoto, Hiromasa Kusakabe, Kazuhito Akiyama
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Patent number: 7516261Abstract: Method for executing an application is provided. The method includes interfacing a U3 adapter with a host system; and interfacing the U3 adapter with a memory device, wherein an application is executed by the U3 adapter and the application uses information stored on the memory device.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2006Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Assignee: SanDisk CorporationInventors: Joerg Ferchau, Carlos J. Gonzalez
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Patent number: 7516263Abstract: A configurable switching device includes a switch card coupled to interface with a backplane of a computer chassis, a plurality of PCI-Express switching elements coupled to the switch card, and a configuration means coupled to the switch card, where the configuration means is operable to configure and reconfigure the plurality of PCI-Express switching elements to operate in a plurality of directional fabric domains, and where each of the plurality of PCI-Express switching elements can operate in only one of the plurality of directional fabric domains at a time.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2006Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Assignee: Emerson Network Power - Embedded Computing, Inc.Inventors: Douglas L. Sandy, Scott J. Fabini
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Publication number: 20090088004Abstract: In some embodiments, an adapter is configured to couple an electrical component to a slot in a host device. The electrical component can have at least three sides. The adapter including: (a) a first housing piece configured to be coupled to two or more sides of the at least three sides of the electrical component when the adapter is coupled to the electrical component; and (b) a second housing piece coupled to the first housing piece and configured to couple to a first side of the at least three sides of the electrical component. When the adapter is coupled to the electrical component, a portion of the second housing piece can be configured to be located inside the slot in the host device along with the electrical component. When the adapter is coupled to the electrical component and the portion of the second housing piece is located inside the slot in the host device, the first housing piece can be located outside of the slot. Other embodiments are disclosed in this application.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2007Publication date: April 2, 2009Applicant: Belkin International, Inc.Inventor: Guy Raz
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Publication number: 20090089474Abstract: An exemplary motherboard for supporting different types of memory includes a driving module, a first slot, a second slot, and a transmission line connected the driving module, the first slot and the second slot in turn. The first slot is arranged for mounting a first type of memory. The second slot is arranged for mounting a second type of memory. The first memory and the second memory are alternatively mounted on the motherboard. The transmission line is grounded via a capacitor for eliminating echo signals generated by the first and second type memories. The motherboard for supporting different memory modes satisfies different type memories, and maintains integrality of signals transmitted therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2007Publication date: April 2, 2009Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.Inventors: YING-TSO LAI, SHOU-KUO HSU
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Patent number: 7512726Abstract: A reconfigurable flash media reader system provides a flash media reader that accepts both asynchronous and synchronous flash media cards. The reader identifies the card type of the inserted flash media card and notifies the host computer of the card type. The host computer has a list of interface information for different types of flash media cards and references the card type in the list and sets the proper baud rate on the reader. If the flash media card is a synchronous card, data that is to written into the flash media card is gathered and converted to the proper card IO strobes for the card type which are interleaved with the proper card clock strobes for the card type into a bit stream in a bulk transfer packet. The reader extracts the data bit stream from said bulk transfer packet and clocks the data bit stream into the flash media card using the baud rate as a reference clock.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2006Date of Patent: March 31, 2009Assignee: O2Micro International LimitedInventors: Ching-Yung Han, Chin-Ran Lo
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Publication number: 20090077295Abstract: A card-type peripheral device having a plurality of specifications of external interfaces includes a connector configured to connect the card-type peripheral device to a connectable device connectable to the card-type peripheral device, the connector including a dedicated terminal in which an interface to be used is set; an electronic component configured to be accessed via the set interface; a plurality of interface function units each configured to control an interface compliant with one of the plurality of specifications; and a communication function unit configured to perform communication with the electronic component using one of the interface function units having a specification corresponding to a setting of the dedicated terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2008Publication date: March 19, 2009Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Tamaki Konno, Yoshitaka Aoki, Keiichi Tsutsui, Naohiro Adachi
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Publication number: 20090077294Abstract: A communication system for a plurality of I/O cards by using the GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output) and a method thereof are disclosed for overcoming the problems of the prior art; wherein the prior art uses the I2C and UART communication channels causing a greater quantity of the connecting lines to connect, thus the bus resource of the chip is consumed, which raises its cost. The present invention uses at least one GPIO port to replace a failure line of the I2C communication channel, or a failure line of the UART communication channel. The present invention also uses one or a plurality of additional GPIO ports to be the backup GPIO ports. Therefore, the present invention has a lot of characteristics, including excellent back-up capability, low cost, the communication channels can be easily switched, the required quantity of the signal lines is reduced, and the reliability of the communication is increased.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2008Publication date: March 19, 2009Inventor: Guangming Liu
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Publication number: 20090077293Abstract: A connector for an electronic card includes an improved latching mechanism for facilitating the insertion and removal of the card. In one embodiment, a connector body is secured to a motherboard and has a socket for removably receiving a DIMM to a seated position. In the seated position, DIMM terminals are in electrical contact with socket terminals, placing the DIMM in electronic communication with the motherboard. A lever is pivotally coupled to an end of the connector body, and is pivotable into engagement with the DIMM to raise the DIMM. A linear actuator is movably secured on a track and is movable into engagement with the lever. A user ejects the DIMM by pressing downward on the linear actuator at a push point. In response, the linear actuator engages the lever to cause the lever to raise the DIMM from the seated position to a raised position, thereby separating electrical contact between the DIMM terminals and the socket terminals.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2007Publication date: March 19, 2009Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Brian Michael Kerrigan, Tony Carl Sass
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Patent number: 7506092Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus for operatively connecting a PCI-X or AGP device card (having a PCI-X or AGP bus) to a PCI-E bus connection on a mother board by mounting the PCI-X or AGP device card to a right edge connector mounted on a surface of an adapter card, the adapter card having a PCI-X (or AGP) to PCI-E bridge circuit for interconnecting a PCI-X (or AGP) bus to a PCI-E bus.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2006Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Yi-Hsiung Su
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Publication number: 20090070512Abstract: Embodiments are generally directed to an apparatus for determining compatibility between devices. In one embodiment, a table including a module's parameters and rules associated therewith is obtained from a module. The rules are applied to a slot's parameters to determine the module's compatibility with the slot upon coupling to the slot.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2008Publication date: March 12, 2009Inventor: Charles Narad
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Patent number: 7502882Abstract: An Advanced Mezzanine Card (AMC) adapter may be used to connect a non-AMC mezzanine card to an AMC carrier. The AMC adapter may include a card edge connector configured to be connected to an AMC connector on the AMC carrier and one or more mezzanine connectors configured to be connected to the non-AMC mezzanine card. The AMC adapter may also include a bridge to convert between communication protocols used by the non-AMC mezzanine card and the AMC carrier. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modification are possible without departing from this embodiment.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2005Date of Patent: March 10, 2009Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Douglas Lee Stahl, David R. Formisano, Andy Saffarian, Marwan Khoury
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Method and apparatus for performing an in-service upgrade of a switching fabric of a network element
Patent number: 7502373Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing an in-service upgrade of a switching fabric of a network element is described. Network traffic is denominated in cells as it passes through the network element. Prior to the upgrade, an internal header is provided to direct the communication of a cell through the network element. The internal header has internal routing information to direct the routing of the cell through the switching fabric of the network element. Additional internal routing information compatible with upgraded components of a network element is added to the cells passing through the network element. The additional internal routing information is dependent on the internal routing information previously provided in the internal header, but differs from the internal routing information in that it supports the upgraded components of the network element.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2002Date of Patent: March 10, 2009Assignee: Alcatel - Lucent Canada Inc.Inventor: Joe Cote -
Publication number: 20090063742Abstract: A host controller can divide a preliminary process for writing to a memory card, or the like, into a plurality of unit processes for execution. While writing or the like is being performed with respect to a memory card (card 1), a new-card preliminary division process of performing one unit process of the preliminary process with respect to a new memory card (card 2) is repeatedly executed. Thereby, the interrupt time of writing or the like due to the preliminary process of the card 2 is divided and distributed, so that each interrupt time division of writing or the like can be reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2008Publication date: March 5, 2009Inventors: Yoshiyuki KONISHI, Daisuke KUNIMUNE
