WO1999041673A1

WO1999041673A1 - Multi-module adapter

Info

Publication number: WO1999041673A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/002658
Authority: WO
Inventors: Raymund Eisele; Judith Eisele
Original assignee: Smartdisk Corporation
Priority date: 1998-02-11
Filing date: 1999-02-08
Publication date: 1999-08-19
Also published as: AU2592399A; US6189055B1

Abstract

An adapter (1A) which can be plugged into a floppy disk drive of a computer can receive a plurality of user insertable and removable memory modules (16A) therein and provide access to the memory modules by the computer for reading and/or writing thereto. The adapter (1A) has a frame (15A) having an exterior form designed to be insertable into a floppy drive and accommodate the plurality of modules (16A). The frame (15A) houses interface circuitry (3) for facilitating the transferring of data between the adapter (1A) and a read/write head of a floppy disk drive. The adapter (1A) provides a plurality of recesses (23A-E) with contacts (19A) for coupling with corresponding contacts of memory modules (16A) when inserted therein, providing a path for transferring data to and from the modules (16A).

Description

MULTI-MODULE ADAPTER

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to the following interrelated and

commonly assigned applications and patents, the subject matter of which

is hereby incorporated by reference:

pending application 08/ , , (Atty Dkt. SMD-0008) filed

January 26, 1998, entitled "ADAPTER";

pending application 08/873,247 (Atty Dkt. SMD-0005) filed June

1 1, 1997, entitled "SMART DATA STORAGE DEVICE";

pending application 08/867,496 (Atty Dkt. LWBR-0020D1) filed

June 2, 1997, entitled "SMART-DISKETTE DEVICE";

pending application 08/514,382 (Atty Dkt. LWBR-0020) filed

August 11, 1995, entitled "POCKET INTERFACE UNIT (PIU) FOR A

SMART-DISKETTE";

pending application 08/420,796 (Atty Dkt. LWBR-0006C1) filed

APRIL 12, 1995, entitled "SMART DATA STORAGE DEVICE" which

is a continuation of 07/947,570 (abandoned), which is a continuation of 07/448,093, now U. S. Patent 5,159,182;

pending application 08/479,747 (Atty Dkt. LWBR-0013D1) filed

June 7, 1995, entitled "COMMUNICATION INTERFACE ELEMENT

RECEIVABLE INTO A MEDIA DRIVE" which is a continuation of

5 07/712,897, now U. S. Patent 5,457,590;

pending provisional application 60/036,672 filed March 11 , 1997,

entitled "PROCESS FOR OPERATING A SMART CARD ADAPTER

DEVICE";

U. S. Patent 5,471,038 entitled "SMART-DISKETTE

l o READ/WRITE DEVICE HAVING FIXED HEAD"; and

U. S. Patent 5,584,043 entitled "APPARATUS HAVING A

SMART CARD ACCOMMODATED BY A DISKETTE FRAME

CONTAINING PROCESSOR MEMORY AND BATTERY POWER FOR

INTERFACING WITH A STANDARD DISKETTE DRIVE."

15

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of The Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of computer

devices, and in particular, to an adapter element in the shape of a diskette

for insertion into a floppy disk drive, which is designed to receive a

plurality of memory modules or cards therein.

2. Background Information

There is known a so-called "smart-diskette," which is a device

having the external shape of, for example, a standard 3-1/2 inch diskette,

and which contains therein, instead of and/or in addition to a magnetic

medium (disk), interface and processing circuitry for providing particular

functionality to the device. The known smart-diskette circuitry includes

an interface for transferring data between other components provided on

the device and/or inserted into the device, and a magnetic head of a

standard floppy disk drive into which the device can be inserted. In

various forms, the smart-diskette device may include a microprocessor for controlling the device and performing various tasks, such as data

encryption. On-board memory may be provided as well in the form of, for

example, RAM (random access memory), ROM (read only memory),

EEPROM (electronically erasable/programmable read only memory),

and/or Flash memory, for storing programs and data. The device circuitry

may be provided in the form of discrete components or an application

specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

U. S. Patent No. 5,159,182, and copending application S. N.

08/420,796 (Atty Docket No. LWBR 0006C1), disclose embodiments of a

smart-diskette insertable element with magnetic interface, processor,

power supply and optional display and keypad, designed to be inserted

into a standard 3-1/2 inch floppy disk drive of a host computer, i.e.,

electronic data processing (EDP) equipment, such as a desk-top personal

computer (PC) or notebook computer, for example.

An exemplary embodiment of the smart-diskette insertable element

disclosed in the above-mentioned patent and application, has a processor

with some built-in program/data memory, additional memory for storing

data and/or programs, and an interface designed to facilitate the exchange

of data between the device and a floppy disk drive read/write head. A driver and coil of the interface convert signals from the processor into the

required magnetic form and provide them to the read/write head of a

floppy disk drive, and likewise convert signals received from the floppy

disk drive read/write head into the required form for use by the processor.

A significant advantage of the smart-diskette insertable element is

that, by virtue of its insertability into the standard, ubiquitous, floppy disk

drive, and mterfaceability therewith, it is possible to carry-out a variety of

operations with the processor and/or memory on the element. These

include but are not limited to encryption and decryption of data and/or

verification of user identity. Such operations are accomplished without

requiring any specially designed interface or plug-in boards which might

be suitable only for use with a limited number of computer systems.

Another advantageous feature of the smart-diskette insertable element is

its ability to store additional data and/or programs in on-board and/or add-

on memory connected with the on-board processor. This considerably

increases the potential areas of application for the element.

The smart-diskette element disclosed in the above patent and

application, may be equipped with a battery power source supplying

power to the electronic components within the element, and/or a

- 5 - generator/alternator, with associated regulator circuitry, driven by the

rotation of a floppy disk drive spindle.

As mentioned, the interface of the smart-diskette insertable element

is designed to allow data to be exchanged with the read/write head of a

floppy disk drive, and one way this can be achieved is by locating an

electromagnetic component on the element, e.g., one or more coils, to be

in the vicinity of the read/write head of the floppy disk drive when the

element is inserted into the drive, and which generates magnetic field

information equivalent to that generated by a magnetic disk of a standard

floppy diskette. In this way, the interface simulates a magnetic floppy

diskette. This property of the interface allows data to be transferred under

control of the on-board processor to the EDP, e.g., data which enables user

identification to be verified, thereby providing security to the EDP

equipment, or any of a number of other operations, as would be

recognized by one skilled in the art. As processor capabilities expand and

memory devices with increasing capacity become smaller, the smart-

diskette takes on the potential for more and more useful applications.

Related U. S. Patent 5,471,038 discloses a read/write unit with a

read/write head and optional electrical contacts, but without the standard disk driving and head moving parts, for use in a desk-top PC or notebook

computer to communicate with a smart-diskette. By eliminating the drive

motor and moving read/write heads, a significant amount of energy which

would otherwise expended by the use of such moving parts is conserved.

Further, such a read/write unit, since it eliminates bulky drive and

head motors, can be made more compact than a standard floppy disk

drive, thereby reducing the overall size and weight requirements for the

computer in which it is installed.

Related copending application 08/514,382 discloses a pocket

interface unit (PIU) for use with a smart-diskette. Pocket calculators and

diary devices are known and gaining acceptance with busy executives, for

example. However, such devices have numerous limitations and

disadvantages. For example, although such devices can interface with a

desk-top computer to download application programs and/or data, for

example, or to upload data entered on the pocket device to the desk-top

computer, to do so currently requires inconvenient cabling, and/or a

special interface unit, e.g., PCMCIA, with associated costs. Some devices

use infra-red beams to communicate between the device and the PC, but

these are subject to atmospheric and distance limitations, or may be

- 7 - subject to errors due to dust or dirt on a lens, for example.

In addition, such pocket devices are generally limited to a single

special application, such as a phone directory, or a golf-handicap

calculator, and do not generally provide the range of capabilities of a

notebook computer, for example. Pocket-sized pagers and cellular

telephones are also known. However, these respective devices do not

generally have the capability of functioning as anything except a pager or

telephone, that is, they are generally devices which are dedicated to a

single function. Therefore, the fully-equipped, fully-functional executive

may be burdened by having to carry around a variety of separate devices,

which further disadvantageously cannot readily interface with one

another.

The PIU, disclosed in the copending application, for use with a

smart-diskette, overcomes these and other problems, as well as providing

other advantages over the prior art.

