Abstract:
A portable data storage device includes a main circuit board, a stack of memory circuit boards mounted on the main circuit board, and a USB port pivoted to one end of the main circuit board and adapted to electrically connect the main circuit board to, for example, the USB port of a personal computer at one of a series of angular positions.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a portable data storage device and, more particularly, to a computer readable portable data storage device, which is comprised of a main circuit board, a memory circuit board coupled to the main circuit board, and a USB (universal serial bus) port pivoted to the main circuit board and adapted to electrically connected the main circuit board to the USB port of a personal computer. 
     A regular portable data storage device is readable to a computer, and can be connected to the USB port of a personal computer for enabling the user to transmit data between the personal computer and the portable data storage device. When connecting a portable data storage device to the USB port of a personal computer, the major part of the portable data storage device perpendicularly protrudes over the outside wall of the housing of the personal computer at a distance, and the protruded part of the portable data storage device tends to be impacted accidentally, causing a short circuit or a damage to the circuit. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been accomplished to provide a computer readable portable data storage device, which eliminates the aforesaid problem. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a computer readable portable data storage device, which can be turned to an angular position close to the outside wall of the housing of the computer after its installation in the USB port of the computer, preventing an impact accident. According to the present invention, the computer readable portable data storage device comprises a main circuit board, a memory circuit board coupled to the main circuit board, and a USB (universal serial bus) port pivoted to the main circuit board and adapted to electrically connected the main circuit board to the USB port of a personal computer. The USB port of the computer readable portable data storage device can be turned relative to the main circuit board within a limited angle so that the main circuit board can be set in position close to the housing of the computer after connection of the USB port of the computer readable portable data storage device to the USB port of the computer. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is circuit block diagram showing the connection between a portable data storage device and a computer according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing audio output action of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram showing recording action of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the portable data storage device according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the portable data storage device according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 shows the serial bus port and the main circuit board longitudinally aligned according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 shows the serial bus port turned 90° leftwards relative to the main circuit board according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 shows the serial bus port turned 90° rightwards relative to the main circuit board according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic drawing showing the portable data storage device installed in the USB port of a computer. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a portable data storage device in accordance with the present invention comprises a body  1 . The body  1  has a control circuit mounted on the inside, which is comprised of a MP 3  decode and digital recorder IC  12 , a controller IC  13 , a converter  15 , a plurality of memories  16 , a serial bus port  17 , and an audio connector  18 . The serial bus port  17  can be connected to the USB port  21  of a computer  2 , for interconnection between the controller IC  13  and the CPU (central processing unit) of the computer  2 . After connection of the serial bus port  17  to the USB port  21  of the computer  2 , the CPU of the computer  2  can be controlled to give a signal through a USB interface to the controller IC  13  of the body  1 , commanding the controller IC  13  to fetch MP 3  data from the memories  16 , or to transfer data from the computer  2  to the memories  16 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2 again, the body  1  further comprises an audio amplifier  19  connected between the converter  15  and the audio connector  18 . An audio output device  3 , for example, an earphone or speaker is connected to the audio connector  18  for audio output. If the body  1  is not connected to the computer  2 , the user can operate the portable data storage to drive the controller IC  13  to fetch voice data (for example, REC file) from the memories  16  and then to transfer the fetched voice data to the MP 3  decode and digital recorder IC  12  for decoding. Decoded voice data is then sent to the converter  15  and converted from digital signal to analog signal. Converted analog signal is then amplified through the audio amplifier  19 , and then sent through the audio connector  18  to an external audio output device  3  for output. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, the body  1  further comprises a microphone  14  adapted to pick up voice. If the body  1  is not connected to the computer  2 , the user can operate the portable data storage device to drive the controller IC  13  to record d voice data. In this case, the microphone  14  picks up the voice, enabling the voice to be converted from analog signal to digital signal by the converter  15 . The digital signal thus obtained is then sent from the converter  15  to the MP 3  decode and digital recorder IC  12  for encoding. The encoded digital audio signal is then stored in the memories  16  by the controller IC  13 . 
     Referring to FIGS. from  4  through  8 , the main circuit board, referenced by  41 , comprises an upright pivot rod  413  disposed near one end thereof, a smoothly arched sliding slot  412  spaced around the upright pivot rod  413 . The serial bus port  17  comprises a bottom guide rod  171  and a through hole  172  corresponding to the smoothly arched sliding slot  412  and the upright pivot rod  413 . The upright pivot rod  413  is coupled to the through hole  172  of the serial bus port  17  for enabling the serial bus port  17  to be turned about the upright pivot rod  413 . The bottom guide rod  171  of the serial bus port  17  is inserted into the smoothly arched sliding slot  412  and moved with the USB port  17  relative to the main circuit board  41  to limit swivel motion of the serial bus port  17  relative to the main circuit board  41  to 90° leftwards or 90° rightwards (see FIGS. 6,  7 , and  8 ). 
     Referring to FIGS. 4,  5 , and  9  again, the main circuit board  41  comprises tow top sockets  411  adapted to receive the pins  431  of the memory circuit board  43 , an indicator light  42 , and a switch  44 . The indicator light  42  and the switch  44  are soldered to the electric circuit of the main circuit board  41 . When electrically connecting the USB port  17  to the computer  2 , the indicator light  42  is turned on to give a visual signal. When switching on the switch  44 , the user can operate the computer  2  to write data into the main circuit board  41  and the memory circuit board  43 . 
     Referring to FIG.  9  and FIG. 5 again, the serial bus port  17  of the body  1  is comprised of a housing  173  and a set of pins  174  installed in the housing  173 . When inserting the serial bus port  17  into the USB port  21  of the computer  2 , the pins  174  are respectively electrically connected to the respective pins of the USB port  21  of the computer  2 . After installation, the serial bus port  17  can be turned 90° leftwards or 90° rightwards relative to the main circuit board  41 , keeping the serial bus port  17  and the main circuit board  41  arranged at right angles, so as to minimize the protruding area of the body  1  of the portable data storage device outside the computer  2 . 
     The aforesaid serial bus port  17  can be a USB (universal serial bus) port, or IEEE  1394  serial bus port. The turning angle of the serial bus port  17  relative to the main circuit board  41  can be set (for example, 45° or 180°) subject to the angle of the USB port  21  of the computer  2 . 
     Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.