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Publication number: 20090063741Abstract: A method for dynamically allocating link width of a riser card is disclosed. The method is suitable for a system including a riser card. In the present method, the number and the positions of cards inserted in the slots and functioning normally are detected so as to decide the link widths allocated for each of the cards. Next, a link width retraining procedure is executed so as to provide a proper link width for each the card to use. In this way, the present invention is able to achieve the optimization of allocating link widths without being limited by the types and the number of the cards disposed on the riser card, which is advantageous in saving the design cost of the riser card and enhancing the convenience to use and handle with the riser card.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2007Publication date: March 5, 2009Applicant: INVENTEC CORPORATIONInventor: Ying-Chih Lu
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Patent number: 7500025Abstract: An electronic apparatus in which a memory unit containing a memory and a controller to access the memory in response to an externally input command can be installed. The electronic apparatus comprises a first acquiring section which acquires identification information from the memory unit, a second acquiring section which, on the basis of the identification information acquired by the first acquiring section, acquires one from a plurality of control programs to control the controller of the memory unit, and a setting section which sets an operating environment so as to apply the control program acquired by the second acquiring section to the process of inputting and outputting data to and from the memory unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2005Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Minoru Fukunaga, Shinya Kurishima, Keiji Okuhata, Yoshihide Katsuse
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Patent number: 7499289Abstract: A server wherein an interior of which is connected with five expansion boards is composed of a server at a height of 1U, an interior of which is fixed with a circuit motherboard on which is welded with expansion slots; a first riser card which is inserted into the first expansion slot; a first expansion board which is inserted into a transversal slot of the first riser card; a second riser card which is inserted into the second expansion slot; a second expansion board which is inserted into a transversal slot of the second riser card; a third riser card which is inserted into the third expansion slot; a third expansion board which is inserted into a transversal slot of the third riser card; a fourth riser card which is inserted into the fourth expansion slot; a fourth expansion board which is inserted into a lower slot; and a fifth expansion board which is inserted into an upper slot; such that the circuit motherboard, and five expansion boards are installed in the server.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2006Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: Super Micro Computer, Inc.Inventor: Chien-Fa Liang
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Patent number: 7493437Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2004Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: MCM Portfolio LLCInventors: Larry Lawson Jones, Sreenath Mambakkam, Arockiyaswamy Venkidu
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Patent number: 7493638Abstract: An IC card (processing terminal) divides a process into process blocks, and holds a time period required for processing each process block. A receiver (receiving terminal) notifies the IC card of a time period which can be spent for processing non-real-time process data when causing the IC card to perform the processing. The IC card processes the process blocks which can be processed within the notified time period. After the processing, the IC card once sends a response back to the receiver, and then transitions into a state in which it can receive a new request. Accordingly, it becomes possible for the IC card to process real-time process data such as an ECM. In the case where the receiver continues the suspended processing, it notifies the IC card of the continuation of the processing so that it causes the IC card to continue the processing of non-real-time process data.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2005Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Takuji Hiramoto, Satoshi Niwano, Katsumi Tokuda, Hiroki Murakami
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Publication number: 20090043935Abstract: The present invention relates to a storage card having selectable contact elements a terminal capable of receiving said storage card and method of its operation. The storage card with selectable contact elements, comprises an interface having a plurality of contact elements, a storage card controller, being connected to at least a subset of said contact elements, a storage memory device, being connected to said storage card controller, a switching unit, that is connected to said storage card controller and to at least one of said contact elements of said interface, wherein said storage card controller is connected to said switching unit to controllably select said at least one contact element.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2005Publication date: February 12, 2009Inventors: Heikki Huomo, Graham Lawrence Rowse
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Publication number: 20090043963Abstract: A system that provides rapid detection of modifications to content on a removable storage device. The system includes a removable storage device having a code for indicating that modifications were made to the content on the removable storage device. The system also includes a media processor for reading the code of the removable storage device, comparing the code to a previously stored code in a memory, and mounting a pre-established file system database structure for the removable storage device when the value of the code of the removable storage device equals the value of the previously stored code. More specifically, following power-on, or insertion of the removable storage device into the processing device, the processing device compares the one or more codes read from the removable storage device to the last stored value of the one or more codes in the processing device to determine if the contents of the removable storage device were changed since it was last used by the processing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2007Publication date: February 12, 2009Inventors: Tomi Lahcanski, Joseph P. Lentz, Jay A. Endsley
