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 tower 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. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes at least a third separate storage area configured to store a memory card.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of and hereby claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/065,763 filed on Nov. 15, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,859,361 entitled Flash Media Reading Devices with Integrated Storage Compartments. 
    
    
     COPYRIGHT STATEMENT 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field 
     The present invention relates generally to flash memory readers, and more specifically to an improved configuration of the same. 
     2. Background 
     Flash medium reading devices have recently increased in popularity, in part, due to the recent proliferation of digital cameras. For example, in a recent year, more digital cameras were sold than traditional film cameras. Images from digital cameras can be downloaded and stored on personal computers. Digital pictures can be converted to common formats such as JPEG and sent as e-mail attachments or posted to virtual photo albums on the Internet. Video as well as still images can be captured, depending on the kind of digital camera. 
     Digital cameras typically capture images electronically and ultimately store the images as bits (ones and zeros) on a solid-state memory. Flash memory is the most common storage for digital cameras. 
     Flash medium reading devices are often small and compact to allow for easy portability in conjunction with notebook computers, PDAs, etc. However, such devices must have a certain minimal size to make them reasonably easy to handle and easy for the user to handle, use, insert and remove cards, etc. As a result, the flash medium card enclosure may contain a certain amount of empty space. It is also the case that a traveler on a long journey may need to take multiple flash medium cards of various types, for which he then must carry a sufficient number of protective cases. 
     What is clearly needed is a flash card reading device that not only can read a card but also uses the extra space often included in flash card readers to provide secure, clean storage for additional cards that are not currently in use. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the present invention provides 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 tower 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. Other features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings, and from the detailed description, that follows below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention may be best understood by referring to the following description and accompanying drawings that are used to illustrate embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates one of the basic types of the prior art of card readers. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an alternative prior art of card readers. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the present invention as implemented on a flash card reading device, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIGS. 4   a - b  illustrate the present invention as implemented on a flash card reading device in a tower configuration, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the present invention as implemented on a flash card reading device with a locking mechanism in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a system for transmitting a status of a memory card in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates another system for transmitting a status of a memory card in accordance with one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known circuits, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the understanding of this description. 
     Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. 
     Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the foregoing description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention. 
     Flash medium card reading devices have essentially two design types.  FIG. 1  shows one of the basic types of the prior art of card readers. Device  100  is essentially flat and somewhat triangular in shape, with a connector, such as a USB connector, or cable  110  coming out of its tail and a slot  101  on the opposite side of the device. Typically its thickness is that of about three to five flash cards, but the interconnect electronic components usually occupy only the thickness of about two cards. The unit is typically made of two plastic shells that snap together, thus enclosing the electronic components of the unit. 
       FIG. 2  shows the other basic type of the prior art of card readers, which has the shape of a small tower  200 . It has a slot  201  at the front, two legs  202   a  and  202   b , and a cable  110  extending out from the end. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of the present invention as implemented on a flash card reading device shown in  FIG. 1 . Card reader  300  has a storage cavity  302  (also referred to herein as a storage area) added to the top half of the device shell. In one embodiment, the cavity includes two additional elements. The first such element is cutout  303  (also referred to herein as an aperture) to extract the flash card from the cavity. The cutout  303  may have any of various shapes and forms. One such simple example form is an opening that allows the user to insert a finger, fingernail, or tool to grab and extract the card. 
     The second element  304 , in one embodiment, is a spring or bump (the bump may be designed and fabricated of a material such that it acts as if it is spring loaded) to retain the flash card when it is inserted in storage cavity  302 . Both these elements  303  and  304  may have any of many various and diverse forms, using buttons, levers, springs, etc., either solely or in combinations, without departing from the spirit of their respective functions, which are, for element  304 , to retain the card, and, for cutout  303 , to extract the card. 
