Abstract:
Provided is a memory card that reinforces rigidity of a product, and increases the value of the product by improving the appearance of the product. The memory card includes a semiconductor chip; a case installed to surround the semiconductor chip; and a reinforcement member attached to one surface of the case so that rigidity of the case is increased. The surface of the case can be textured or marked by a variety of surface finishing techniques.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0002717, filed on Jan. 13, 2009, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The inventive concept relates to a memory card, and more particularly, to a memory card that has increased rigidity of the card by using a reinforcement member formed of a metal material, and increases the value of the product by improving the appearance of the product. 
         [0003]    As use of mobile devices, such as digital cameras, digital camcorders, MP3 players, personal digital assistant (PDA), digital audio players, etc. increases, mobile storage devices, such as flash memory devices or magneto-optical micro drives, are more widely used. 
         [0004]    Mobile storage devices need high capacity memory owing to the improvement of performance of and the increased applications for mobile digital devices. This results in an increased demand for high capacity mobile storage devices. 
         [0005]    Flash memory devices include a variety of types of compact flash devices, smart media devices, multimedia cards, secure digital (SD) memory cards, memory stick cards, etc. In particular, SD memory cards are widely used owing to their excellent perfoimance including data transmission. 
         [0006]    Although semiconductor chips embedded in SD memory cards are protected by a case formed of a plastic material, the case formed of the plastic material is susceptible to bending and twisting forces, shocks, scratches, etc. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The inventive concept provides a memory card that includes a reinforcement member or a case which is formed of a metal material with increased bending rigidity and/or twisting rigidity and that reinforces overall rigidity of the case, thereby better protecting a semiconductor chip embedded in the memory card. Appearance of the product is improved and made more aesthetic by using the characteristics of the metal to achieve various surface finishes. This use of the metal and its characteristics make an improved product by protecting the product from scratches, and providing an opportunity to use various designs of printing, marking, and color. 
         [0008]    According to an aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a memory card including: a semiconductor chip; a case installed to surround the semiconductor chip; and a reinforcement member attached to at least one surface of the case so that rigidity of the case is reinforced. 
         [0009]    The memory card may be a secure digital (SD) card. 
         [0010]    The case may include: an upper case surrounding the upper surface of a package including the semiconductor chip; and a lower case surrounding the lower surface of the package, wherein a reinforcement member is installed on the exterior surface of the upper case and/or on the exterior surface of the lower case. 
         [0011]    The reinforcement member may be a metal plate. 
         [0012]    The metal plate may have a textured surface through surface processing or surface treatments. 
         [0013]    A coating film may be formed on the surface of the reinforcement member. 
         [0014]    A marking region for indicating product information may be formed on the exterior surface of the reinforcement member. 
         [0015]    A bonding, layer may be formed between the reinforcement member and the case. 
         [0016]    The case may be formed of a metal material. 
         [0017]    According to another aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a memory card including: a semiconductor chip; and a metal case installed to surround the semiconductor chip. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    Exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a memory card as an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a memory card shown in  FIG. 1  as an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the memory card shown in  FIG. 2  as an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a reinforcement member (e.g., a metal plate) shown in  FIG. 3  as an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the reinforcement member (the metal plate) shown in  FIG. 4  as another exemplary embodiment; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the reinforcement member (the metal plate) shown in  FIG. 4  as another exemplary embodiment; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of a memory card as another exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]    The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. However, this invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the thickness of layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. As used herein the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
         [0027]    The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
         [0028]    It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being, “connected” “attached” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected, attached or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected”, “directly attached” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening, elements present. 
         [0029]    It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. Thus, a first element could be termed a second element without departing from the teachings of the present invention. 
         [0030]    Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. 
         [0031]    A Secure Digital (SD) form-factor compliant memory card (or memory card)  100  according to some embodiments of the invention is shown. As used herein, the term “form-factor” means the physical size and shape of the memory card. Moreover, the form-factor of memory cards according to some embodiments of the invention is described herein as a Secure Digital memory card that has a size and shape that allows such memory cards to be used with other compliant devices, such as readers. As known to those skilled in the art, SD represents a later developed version of the Multimedia Memory Card (MMC) standard which may allow MMC compliant memory cards to be used with SD compliant devices. In some embodiments according to the invention, SD foim-factor compliant devices measure about 32 mm×about 24 mm×about 1.4 mm and can be shaped substantially as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . The MMC and SD standards are discussed further on the world-wide-web at “www.mmca.org.” Other form-factor memory cards may also be practiced according to the present invention. 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a memory card  100  as an exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the memory card  100  shown in  FIG. 1  as an exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the memory card  100  shown in  FIG. 2  as an exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a reinforcement member  30  (a metal plate  31 ) shown in  FIG. 3  as an exemplary embodiment. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the memory card  100  of the exemplary embodiment includes a semiconductor chip  10 , a case  20 , and the reinforcement member  30 . 