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Patent number: 7490199Abstract: A method and system is introduced for allowing removal of a removable device connected to a digital appliance in a safe manner that preserves removable device integrity. There is no requirement for taking any actions prior to removing the removable device such as to safely remove the device. The user can intuitively tell removable device is in a state that can be safely removed and remove the device. Following a state where device can be safely removed, digital appliance can make use of removable device if the removable device had not been removed from the digital appliance.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2006Date of Patent: February 10, 2009Inventor: Noam Camiel
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Patent number: 7490197Abstract: The invention is directed towards a system and method that utilizes external memory devices to cache sectors from a rotating storage device (e.g., a hard drive) to improve system performance. When an external memory device (EMD) is plugged into the computing device or onto a network in which the computing device is connected, the system recognizes the EMD and populates the EMD with disk sectors. The system routes I/O read requests directed to the disk sector to the EMD cache instead of the actual disk sector. The use of EMDs increases performance and productivity on the computing device systems for a fraction of the cost of adding memory to the computing device.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2004Date of Patent: February 10, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Alexander Kirshenbaum, Cenk Ergan, Michael R. Fortin, Robert L. Reinauer
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Patent number: 7487283Abstract: An apparatus is provided for bridging two or more data communications interfaces. The apparatus includes a powered enclosure for receiving and powering one or more storage devices and one or more computing devices and provides a first data communications interface connecting the one or more storage devices to the one or more computing devices. One or more computing devices are also provided for use within the enclosure, each device comprising a controller for communicating with the one or more storage devices via the communications interface provided by the powered enclosure. The computing devices also include a controller for enabling communications via second data communications interface, and a bridging component for providing a bridge between the interface provided by the enclosure and the second interface. The second interface may be connected to an external bus or an external network.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2002Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignee: American Megatrends, Inc.Inventor: Clas Gerhard Sivertsen
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Patent number: 7487280Abstract: Information is obtained from a module received in a slot in a chassis. The information includes a number of ports in one or more module connectors which route at least one communication channel associated with a communication interfaces on the module. A determination is made as to the number of ports the slot has a capability to route the at least one communication channel to one or more backplanes in the chassis and to another module received in another slot in the chassis. A given number of ports in the one or more module connectors are enabled to forward data from the communication interface on the module and through the at least one communication channel to the other module based on the determination.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2006Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Edoardo Campini, Douglas P. Bogia, Robert J. Albers
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Publication number: 20090031068Abstract: A system comprises a chassis and a system board contained within the chassis. The system board has an edge connector adapted to receive an add-in card in a configuration in which the system board and add-in card are substantially co-planar.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2007Publication date: January 29, 2009Inventors: Thomas H. Szolyga, Jean-Paul Moiroux
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Patent number: 7484028Abstract: Disclosed are interface buses that facilitate communications among two or more electronic devices in standard mode and burst mode, and bus bridges from such buses to a memory unit of such a device. In one aspect, interface buses group the data lines according to groups of bits, and include group-enable lines to convey a representation of which groups of data lines are active for each data transfer operation. In another aspect, exemplary interface buses include burst-length lines to convey a representation of the number of data bursts in a burst sequence, thereby obviating the need to provide sequential addresses over the bus. Exemplary bus bridges are capable of interpreting the signals on the interface bus and transferring data bursts between the interface bus and one or more memory units within the device.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2005Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Kartik Raju, Mehmet Un
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Patent number: 7484020Abstract: The present invention provides an SDIO controller, an SDIO wireless communication card, an SDIO wireless communications module, and a method for transmitting write data from an SDIO host device to an SDIO application. Specifically, the SDIO controller is a single-chip semiconductor device connecting an SDIO-compliant SDIO host device with a plurality of applications via an SD bus, wherein the controller includes: (a) an SD interface operably connectable with the SDIO host device to decode commands received from the SDIO host device, and to return a response to the SDIO host device; (b) one or more application interfaces; and (c) a temporary memory operably connected between the SD interface and the one or more application interfaces.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2006Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignee: Zentek Technology Japan, Inc.Inventors: Jun Takinosawa, Hiroyuki Yasoshima
