Abstract:
Small, easily transportable data storage cards in which the stored data is protected against external contamination. The structure of the cards provides two positions, a first position for sequestering the data, and a second position allowing physical access to the stored data during the writing and/or reading thereof.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM  
       [0001]    The application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/236,779, filed Sep. 29, 2001, entitled “Protected Data Storage Cards.” 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to high density data storage cards and protection for such cards.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Cards approximately the size of a credit card are very attractive media for transporting data. Because of their small size, they may be conveniently carried in a wallet or purse on the body of a person or mailed or otherwise easily transported. However, while cards of this size can be manufactured with substantial data storage capacity, their very convenience is also detrimental to their utility since dirt, grease, body oil, lint, etc., on the magnetic recording surface can seriously degrade the reproductivity of the data stored in the card.  
           [0004]    The preferred embodiments of this invention provide a protection for the recording media without adversely compromising the readily portable nature of the storage card. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage card having two halves which, when closed, protect the recording media;  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 2 is a is a top elevational view of another embodiment also employing two card halves;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 3 is a top elevational view of another embodiment of the invention also employing two card halves;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 4 is a top elevational view of an embodiment having a sequestered rotatable disk;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 5 is a top elevational view of an other embodiment of a sequestered rotatable disk; and  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 6 is a pouch and card combination.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0011]    The preferred embodiments of this invention are directed to provide a recording surface on a credit card sized high-memory card when the card is in use, i.e., is being written to or read from by a suitable reader/writer, while when the card is not in use, protecting the recording surface from external contamination arising from handling or other exposure to dirt and/or abrasion that might impair the functionality of the recording medium.  
         [0012]    The preferred embodiments of the protected high-memory card operate in the following manner. During their placement into a card/write reader under a read/write head mounted in or on a read/write control assembly, the normally-sequestered recording media is automatically uncovered by the card reader/writer, making it accessible to the read/write head. Upon completion of the read and/or write step, the process is reversed and the recording media is returned to its protected position, after which the card may be ejected from the card reader/writer.  
         [0013]    In one preferred embodiment of this sequestered recording media  14  and method shown in FIG. 1, the card is composed of two halves  10 ,  11  similar to the covers on a book, which halves are hinged along one edge  12  such that, upon their being opened by the apparatus, recording media  13  is exposed. This media may be applied to one or both internal sides. The recording media is placed beneath a read/write head for use, after which the two halves  10 ,  11  are again “closed” together and advantageously retained in a closed and locked position relative to each other by a suitable locking mechanism that is operated by insertion into and ejection from the card reader/writer.  
         [0014]    In another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 2, the data storage card has two halves  20 ,  21  which together constitute the front and back of the card. Halves  20 ,  21  are joined at a corner by a hinge  22  that permits the halves to swivel, as in the action of a knife blade being opened, to an angle of as much as one hundred eighty degrees relative to each other, thus exposing the recording media  23  sequestered between halves  20 ,  21 .  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 shows another embodiment  33 , having a top half  30  and a bottom half  31  respectively shown first in end view. The two halves  30 ,  31  are joined together by a method similar to tongue and groove joints, permitting the two halves  30 ,  31 , once unlocked, to be slid either longitudinally or laterally relative to each other, thus exposing the normally sequestered recording media  32  for use. The relative thicknesses of the halves shown in FIG. 3 are exaggerated in size to clearly show the sliding joint structure.  
         [0016]    In another embodiment shown in FIG. 4, front and back halves of the card  40  are permanently bonded along their edges, and house between them a disk  41  of recording media  42  which rotates about an axis. The ends of this axis are secured in place to the inner walls of the card halves, permitting the disk of recording media to rotate the card halves. A motor in the reader/writer rotates the disk and the digital data is read from and written to the card through aperture  42  by a read/write head. The apertures  42  may be formed by a slot as shown. The slot may be in one or both of the cards. Closeable apertures (not shown) may also be used in one or in both sides of the card.  
         [0017]    Illustrated in FIG. 5 is an embodiment  104 , in which the front and back halves of the card  50  are permanently bonded along their edges with the exception of functional apertures  51  specifically left unbonded at the ends or sides of the card. The front and back halves of the card house between them a rotatable disk  52  of recording media  53  which rotates about an axis, the ends of which are movable along internal channels recessed into the inner walls of the card halves. This permits the disk of recording media to be slid out linearly by suitable apparatus in the card reader/writer. Up to half of the disk of recording media may be caused to project beyond the end or side of the card, whereupon it can, while being rotated by a motor in the card reader/writer, be read from and written to by one or more read/write heads placed over one side, or alternatively over both sides of the rotatable disk. In one specific embodiment, these heads are capable of being stepped radially along the exposed portion of the disk, after which the disk is then automatically retracted fully within the card halves for protection until its next use.  
         [0018]    Any of the embodiments described above may be employed either separately or in conjunction with the use of a protective pouch or jacket in which the card is kept when not in use. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a card  60  to which has been applied recording media on one or both external sides, is sequestered within a closeable pouch or jacket  61 . Opening  62  provides for automatic removal or withdrawing of the card upon insertion of the card into a card reader/writer, thus permitting access to the magnetic recording media by a read/write head via access opening  62 , following which the card, after use, is then automatically reinserted into access opening  62  by the protective pouch or jacket prior to ejection of the card from the reader/writer.  
         [0019]    While the invention has been described herein with reference to certain preferred embodiments, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and not to limit the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be defined only in accordance with the claims that follow.