US6145023A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Information storage and information processing system utilizing state-designating member provided on supporting card surface which produces write-permitting or write-inhibiting signal
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
•
Filing: 1996-01-26
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Granted: 2000-11-07
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Expires: 2016-01-26
Abstract
Abstract In a small and thin memory module for sharing data among electronic devices such as information processing apparatuses, a write prohibit state can be visually recognized. A conductive seal is attached to a predetermined position on a support member, thereby setting the memory module in the write prohibit state. The conductive seal visually indicates the write prohibit state. When the memory module is mounted in a connector section of a card-shaped holder, connector pins are electrically connected to each other via the conductive seal. Thus, a write prohibit mechanism is realized at low cost.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi Iwasaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:38
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B20/00; G11B20/02; G11B20/04; G11C; G11C7/00; G11C7/16; G11C7/24; G11C8/00; G11C8/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
An information storage card apparatus comprising: a supporting card; storage medium means on said supporting card in which information can be written; and a state-designating conductive member provided on a surface of the supporting card designating a state of said storage medium means in which writing information to the storage medium means is permitted or prohibited, wherein a write-permitting or a write-inhibiting signal is produced by said state-designating conductive member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
An information storage card apparatus comprising: a supporting card; storage medium means on said supporting card in which information can be written; and a state-designating conductive member provided on a surface of the supporting card designating a state of said storage medium means in which writing information to the storage medium means is permitted or prohibited, wherein a write-permitting or a write-inhibiting signal is produced by said state-designating conductive member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said supporting storage medium means comprises a storage medium device including at least one nonvolatile semiconductor memory device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said supporting card has a recess in which said state-designating conductive member is provided.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said supporting card is nonconductive and said state-designating conductive member is conductive to designate that said writing information is prohibited.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said state-designating conductive member is a seal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said state-designating conductive member is a seal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said conductive member is a seal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
An information storage apparatus comprising: a storage medium in which information can be written; and a support member incorporating said storage medium, the support member having a first portion on a main surface thereof where an external connection terminal electrically connected to said storage medium is provided, and a second portion on said main surface, where a state-designating member for designating a state in which writing of information to the storage medium is prohibited is provided, and wherein a write-permitting or a write-inhibiting signal is produced by said state-designating member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
90 words
An information storage apparatus comprising: a storage medium in which information can be written; and a support member incorporating said storage medium, the support member having a first portion on a main surface thereof where an external connection terminal electrically connected to said storage medium is provided, and a second portion on said main surface, where a state-designating member for designating a state in which writing of information to the storage medium is prohibited is provided, and wherein a write-permitting or a write-inhibiting signal is produced by said state-designating member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The information storage apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said state-designating member is composed of a conductive material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The information storage apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said state-designating member is composed of a non-conductive material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
The information storage apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a height of the first portion on the main surface of said support member where said external connection terminal is provided is equal to a height of the second portion on the main surface of said support member, where said state-designating member is provided.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
The information storage apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said first portion where said external connection terminal is provided is formed in a first recess on the main surface of said support member and said second portion where said state-designating member for designating a state in which writing of information is prohibited is provided is formed in a second recess on the main surface of said support member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The information storage apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the depths of said first and second recesses are greater than the height of said external connection terminal and the height of said state-designating member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The information storage apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said first recess is separated from said second recess.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
68 words
The information storage apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said first portion where said external connection terminal is provided is formed in a first recess on the main surface of said support member and said second portion where said state-designating member for designating a state in which writing of information is prohibited is provided is formed in a second recess on the main surface of said support member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The information storage apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the depths of said first and second recesses are deeper than the height of said external connection terminal and the height of said state-designating member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The information storage apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said first recess is separated from said second recess.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
90 words
An information storage apparatus comprising: a storage medium in which information can be written; and a support member incorporating said storage medium, the support member having a first portion on a main surface thereof where an external connection terminal electrically connected to said storage medium is provided, and a second portion on said main surface, adapted for providing thereon a state-designating member for designating a state in which writing of information to the storage medium is prohibited wherein, a write-permitting or a write-inhibiting signal is produced by said state-designating member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
90 words
An information storage apparatus comprising: a storage medium in which information can be written; and a support member incorporating said storage medium, the support member having a first portion on a main surface thereof where an external connection terminal electrically connected to said storage medium is provided, and a second portion on said main surface, adapted for providing thereon a state-designating member for designating a state in which writing of information to the storage medium is prohibited wherein, a write-permitting or a write-inhibiting signal is produced by said state-designating member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The information storage apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said state-designating member is composed of a conductive material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The information storage apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said state-designating member is composed of a non-conductive material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
54 words
The information storage apparatus according to claim 18, wherein a height of the first portion on the main surface of said support member where said external connection terminal is provided is equal to a height of the second portion on the main surface of said support member, adapted for providing thereon said state-designating member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
70 words
The information storage apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said first portion where said external connection terminal is provided is formed in a first recess on the main surface of said support member and said second portion adapted to be provided with said state-designating member for designating a state in which writing of information is prohibited is formed in a second recess on the main surface of said support member.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The information storage apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the depths of said first and second recesses are greater than the height of said external connection terminal and the height of said state-designating member.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The information storage apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said first recess is separated from said second recess.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
69 words
The information storage apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said first portion where said external connection terminal is provided is formed in a first recess on the main surface of said support member and said second portion adapted for providing thereon said state-designating member for designating a state in which writing of information is prohibited is formed in a second recess on the main surface of said support member.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
The information storage apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the depths of said first and second recesses are deeper than the height of said external connection terminal and the height of said state-designating member.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The information storage apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said first recess is separated from said second recess.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
90 words
The information storage apparatus comprising: a storage medium in which information can be written; a supporting member incorporating said storage medium, the support member having a first portion on a main surface thereof where an external connection terminal electrically connected to said storage medium is provided, and a second portion on said main surface; and a state-designating member on said second portion, for designating a state in which writing of information to the storage medium is prohibited, wherein a write-permitting or a write-inhibiting signal is produced by said state-designating member.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
90 words
The information storage apparatus comprising: a storage medium in which information can be written; a supporting member incorporating said storage medium, the support member having a first portion on a main surface thereof where an external connection terminal electrically connected to said storage medium is provided, and a second portion on said main surface; and a state-designating member on said second portion, for designating a state in which writing of information to the storage medium is prohibited, wherein a write-permitting or a write-inhibiting signal is produced by said state-designating member.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The information storage apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said state-designating member is composed of a conductive material.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
53 words
The information storage apparatus according to claim 28, wherein a height of the first portion on the main surface of said support member where said external connection terminal is provided is equal to a height of the second portion on the main surface of said support member, where said state-designating member is provided.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
68 words
The information storage apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said first portion where said external connection terminal is provided is formed in a first recess on the main surface of said support member and said second portion where said state-designating member for designating a state in which writing of information is prohibited is provided is formed in a second recess on the main surface of said support member.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
34 words
The information storage apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the depths of said first and second recesses are greater than the height of said external connection terminal and the height of said state-designating member.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
The information storage apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said first recess is separated from said second recess.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
68 words
The information storage apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said first portion where said external connection terminal is provided is formed in a first recess on the main surface of said support member and said second portion where said state-designating member for designating a state in which writing of information is prohibited is provided is formed in a second recess on the main surface of said support member.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
34 words
The information storage apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the depths of said first and second recesses are greater than the height of said external connection terminal and the height of said state-designating member.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
18 words
The information storage apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said first recess is separated from said second recess.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-11-07 | 2004-05-08 | 2004-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-07 | 2008-05-08 | 2008-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-07 | 2012-05-08 | 2012-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |