Patent ID: 7721962

Claim:
A reader for a plurality of data storage devices, comprising: (a) An integrated circuit board controlling the exchange of data from and to the data storage devices, the integrated circuit board having a front edge; (b) a face plate communicating with the front edge of the circuit board having a plurality of openings to accept the data storage devices; (c) a plurality of connectors connected to the circuit board each one spaced the same predetermined distance from the front edge, the connectors configured to operatively exchange data between any type of conventional memory card and the circuit board and having electrical contacts in a connector electrical contact pattern which is the same for each connector; (d) a plurality of removable bridges, each comprising: (i) a data storage device receiving section adjacent a first end of each bridge configured to receive and operatively connect to a pre-determined type of data storage device having data storage device electrical contacts in a pattern of a contact standard of a type of data storage device so as to permit the exchange of data with the data storage device; (ii) a connector insertion section adjacent a second end of each bridge, opposite the first end, configured to operatively connect to any one of the plurality of connectors and having electrical contacts in an electrical contact pattern compatible with the connector electrical contact pattern so as to permit the exchange of data with the circuit board; (iii) a series of electrical contacts connecting the electrical contacts of the data storage device receiving section and the electrical contacts of the connector insertion section; (e) the distance between the first end and the second end of each bridge is substantially equal to the pre-determined distance so that when the connector insertion section of a bridge is operatively connected to a connector the data storage device receiving section of the bridge is positioned adjacent the face plate.