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Patent number: 7484025Abstract: A PC card and a method of controlling the PC card is provided which can be used to add multiple capabilities to an information processing apparatus in cooperation with a conventional card only by the use of a single card slot. The PC card 1 is provided with a multifunctional adapter unit 2 which controls data exchange between the information processing apparatus 20 and the function of the PC card or data exchange between the information processing apparatus 20 and the function of the PHS card, and a PC card function control unit 3 which controls the function of the PC card. The multifunctional adapter unit 2 of the PC card 1 is provided with a communication control unit 2a, an address control unit 2b, a driving system setting unit 2c, and an interrupt request control unit 2d.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2004Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignees: Softbank BB Corp, SuncorporationInventors: Masayoshi Son, Satoru Yoshikawa
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Publication number: 20090021504Abstract: A display apparatus integrated with power line communication function includes a port, a power line communication module, a signal processing controller, a displayer and a display driving module. The port is for connecting a device that stores or provides a digital image data. The power line communication module includes a power supply unit and a network connecting port, and the power supply unit obtains the operating power of the display apparatus from a power line, and the network connecting port connects a network apparatus through the power line for carrying out data transmission. The digital image data processed and outputted by the signal processing controller is displayed by the display driving module and the displayer.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2007Publication date: January 22, 2009Inventors: Chi-Kun Oh Yang, Wen Tai Lin
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Publication number: 20090019204Abstract: The key limiter in a multi-drop system, such as a multi-drop memory system, is the super-positioning of reflection noise from multiple modules or pluggable units, such as DIMMs. Using the noise cancellation approach of the present invention, the noise is distributed across the width of the pulse thus significantly reducing the impact of noise super-positioning. Use of the system of the present invention provides improved noise margins and is a key enabler of high performance, high speed bus, particularly at higher bit rates, as well as an enabler for higher capacity modules, such as DIMMs. The system provides for electrical traces from each of the modules of varying lengths thereby distributing the noise reflections.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2007Publication date: January 15, 2009Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Moises Cases, Daniel N. de Araujo, Bhyrav M. Mutnury, Nam H. Pham
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Publication number: 20090006073Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to an apparatus and method for recovering data from a signal generator using a native communication channel and an emulated communication channel coupled in parallel to the native communication channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2008Publication date: January 1, 2009Applicant: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Jay Alan Mahr, Jim Everett Wilson, Todd Charles Thaler
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Publication number: 20090006698Abstract: An adapter assembly is disclosed that enables a memory card having a smaller length than a standard ExpressCard to be compatible with the standard ExpressCard slot. The adapter assembly includes an adapter having side rails configured to disable the ExpressCard slot ejector mechanisms. The adapter assembly further includes a tongue provided for rigidly connecting the adapter to a finger grip, which gets positioned outside of the opening of the ExpressCard slot upon insertion of the adapter assembly into the slot. The adapter allows a memory card having the approximate size, look and feel of a conventional CompactFlash card to be used in a conventional ExpressCard slot.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2007Publication date: January 1, 2009Inventors: Jonathan Hubert, Jason P. Hanlon, Jordan MacDonald
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Publication number: 20080320195Abstract: An adapter for a memory card comprises a housing, an adapter interface and a plurality of terminals. The housing comprises a slot for accepting a first memory card that is to be adapted. The adapter interface is connected to one side of the housing. The adapter interface corresponds to a connection interface of a second memory card, and the size of the second memory card is smaller than the first memory card. The plurality of terminals is disposed in the slot. One side of the plurality of terminals may be electrically connected to the adapter interface. When the first memory card is inserted into the slot, the plurality of terminals may be electrically connected to the first memory card, and the first memory card may be electrically connected to the adapter interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2008Publication date: December 25, 2008Applicant: Wistron CorporationInventor: Cheng-Ju Lee
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Publication number: 20080320196Abstract: In a computer system, a processor expansion device is disposed in an expansion slot conforming to a bus agreement to expand processors. The processor expansion device includes one or more processors and corresponding memories. When the processor expansion device is disposed at the computer system, a BIOS of the computer system ports a bus routing of the processors on the processor expansion device and addresses the memories thereon. Therefore the number of the processors and the memories is expanded when the processor expansion device is disposed at the computer system.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2008Publication date: December 25, 2008Inventor: Chung-Hsien Lin
