Adapter apparatus for interfacing an insertable and removable digital memory device to a host port

Abstract

Each device of a family of removable digital media devices may be plugged into a host to permits the host to store data in it or to retrieve data from it. The form factors of the digital media devices and the connector system used by them are compact for minimizing the volume of space occupied in portable devices and for easy storage. Preferably, the digital media devices of the family use serial memory requiring few power and signal lines, so that few electrical contacts are required. For example, a small number of durable contact pads form the contact arrays on the digital media devices, which in conjunction with corresponding contact pads mounted into a suitable socket provide for easy and convenient insertion and removal and for robust and reliable electrical contact over a long insertion lifetime. The digital media devices interface to the host either directly or through adapters.

What is clamed is:  
     
         1 . An adapter to interface a digital media device to a port of a host, comprising: 
 a host port connector;    a socket for receiving a digital media device; and    a circuit mapping the host port connector to the socket.    
     
     
         2 . An adapter as in    claim 1    wherein: 
 the host port connector comprises a serial data conductor, a power conductor, a ground conductor, and a clock conductor; and  
 the serial data conductor, the power conductor, the ground conductor, and the clock conductor are mapped to respective contact pads in the socket.  
 
     
     
         3 . An adapter as in    claim 2    wherein the socket conforms to an SPI protocol.  
     
     
         4 . An adapter for interfacing a memory device to a port of a host, comprising: 
 a host port connector;    a socket having a plurality of surface pad contacts and an orifice for receiving a generally planar memory device having a plurality of surface pads; and    a circuit mapping the host port connector to the surface pad contacts of the socket.    
     
     
         5 . An adapter as in    claim 4    wherein: 
 the host port connector comprises a serial data conductor, a power conductor, a ground conductor, and a clock conductor; and  
 the serial data conductor, the power conductor, the ground conductor, and the clock conductor are mapped to respective contact pads in the socket.  
 
     
     
         6 . An adapter as in    claim 5    wherein the socket conforms to an SPI protocol.  
     
     
         7 . An adapter for interfacing a memory device to a port of a host, comprising: 
 a host port connector comprising a serial data contact, a clock contact, and a ground contact;    a socket having a plurality of surface pad contacts and an orifice for receiving a generally planar memory device having a plurality of surface pads; and    a circuit mapping the data contact, the clock contact, and the ground contact of the host port connector to respective ones of the surface pad contacts of the socket.    
     
     
         8 . An adapter as in    claim 7    wherein the surface pad contacts of the socket conform to an SPI interface protocol.  
     
     
         9 . An adapter as in    claim 7    wherein the surface pad contacts of the socket conform to an NXS interface protocol.  
     
     
         10 . An adapter for interfacing a memory device to a port of a host, comprising: 
 a host port connector comprising a serial data contact, a clock contact, and a ground contact;    a socket having a plurality of contacts and an orifice for receiving a generally planar memory device about 15 mm wide; and    a circuit mapping the data contact, the clock contact, and the ground contact of the host port connector to respective ones of the contacts of the socket.