Technology

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Core Flash portfolio innovations encompass key aspects of Flash read/write technology, including software, firmware, hardware, and mechanical designs under the following six categories: 

Flashtoaster

• US '638: Flashtoaster for memory cards
  This de facto standard for modern card readers provides at least three slots with connectors to read from and write to CompactFlash, SmartMedia, MultiMediaCard and other popular formats.  
• US ‘281: Flashtoaster for memory cards (IDE)
   IDE interface supports DVD, DVR, Digital TV and other digital media devices with built-in media slots, enabling read/write interface with multiple Flash card formats, including CompactFlash, MultiMediaCard, Secure Digital Card and Memory Stick.  

 Multimode Controller  

• US ‘549: Multimode controller for intelligent and “dumb” Flash cards
  This invention allows Flash card manufacturers to use the host controller to manage a Flash card with or without an onboard controller. As a result, both card types may be shipped in the same form factor, thereby maximizing flexibility and reducing cost.

• US '369: Flash media card adapter
  Reduces footprint required to support multiple media formats by integrating multiple Flash connectors into one. 
• US ‘618: Smart universal Flash media card adapter
  Single adapter supports many Flash media formats, eliminating the need to use a separate connector for each format. This versatile multi-memory media adapter deploys multiple sets of pins protruding from the top and bottom of the slot plus an embedded controller chip.

• US‘443: 
  The ‘443 invention provides a multi-memory media adapter card designed to eliminate drawbacks of typical adapter card configurations.  The improved card accepts multiple memory media cards using one slot.  Among the advantages of the ‘443 invention, the top and bottom printed circuit boards of previous adapter cards are replaced by molded plastic elements. These provide greater structural integrity and reduce complexity and manufacturing costs.  Contact pins are formed to better maintain their resiliency and avoid damage upon removal of a memory media card.  

Flash Jukebox 

• US ‘623:  Flash jukebox
  Enables games, music, pictures and other files to be copied quickly and inexpensively to one or many Flash media cards.  A source card may be plugged into one slot and one or more target cards of the same or different type may be plugged into other slots. 

Virtual Hub

• US '727: Virtual hub
  Emulates a hub with multiple ports that can connect multiple multi-pin devices to a computer via one USB line, thus reducing size, weight, and power consumption as well as the need for expensive multiple internal USB connections.

 Content Recovery 

• US ‘161: Software recovery in Flash media with defective formatting
  Allows users to restore formatting and recover data on corrupted Flash cards. Following analysis of "destroyed" cards, this software tool restores card formatting while recovering data files of photos, music and other content to the maximum extent possible.
• US ‘864: Field-operable, stand-alone apparatus for media recovery/regeneration
  Enables recovery of data from and/or regeneration of damaged Flash media in the field without requiring the use of a computer. This technology permits cell phone manufacturers to repair damaged or corrupted onboard Flash media “automatically.”