Architectures for external SATA-based flash memory devices

1. A Serial Advanced Technology Attachment-based (SATA-based) flash memory device configured for coupling with a host machine, comprising:

semiconductor memory configured for storing data;

a plug having therein a plug cavity, said plug cavity having a generally L shape cavity for housing a set of SATA industry-standard signal pins in respective industry-standard positions with respect to said plug cavity, at least a subset of said set of SATA industry-standard signal pins being configured to carry address and data signals to facilitate storing said data in said semiconductor memory, said L shape cavity being characterized by a longer substantially rectangular cavity coupled with a shorter substantially rectangular cavity, said plug additionally having a set of power pins that represents a plurality of power pins and includes at least a first power pin, said set of power pins being positioned in said shorter substantially rectangular cavity, wherein a contacting surface of contacting surfaces of said set of power pins faces sides of said set of SATA industry-standard signal pins, said SATA-based flash memory device employing a SATA protocol for exchanging said data with said host machine using said set of SATA industry-standard signal pins, said SATA-based flash memory device obtaining power via said set of power pins.

2. The SATA-based flash memory device of claim 1 wherein said first power pin of said set of power pins is disposed in said shorter substantially rectangular cavity of said plug cavity.

3. The SATA-based flash memory device of claim 2 wherein said set of power pins further including a second power pin also disposed in said shorter substantially rectangular cavity of said plug cavity.

4. The SATA-based flash memory device of claim 1 wherein said first power pin is disposed adjacent to a first interior surface of said longer substantially rectangular cavity of said plug cavity, said first interior surface being parallel to and opposite to a second interior surface of said longer substantially rectangular cavity, said set of SATA industry-standard signal pins being disposed adjacent to said second interior surface.

5. The SATA-based flash memory device of claim 4 wherein said set of power pins further including a second power pin also disposed adjacent to said first interior surface of said longer substantially rectangular cavity.

6. The SATA-based flash memory device of claim 1 wherein said first power pin is disposed adjacent to a first exterior surface of said plug, said first exterior surface being parallel to and opposite to a first interior surface of said longer substantially rectangular cavity, said set of SATA industry-standard signal pins being disposed adjacent to said first interior surface.

7. The SATA-based flash memory device of claim 6 wherein said set of power pins further including a second power pin also disposed adjacent to said first interior surface of said longer substantially rectangular cavity.

8. A Serial Advanced Technology Attachment-based (SATA-based) flash memory arrangement configured for coupling with a host machine, comprising:

a SATA-based flash memory device having semiconductor memory configured for storing data and a plug having therein a plug cavity, said plug cavity having a generally L shape cavity for housing a set of SATA industry-standard signal pins in respective industry-standard positions with respect to said plug cavity, at least a subset of said set of SATA industry-standard signal pins being configured to carry address and data signals to facilitate storing said data in said semiconductor memory, said L shape cavity being characterized by a longer substantially rectangular cavity joined with a shorter substantially rectangular cavity, said plug additionally having a set of power pins that represents a plurality of power pins and includes at least a first power pin, said set of power pins being positioned in said shorter substantially rectangular cavity, wherein a contacting surface of contacting surfaces of said set of power pins faces sides of said set of SATA industry-standard signal pins, said SATA-based flash memory device employing a SATA protocol for exchanging said data with said host machine using said set of SATA industry-standard signal pins, said SATA-based flash memory device obtaining power via said set of power pins; and

a coupler arrangement having at least three coupler connectors, a first coupler connector of said three coupler connectors being configured for connecting with said plug of said SATA-based flash memory device, a second coupler connector of said three coupler connectors being configured to be coupled with an industry-standard 7-pin SATA receptacle on said host machine, a third coupler connector of said three coupler connector being configured to be coupled a power source on said host machine, said power source representing a connector on said host machine that can provide said power to said set of power pins.

9. The SATA-based flash memory arrangement of claim 8 wherein said power source on said host machine represents a Universal Serial Bus connector.

10. The SATA-based flash memory arrangement of claim 8 wherein said power source on said host machine represents a keyboard connector.