       FIGS. 4   a - b  illustrate two embodiments of having a storage cavity in tower  400 , similar to the mini-tower device shown in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 4   a  illustrates a top cross section of one embodiment; whereas  FIG. 4   b  illustrates a mini-tower side cross section of an alternative embodiment. 
     As illustrated in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4   a , two cavities  302  and  302 ′ are included in the tower, each with its own retainer mechanism  304  and  304 ′, respectively, and release mechanism  303  and  303 ′, respectively. Also shown in  FIG. 4   a  is slot  301  and, in simplified form, electronic components  420 , which connect to cable  110 . As previously discussed, a USB connector may alternatively be used to connect directly to the device. 
       FIG. 4   b  is a side view of another tower  400  with slot  401  and electronics  420 ; however, in this example, in the feet  202  are three storage bays/cavities,  402   a ,  402   b , and  402   c , for three cards. In one embodiment, the bays may use sliding trays to insert and extract the flash cards. 
     In alternative embodiments, for example, a pop-out mechanism may be used to insert and remove cards. In such a case, the card is inserted at the side and held in place by a retainer (not shown) such as spring, bump, or other mechanism. In one embodiment, at the far end is a button-type mechanism (not shown) similar to the push-button mechanism, similar to a ballpoint pen design. In one embodiment, the button mechanism has two stable positions, one recessed and one released. Thus, when the user inserts the card, the button shifts to the recessed position. When the button is pushed further, the card pops out sufficiently that the user can grasp it and pull it out. As noted above, other functionally equivalent mechanisms, such as buttons, levers, springs, etc. may be used to push out a selected card from the opposite side so it can be conveniently extracted, without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     The convenient storage provided by the present application allows the user to reduce clutter, particularly when traveling, as well as in many other applications. In alternative embodiments, the number of additional storage slots may be further increased by use of an add-on case that may be snapped onto an existing device or put under the device as a base, providing storage for not only three or four, but ten, twenty, or an even greater number of cards. 
     Such add-on storage cases may employ the push-in, push-out mechanisms described above, similar to that of a ballpoint pen, to allow easy access to selected cards. Alternatively, release buttons may be on alternate sides, left and right, of the slots, thus allowing additional space between the buttons for the user&#39;s fingers to push selected buttons. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the present invention as implemented on a card reading device with a locking mechanism in accordance with one embodiment. In  FIG. 5 , reader  300  generally includes antenna  502 , power module  504 , control module  506 , locking mechanisms  508 A-C and storage mechanisms  509 A-C. 
     Antenna  502  may be externally or internally mounted. In certain embodiments, antenna  502  may receive a signal from a remote device to lock or unlock a storage mechanism (e.g.  509 A-C) via a locking mechanism (e.g.  508 A-C), as will be described in more detail below. In other embodiments, antenna  502  may transmit a signal to a remote device indicating the status of a card coupled to the reader  300  (e.g. a memory card in storage mechanism  508 A), as will be described in more detail below. In certain embodiments, the signal may be a radio frequency signal, an infrared signal, an optical signal or the like. In certain embodiments, the signal is transmitted in accordance with standards, such as protocols based the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (e.g. 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11e or 802.11g), IEEE 802.16 (or WiFi), Wireless Universal Serial Bus (USB) or Bluetooth, or the like. 
     In certain embodiments, a received signal may include both a data signal and a power signal. In those embodiments, the signal may be transmitted from antenna  502  to power module  504 . Power module  504  may then use rectifier  505  to rectify the signal and power the remaining components in reader  300 . In other embodiments, power module  504  may be, or be connected to, another source of power, e.g. a battery or a house power outlet. Power module  504  provides power to control module  506 . In certain embodiments, power module  504  also provides power to locking mechanism  508 A-C. 