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Patent number: 7469308Abstract: A hierarchical bus structure is disclosed in which clusters of processors are arranged and interconnected within a hierarchy to facilitate processor communications via shared memories. The bus structure is well suited for voice processing applications in which clusters of embedded processors process voice streams in parallel, although the architecture is not so limited. Also disclosed is a memory access protocol in which the address and data portions of shared-memory access operations are performed as separate bus transactions that are separated in time, such that multiple concurrent memory access operations from different processors may be interleaved over a shared bus.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2006Date of Patent: December 23, 2008Assignee: Schism Electronics, LLCInventors: Richard F. Hobson, Bill Ressl, Allan R. Dyck
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Patent number: 7467249Abstract: A removable electronic circuit card has multiple modules connected to the card's bus in parallel so that each module can exchange commands and data independently with the host. According to a first aspect of the present invention, this achieved by a controller-to-controller interface whereby the modules can facilitate their interactions with the host. In a first set of embodiments, the modules are on a single card, while in a second set of embodiments the modules are distributed across multiple cards, where a first card attaches to the host and other cards attach to the first card rather than directly to the host. In all of these cases, the host sees the multiple modules as a single card having a single module. In a further aspect of the present invention, the card or cards are able to communicate with the host in more than one protocol.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2005Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: SanDisk CorporationInventors: Yosi Pinto, Aviad Zer, Amir Tsuri, Asher Druck
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Publication number: 20080307142Abstract: A communication card with three operational states, including a controller, a battery, a flash storage unit, a wireless modem, and a connector for connecting the communication card to a shell host and to an electronic device host, wherein the communication card (i) operates in a standalone mode when the connector is not connected to a device, (ii) functions as a master when the connector is connected to the shell host, and (iii) functions as a slave when the connector is connected to the electronic device host. A method and a computer-readable storage medium are also described and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2007Publication date: December 11, 2008Inventors: Itay Sherman, Itay Cohen, Yaron Segalov
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Publication number: 20080307141Abstract: A system and method is provided for individually changing the peripheral cards of an electronic device, when the cards are operationally held inside a chassis on a rack cabinet. Included is a platform for holding the peripheral cards, and a slide carrier mounted on the chassis for moving the platform with cards into and out of the internal chamber of the chassis. Importantly, this is done while the chassis remains stationary on the rack cabinet. When moved outside the chassis chamber, each peripheral card can be individually handled (i.e. installed or removed) without contact or operational interference with other peripheral cards held on the platform. Adapters on the platform can be adjusted to accommodate the dimensions of each peripheral card.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2007Publication date: December 11, 2008Inventors: George Buchert, Julia M. Elbert
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Patent number: 7464213Abstract: Data stored in a memory unit can be transmitted to an external apparatus such as a PC, a television or a printer without relying on operations carried out on a host apparatus, onto which the memory unit has been mounted. The memory unit includes a memory card and an adapter into which the memory card is inserted. At a request made by the external apparatus through a radio transmission line as a request for data, the data can be read out from a memory device employed in the memory card in accordance with control executed by a communication control section employed in the adapter. Thus, it is not necessary to install driver software for controlling communications in a digital camera or the like serving as the host apparatus, on which the memory unit is mounted.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2005Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Kunio Fukuda
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Publication number: 20080301346Abstract: A mother board module suitable for being disposed in a housing of a personal computer (PC) host is provided. The housing has expansion port openings at a rear wall of the housing. The mother board module includes a mother board, a sound card and a signal transmission cable. The mother board includes a circuit board and interface card slots. The interface card slots are juxtaposed on the circuit board and disposed corresponding to the expansion port openings respectively. The sound card has a fixing plate and audio jacks disposed thereon. Each of the audio jacks has a plug-in hole. The fixing plate is suitable for being removably fixed on one of the expansion port openings, which exposes the plug-in holes of the audio jacks beyond the rear wall. Two ends of the signal transmission cable are connected with the sound card and the circuit board respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2008Publication date: December 4, 2008Applicant: DFI, INC.Inventors: Chih-Wei Wu, Chia-Yi Chang
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Publication number: 20080301345Abstract: One embodiment of an adapter card in accordance with the invention includes a circuit board connectable to a motherboard of a computer system. A logic chip is connected to the circuit board to provide functionality to the adapter card. One or more programmable devices are connected to the circuit board and store data read by the logic chip upon initialization. This data may include first character data to program the logic chip to have a first character and second character data to program the logic chip to have a second character. A switching mechanism is provided to switch between the first and second character data in response to an external input, thereby causing the logic chip to read one of the first and second character data.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2007Publication date: December 4, 2008Inventors: Stephen L. Blinick, Carol Spanel, Andrew Dale Walls
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Patent number: 7461181Abstract: The present invention is directed to providing configuration data to an EEPROM within a sealed enclosure without having to open the enclosure, using a Test Interface Card (TIC) connected to a particular external multi-use port on the enclosure. The present invention is generally applicable to any sealed enclosure containing a device that receives information through an internal serial bus, where the enclosure includes ports that have both high speed, low voltage connections and lower speed DC connections. DC blocking capacitors are placed on the high speed lines, and when a TIC is inserted into the multi-use port, a voltage detection circuit coupled to the high speed connections detects a DC control voltage, tri-states a Switch On a Chip (SOC) and configures switches to connect the lower speed connections to the serial bus and an EEPROM so that the TIC can supply new configuration data to the EEPROM.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2005Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: Emulex Design & Manufacturing CorporationInventor: Alan Frank Jovanovich
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Publication number: 20080294829Abstract: A card having a first device and a second device is plugged into a root port having a predefined root port width. The first device is trained and the device lane width is determined. If the root port width is greater than the device lane width then the root port is dynamically configured via hardware strapping to include a predefined number of adjacent ports with each port having a lane width equal to the device lane width. The root port is reset to force training of the first device and the second device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2008Publication date: November 27, 2008Applicant: Dell Products L.P.Inventors: Mukund Purshottam Khatri, Anand Joshi, Wei Liu
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Patent number: 7457900Abstract: Embodiments provide an efficient system of device configuration and detection for a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) system. Each connected device provides a descriptor and is accessed at a predetermined address. The device is then configured by the operating system based on the device descriptor and assigned a device address for further operation. The system also supports the assignment of devices to different partitions in the computer system.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2006Date of Patent: November 25, 2008Assignee: Intel CorporationInventor: Kiran Panesar
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Publication number: 20080288699Abstract: A method for controlling the execution of an applet for an IC Card including a java card platform, includes a phase for downloading the applet inside the IC Card, a phase for executing the applet through the java card platform and a phase for storing an identification platform number inside a memory portion of the IC Card. The phase for executing the applet has a first step for detecting the identification platform number to perform the phase for executing the applet with or without restrictions, respectively if the identification platform number is not or is detected by the step for detecting. The applet is a java card applet or a SIM toolkit applet.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2008Publication date: November 20, 2008Applicant: INCARD SAInventor: Maria CHICHIERCHIA
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Publication number: 20080288700Abstract: The present invention provides a detachable add-on card unit to a host system that combines mass storage capability and a processor on the same card. The card can receive data from the host, process the data, and store it in processed form, as well as the reverse process of retrieving stored data, processing it, and supplying it to the host. The non-volatile mass storage memory may contain program storage as well as card system data and user data. The end user of the card can program applications into the program storage. The combination of mass storage and a processor also adds to the capabilities of the on-card processor, allowing the card to store and execute programs. The present invention is able to provide a programmable add-on card unit to a host system. A number of applications can be stored in the card's mass storage and loaded as needed by the on-card micro-controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2008Publication date: November 20, 2008Inventors: Michael Holtzman, Yosi Pinto
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Publication number: 20080288698Abstract: The proposed invention discloses a card reader controlling apparatus based on Secure Digital (SD) protocol, which comprises a high-speed bus interface, at least one SD host, at least one SD connection interface and SDIO connection interface (SD/SDIO interface), at least one bridge, and at least one other specific memory card connecting interface. The card reader controlling apparatus according to the proposed invention is capable of directly accessing data from/to an input/output device compatible with the SDIO connection interface (e.g. an SD card) or one other specific memory card via the high-speed bus interface. Thus, multiple format conversions performed by other peripheral bus interfaces (such as an USB interface) as the prior art can be by-passed or eliminated.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2008Publication date: November 20, 2008Applicant: GENESYS LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Jin-min Lin, Nei-chiung Perng, Chih-jung Lin