11. The SATA-based flash memory arrangement of claim 8 wherein said power source on said host machine represents a mouse connector.

12. The SATA-based flash memory arrangement of claim 8 wherein said first power pin is disposed in said shorter substantially rectangular cavity of said plug cavity.

13. The SATA-based flash memory arrangement of claim 12 wherein said set of power pins further including a second power pin also disposed in said shorter substantially rectangular cavity of said plug cavity.

14. The SATA-based flash memory arrangement of claim 8 wherein said first power pin is disposed adjacent to a first interior surface of said longer substantially rectangular cavity of said plug cavity, said first interior surface being parallel to and opposite to a second interior surface of said longer substantially rectangular cavity, said set of SATA industry-standard signal pins being disposed adjacent to said second interior surface.

15. The SATA-based flash memory arrangement of claim 14 wherein said set of power pins further including a second power pin also disposed adjacent to said first interior surface of said longer substantially rectangular cavity.

16. The SATA-based flash memory arrangement of claim 8 wherein said first power pin is disposed adjacent to a first exterior surface of said plug, said first exterior surface being parallel to and opposite to a first interior surface of said longer substantially rectangular cavity, said set of SATA industry-standard signal pins being disposed adjacent to said first interior surface.

17. The SATA-based flash memory arrangement of claim 16 wherein said set of power pins further including a second power pin also disposed adjacent to said first interior surface of said longer substantially rectangular cavity.

18. A Serial Advanced Technology Attachment-based (SATA-based) host-side receptacle configured to provide both power and data signals to an external SATA device, comprising:

an outer housing;

a set of SATA industry-standard signal pins;

a center portion inside said outer housing, said center portion having a generally L shape island for housing said set of SATA industry-standard signal pins in respective industry-standard positions with respect to said center portion, at least a subset of said set of SATA industry-standard signal pins being configured to permit communication said external SATA device using a SATA protocol;

a set of power pins that represents a plurality of power pins and includes at least a first power pin, said L shape cavity being characterized by a longer substantially rectangular cavity coupled with a shorter substantially rectangular cavity, said set of power pins being positioned in said shorter substantially rectangular cavity, wherein a contacting surface of contacting surfaces of said set of power pins faces the sides of said set of SATA industry-standard signal pins, said set of power pins being disposed inside said outer housing and configured to provide said power to said external SATA device, whereby said SATA-based host-side receptacle is configured to be backward compatible with an industry-standard 7-pin SATA plug and said set of power pins is positioned inside said center portion such that they are electrically isolated from pins of said industry-standard 7-pin SATA plug when said industry-standard 7-pin SATA plug is plugged into said SATA-based host-side receptacle.

19. The SATA-based host-side receptacle of claim 18 wherein said first power pin of said set of power pins being disposed on said shorter substantially rectangular portion of said L shape island.

20. The SATA-based host-side receptacle of claim 19 wherein said set of power pins further including a second power pin also disposed on said shorter substantially rectangular portion of said of said L shape island.

21. The SATA-based host-side receptacle of claim 18 wherein said first power pin of said set of power pins is disposed adjacent to a first surface of said longer substantially rectangular portion, said first surface being parallel to and different from a second surface of said longer substantially rectangular cavity, said set of SATA industry-standard signal pins being disposed adjacent to said second surface.

22. The SATA-based host-side receptacle of claim 21 wherein said set of power pins further including a second power pin also disposed adjacent to said first surface of said longer substantially rectangular portion.

23. The SATA-based host-side receptacle of claim 18 wherein said first power pin is disposed adjacent to a first interior-facing surface inside said outer housing, said first interior-facing surface being parallel to a surface of said longer substantially rectangular portion, said set of SATA industry-standard signal pins being disposed adjacent to said surface of said longer substantially rectangular portion, said first interior surface being different from a surface of said L shape island.

24. The SATA-based host-side receptacle of claim 23 wherein said set of power pins further including a second power pin also disposed adjacent to said first interior-facing surface.