     In one embodiment, a signal received at antenna  502  is transmitted to control module  506 . Control module  506  may include a demodulator to demodulate the signal. The modulated or demodulated signal may then be transmitted to logic module  514 . Logic module  514  may be based on digital or analog circuits. In certain embodiments, a clock signal for the logic module is derived from the signal received at antenna  502 . In other embodiments, the clock signal may be provided by a separate oscillator, e.g. a crystal oscillator. Logic module  514  determines whether to send a lock or unlock command to one or more locking mechanism (e.g.  508 A-C). 
     Locking mechanisms  508 A-C may be an electrical, mechanical, electro-mechanical, magnetic or electromagnetic locking mechanism, or a combination thereof. Although the embodiment in  FIG. 5  shows three locking mechanisms, it shall be appreciated that reader  300  may include less than or more than three locking mechanisms. In addition, although the embodiment in  FIG. 5  shows one locking mechanism per storage mechanism, it shall be appreciated that a locking mechanism in certain embodiments may be coupled to and control more than one storage mechanism. 
     Storage mechanisms  509 A-C may each receive one or more memory card, as previously described. Storage mechanism  509 A-C each may include elements  303  and/or  304 , also as previously described. In certain embodiments, a locking mechanism may lock or unlock a storage mechanism, but may not control a retaining or ejection mechanism in the storage mechanism. For example, in one embodiment, locking mechanism  508 A may lock or unlock storage mechanism  509 A, but may not control a button to eject a card stored in storage mechanism  508 A. In such an embodiment, once unlocked, a card stored in storage mechanism  508 A may still need to be manually ejected to remove the card. In another embodiment, locking mechanism  508 A may lock or unlock storage mechanism  509 A and also control the retaining or ejection mechanism in the storage mechanism. For example, sending a signal to unlock a card may both unlock locking mechanism  508 A and eject the card from storage mechanism  509 A. 
     In certain embodiments, a signal received at antenna  502  may lock one storage mechanism via one locking mechanism and unlock a second storage mechanism via a second locking mechanism. For example, in one embodiment, reader  300  may transmit a signal that a card in storage mechanism  509 A is full. In response to the transmission, antenna  502  may receive a signal with instructions to unlock storage mechanism  509 A and lock storage mechanism  509 B. In response to the received signal, control module  506  may send a signal to locking mechanism  508 A to unlock storage mechanism  509 A, and in some embodiments eject the card in storage mechanism  509 A. Control module  506  may (simultaneously or subsequently) send a signal to locking mechanism  508 B to lock storage mechanism  509 B. In certain embodiments, control module  506  may send a signal to load another card in a storage mechanism before sending a signal to lock the storage mechanism. 
     In certain embodiments, reader  300  may also include a communications interface  503 . Communications interface  503  may include a network interface (e.g. an Ethernet card or a modem). In certain embodiments, communications interface  503  transmits signals from reader  300  and antenna  503  receives signals from a remote device. In other embodiments, antenna  503  transmits signals and communications interface  503  receives signals. One or more of these signals may include the status of a card coupled to the reader. For example, the status may indicate that the card is full, that the card has completed a download or upload or that a read or write to the card is complete. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a system for transmitting a status of a memory card in accordance with one embodiment. In  FIG. 6 , system  600  includes an antenna  602 , lens  605  and a processor  606 . In one embodiment, system  600  is a video surveillance camera. In other embodiments, system  600  may be another kind of motion video camera or a still video camera. 
     Antenna  602  may be externally or internally mounted. Antenna  602  may receive and/or transmit signals to a remote device. For example, in certain embodiments, antenna  602  may transmit a notification that a card (e.g.  610 A or  610 B) is full or receive a signal to switch from storing data on one card to another card (e.g. from card  610 A to card  610 B). In certain embodiments, the signal is a radio frequency signal, an infrared signal, an optical signal, or the like. In certain embodiments, the signal is transmitted in accordance with standards, such as protocols based the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (e.g. 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11e or 802.11g), IEEE 802.16 (or WiFi), Wireless Universal Serial Bus (USB) or Bluetooth, or the like. 
     Lens  605  captures data to store in cards  610 A or  610 B. For example, lens  605  may capture video images or still images to be processed by processor  606  and stored on card  610 A or  610 B. 
     In certain embodiments, processor  606  determines when a card (e.g.  610 A) reaches a certain capacity (e.g. full or 90% full). In one embodiment, if processor  606  determines that a card reaches a certain capacity (e.g. full), process  606  may automatically switch from storing data on the current card, e.g.  610 A, to storing data on another card, e.g. card  610 B. Processor  606  may use software, hardware, or a combination thereof, to switch cards. For example, in one embodiment, cards  610 A and  610 B are coupled to processor  606  via a bus (not shown). When card  610 A is full, processor  606  may switch the card being written by programmatically redirecting the transmissions from card  610 A to card  610 B. In another embodiment, a hardware switch (e.g. transistor, diode or mechanical switch) may determine which card is electrically coupled to the processor  606 . When a card is full, the switch may decouple the processor from the full card and couple the processor to an empty card. In certain embodiments, the switch may be controlled by a processor other than processor  606 . 
     In yet another embodiment, when processor  606  determines that a card is full, processor  606  may transmit a signal via antenna  602 , or another communications interface (not shown), to indicate the status of the card. Processor  606  may stop capturing data until another card is manually inserted into the system, or until processor  606  receives a command (manually or electronically) to switch to another card. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates another system for transmitting a status of a memory card in accordance with one embodiment. Like system  600 , system  700  also captures data (e.g. video). However, in system  700 , the video capture device is not a lens but rather a video camera, still camera or video capture card. Therefore, in one embodiment system  700  may include system  600 . 
     In one embodiment system  700  is a surveillance system that includes a computer  706  coupled to the camera  705 . Camera  705  may provide a video feed to camera  706  which stores the data on card  710 A and  710 B. In one embodiment, card  710 A and  710 B may be stored on a card reader (not shown), such as reader  300 , coupled to computer  706 . In certain embodiments, when computer  706  determines that a card, e.g.  710 A, is full, computer  706  may automatically switch to writing to another card, e.g.  710 B. In one embodiment, automatically switching may include ejecting the full card and automatically loading another card. In other embodiments, when computer  706  determines that a card is full, computer  706  may cease recording, send a notification (e.g. via antenna  702 ) and wait for a manual switch to another card before recording continues. 
     In certain embodiments, cards  710 A and  710 B may be housed in camera  705 . In those embodiments, camera  705  may store data on card  710 A and notify computer  706  when the card is full. Computer  706  may have logic determining when to send a command to camera  705  to switch to another card, e.g.  710 B. For example, computer  706  may be programmed to send certain commands at certain times. For example, computer  706  may be programmed to instruct camera  705  to automatically switch to another card during non-business hours, but may be programmed to instruct camera  705  to wait for manual intervention during business hours. In other embodiments, computer  706  may include a user interface to receive instructions from a user. In certain embodiments, these instructions may be received via antenna  702  or via a network (not shown). 
     In yet other embodiments, computer  706  may read data stored on a card housed in camera  705 . When the read is complete, camera  705  may send a signal to computer  706  via an antenna (not shown) coupled to camera  705 . In response to receiving the signal, the computer may begin reading from another card housed in the camera. In other embodiments, the card may be housed in reader  300  or tower  400  rather than camera  705 . 
     In certain embodiments, when the read is complete, the read card may be ejected from the camera, reader or tower. In certain embodiments, the card may be ejected in response to a command from computer  706  or from a processor in the camera, reader or tower. 
     In certain embodiments, before computer  706  begins reading from a second card housed in a camera, reader or tower, the first card is unloaded and the second card is loaded in its place. In certain embodiments, this loading and unloading may be via mechanical devices (e.g. gears), electrical devices (e.g. electrical switches), software devices, or a combination thereof. 
     While the invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of limiting.