Fixed write-protect seamless memory card
In an embodiment of the present invention, a memory card includes a bottom plastic piece having a plurality of lateral sides, one of which includes a notch, and a cavity interposed along the lateral sides. A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, including memory, is positioned in the cavity. A fin-structure is created as part of the manufacturing process of the bottom plastic piece of the card. The memory card is configured to function in a read-write mode when the fin-structure is present, and in a write-protect mode when the fins are snapped off, and the notch is exposed. Alternatively, a plug device can be insertably positioned into the notch, causing the memory card to function in a read-write mode when the plug device is positioned into the notch, and in a write-protect mode when the plug device is removed and the notch is exposed.
1. A memory card comprising:
a bottom plastic piece having a plurality of lateral sides, said bottom plastic piece further having a cavity interposed along said plurality of lateral sides; and
a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, including memory, and positioned in said cavity;
a notch formed on one of said plurality of lateral sides of said bottom plastic piece, the notch having a length that is smaller than the length of each of the plurality of lateral sides; and
a read-write plug insertably positioned into said notch where the memory card is configured to function in a read-write mode when the read-write plug is positioned into the notch and in a write-protect mode when the notch is exposed.
2. A memory card, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the memory card is a secure digital (SD) card.
3. A memory card, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the read-write plug is a female read-write plug.
4. A memory card, as recited in claim 3 , wherein the read-write plug is a male read-write plug.
5. A memory card, as recited in claim 4 , further including a label disposed on top of the bottom plastic piece to protect the PCB and to provide a seamless appearance thereto.
6. A memory card, as recited in claim 5 , wherein the memory card is coupled to a host device to transfer information between said memory card and said host device.
7. A memory card, as recited in claim 6 , to further include an interface adapted to couple the memory card to the host device.
8. A memory card, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the notch includes a clamp-bar into which the read-write plug is snapped into place.
9. A memory card, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the cavity is rectangular in shape.
10. A memory card comprising:
a bottom plastic piece having a plurality of lateral sides, said bottom plastic piece further having a cavity interposed along said plurality of lateral sides;
a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, including memory, and positioned in said cavity; and
a removable fin-structure formed on one of the plurality of lateral sides, where the fin-structure causes the card to function in read-write mode when intact, and to function in write-protect mode when removed.
11. A memory card, as recited in claim 10 , further including a notch formed in substantially the same location as the fin-structure within the bottom plastic piece, which is exposed upon removal of the fin-structure.
12. A memory card, as recited in claim 11 , further including a label disposed on top of the bottom plastic piece to protect the PCB and to provide a seamless appearance thereto.
13. A memory card, as recited in claim 12 , wherein the memory card is coupled to a host device to transfer information between said memory card and said host device.
14. A memory card, as recited in claim 13 , further include an interface adapted to couple the memory card to the host device.
15. A memory card, as recited in claim 10 , wherein the cavity is rectangular in shape.
16. A memory card comprising:
means having interposed therein a cavity, and having a plurality of lateral sides for housing a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly;
means for storing information, positioned within said cavity;
notch means formed, in its entirety, in one of the plurality of lateral sides for indicating to a host device that the memory card is in write-protect mode, said notch having a length that is smaller than the length of each of the plurality of lateral sides; and
plug means that is removably positioned into said notch for causing the memory card to be read-write mode.
17. A memory card, as recited in claim 16 , wherein the memory card is a secure digital (SD) card.
18. A memory card, as recited in claim 16 , wherein the read-write plug is a female read-write plug.
19. A memory card, as recited in claim 18 , wherein the read-write plug is a male read-write plug.
20. A memory card, as recited in claim 19 , further including a label disposed on top of the bottom plastic piece to protect the PCB and to provide a seamless appearance thereto.
21. A memory card, as recited in claim 20 , wherein the memory card is coupled to a host device to transfer information between said memory card and said host device.
22. A memory card, as recited in claim 21 , to further include an interface adapted to couple the memory card to the host device.
23. A memory card, as recited in claim 16 , wherein the notch includes a clamp-bar into which the read-write plug is snapped into place.
24. A memory card, as recited in claim 16 , wherein the cavity is rectangular in shape.
25. A memory card comprising:
means having interposed therein a cavity, and having a plurality of lateral sides for housing a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly;
means for storing information, positioned within said cavity;
means formed on one of the plurality of lateral sides and having a length that is smaller than the length of each of the plurality of lateral sides for causing the memory card to operate in read-write mode, and upon removal of the formed means, for causing the memory card to operate in a write-protected mode.
26. A memory card, as recited in claim 25 , wherein the memory card is a secure digital card.
27. A memory card, as recited in claim 25 , where the formed means is a fin-structure.
28. A memory card, as recited in claim 27 , further including a notch formed in substantially the same location as the fin-structure within the bottom plastic piece, which is exposed upon removal of the fin-structure.
29. A memory card, as recited in claim 28 , further including a label disposed on top of the bottom plastic piece to protect the PCB and to provide a seamless appearance thereto.
30. A memory card, as recited in claim 29 , wherein the memory card is coupled to a host device to transfer information between said memory card and said host device.
31. A memory card, as recited in claim 30 , to further include an interface adapted to couple the memory card to the host device.
32. A memory card, as recited in claim 25 , wherein the cavity is rectangular in shape.
33. A method of manufacturing a memory card comprising:
forming a bottom plastic piece having a plurality of lateral sides to form a cavity interposed among said lateral sides, and one of said lateral sides having a notch with an exposed clamp-bar therein;
positioning a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, including memory, in said cavity;
filling the cavity of the bottom plastic piece with molten plastic so that a top plastic piece is formed; and
placing a clamp-device onto clamp-bar within said notch.
34. A method of manufacturing, as recited in claim 33 , wherein the memory card is a secure digital (SD) card.
35. A method of manufacturing, as recited in claim 33 ,
wherein during the step of forming the top plastic piece, injecting the molten plastic into the cavity.
36. A method of manufacturing a memory card comprising:
forming a bottom plastic piece having a plurality of lateral sides so as to create a cavity interposed among said lateral sides, and one of said lateral sides having a fin-structure which causes the card to function in read-write mode;
positioning a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, including memory, in said cavity; and
filling the cavity of the bottom plastic piece with molten plastic so that a top plastic piece is formed.
37. A method of manufacturing, as recited in claim 36 , wherein the memory card is a secure digital (SD) card.
38. A method of manufacturing, as recited in claim 36 ,
wherein during the step of forming the top plastic piece, injecting the molten plastic into the cavity.
39. A method of manufacturing a memory card, as recited in claim 36 , further including the step of removing the fin-structure to create a notch, and causing the card to function in write-protect mode.