         [0034]    The semiconductor chip  10  as a package  11  molded by a sealing material may be assembled with the case  20  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0035]    The case  20  is assembled with the package  11  to surround or envelop the package  11  including the semiconductor chip  10 . The case  20  may include an upper case  21  that surrounds or envelops the upper surface of the package  11  including the semiconductor chip  10  and a lower case  22  that surrounds or envelops the lower surface of the package  11 . 
         [0036]    The case  20  may be formed of a plastic material. A write-hold tab  40  may be installed at one side of the case  20  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0037]    The case  20  may be formed of a metal material having a strong increased durability, in addition to or as an alternative to the plastic material. 
         [0038]    The memory card  100  may be of a variety of types of memory cards, such as a compact flash memory card, a smart media memory card, a multimedia card, a memory stick, etc. The memory card  100  may be a secure digital (SD) memory card. 
         [0039]    The reinforcement  30  is attached to one side or both sides of the case  20  so that rigidity of the case  20  can be increased. The reinforcement member  31  may be attached to an outer surface of the upper case  21  and an outer surface of the lower case  22  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0040]    In particular, the reinforcement  30  may be the reinforcement member  31  in the form of a metal plate, which improves bending rigidity and twisting rigidity, reduces various shocks, and resists scratches. The metal plate  31  is suitable for various surface finish treatments as well as printing or marking. 
         [0041]    The metal plate  31  may be formed of a stainless steel alloy, an aluminum alloy, a nickel alloy, a chrome alloy, a tin alloy, a copper alloy, a zinc alloy, etc., which are strong in corrosion, are lightweight, and are highly rigid. 
         [0042]    The metal plate  31  may have a smooth surface, like the surface of a mirror as shown in  FIG. 4 . The metal plate  31  may have a irregular surface  31   a  through surface processing or treatment, such as the process of carving a detailed or “hair line” line or a sand blasting process using sand, and/or carbon steel particles as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0043]    The surface processing, such as hair-line processing or sanding processing, realizes a coarse mat metal surface, making a product different and distinguishable from other or non-surface processed assemblies. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a coating film  31   b  may be formed on the surface of the metal plate  31  through spraying, dipping, deposition, painting, diffusing, and/or plating. 
         [0045]    The coating film  31   b  may be used to realize various colors, facilitate marking, provide insulation, or prevent a scratch, thereby easily realizing various functions and designs. 
         [0046]    Meanwhile, referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a marking region  31   c  indicating product information may be formed on the exterior surface of the metal plate  31 . 
         [0047]    The marking in region  31   c  may be formed through various processes such as printing, laser marking, etching, pressing, punching, etc. 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 through 6 , a bonding layer  32  may be formed between the reinforcement member  31  and the case  20 . 
         [0049]    The bonding layer  32  may be formed by an adhesive, such as a tape with adhesive on both sides, a thermal welding tape, or an epoxy resin, and may be used to easily bond the reinforcement member  31  to the upper case  21  and the lower case  22 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of a memory card  300  according to another exemplary embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 7 , the memory card  300  of the exemplary embodiment includes a package  11  including a semiconductor chip  10  and a case  320  that is formed of a metal material and surrounds the package  11  including the semiconductor chip  10 . 
         [0051]    The case  320  formed of the metal material is assembled to surround the package  11  including the semiconductor chip  10 . The case  320  may include an upper case  321  that surrounds or envelops the upper surface of the package  11  including the semiconductor chip  10  and a lower case  322  that surrounds or envelops the lower surface of the package  11 . A write-hold tab  340  may be installed at one side of the case  320 . 
         [0052]    Therefore, the memory cards  100  and  300  of the inventive concept increase resistance to shock, bending rigidity, twisting rigidity, scratch resistance, etc. by using the reinforcement member  31  formed of metal material or the case  320  formed of metal material, increase a customer&#39;s interest by making an improved product that is distinguishable from other memory cards, and providing various designs by printing, surface finishing, marking, and color. 
         [0053]    The memory card of the inventive concept increases rigidity of a case, thereby protecting a semiconductor chip embedded in the memory card and making an improved product capable of being distinguished, protecting the product from scratches, and providing various designs of printing, marking, and color. 
         [0054]    While the inventive concept has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.