Related U. S. Patent 5,584,043 discloses a smart-diskette adapted to

receive at least one memory and/or processor card, such as an ATM,

patient information, or bank debit card, FlashPROM card, or the like. For

example, Figure 5a of the patent illustrates an embodiment adapted for receiving at least one mini-chip card. This disclosed device could be used

with the recently developed MMC (MultiMediaCard made by

Siemens/SanDisk), or the SSFDC also called a SmartMediaCard (SMC,

made by Toshiba).

The so-called MultiMediaCards (MMCs) provide small,

transportable audio/video media storage in the form of a card substrate

carrying a memory, and an optional processor in some cases, which can be

inserted into a number of different media recording/playback devices

specifically adapted to receive the MMCs. The MMC memory currently

can store, for example, about 8 megabytes of digitized video and/or audio

signals. Typically, contacts on the MMC are be used to connect and

transfer the digitized video/audio to a media recorder or playback device.

However, if it was desired to load such data onto an MMC from a

personal computer or vice versa, until the advent of the smart-diskette

embodiment disclosed in the above mentioned patent, which is adapted to

receive at least one memory card, such as an MMC, a special add-on

device would have been required.

A variety of so-called Flash memory devices (FlashPROMs) have

also become known and are more and more widely used, for example, in digital cameras. The above-mentioned MMCs may use Flash memory or

any other type of non-volatile memory. However, presently, FlashPROMs

typically have a capacity of only about 8 megabytes each, which may limit

their usefulness under some circumstances, e.g., for application when

more storage capacity is required.

As mentioned, to make full use of the MMCs as proposed, until

now, a user would need an entirely new recording/playback device

designed with a port for interconnecting with the MMCs to make use of

them in their home. In other words, the existing conventional user

playback/recording equipment does not generally interface with the newly

developed MMCs.

Therefore, a need existed for an adapter device which could permit

use of the new MMCs with the existing conventional electronic

equipment, such as home/auto recording/playback equipment. Related

copending application (Atty Dkt. SMD-0008) meets this need

and discloses an adapter for use in adapting a conventional cassette tape

playback/recording device with a plurality of Flash memory devices,

MMCs, or the like, which store digitized audio, for example. The adapter

provides a way of adapting one or more MMCs to conventional recording

- 10 - playback devices, such as a conventional audio or video cassette player.

The adapter inserted into a conventional tape device interfaces the tape

device with one or more removable storage circuits (e.g., MMCs) which

store digital audio and/or video data. By accommodating a number of

MMCs at once, a user can advantageously record and/or playback an

extended audio or visual work with the adapter.

Of course, MMCs, Flash-memory devices, and the like, can be put

to other uses besides storing audio and/or video/image data for use in a

home or automobile system. They can be used to store any type of digital

data imaginable. However, the inventive adapter disclosed in the

copending application is in the form of a tape cassette, i.e., audio, video,

or digital (e.g., DAT). While digital tape drives are available as relatively

expensive add-on devices for personal computers, these tape drives are not

as ubiquitous as the floppy disk drive which are provided with practically

every personal computer as a standard feature.

In view of the above background information, to take further

advantage of some of the possibilities of MMCs, Flash-memory devices,

and the like, and to overcome problems in the art, the inventors have

invented the improved adapter described in detail below.

- 11 - SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, a principle object of this invention to provide an

improved smart-diskette adapter, in particular, a SmartMultiAdapter (a

which provides advantages over the prior art and solves the problems in

the prior art.

It is, therefore, a further principle object of this invention to provide

a method and apparatus for adapting a plurality of memory modules (e.g.,

MMCs) to a commonly used personal computer storage and retrieval

device, such as a conventional 3-1/2 inch floppy disk drive. The term

memory modules as used herein refers to modules having at least memory,

and perhaps an optional processor in some cases.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method and

apparatus that solves the above mentioned problems so that the purchase

of additional costly recording/playback equipment to use such memory

modules, e.g., MMCs, with a personal computer, or the like, is

unnecessary.

- 12 - According to an aspect of the invention, up to 5 MMCs can be

inserted at once into respective sockets on an adapter according to the

invention. Two modules are insertable at the left edge of the adapter, two

at the right of the adapter, and one at the rear (outer) edge of the adapter.

5 The adapter with one or more memory modules is insertable into a floppy

disk drive front edge (inner edge) first.

According to another aspect of the invention, the adapter provides

for playback of music and/or image data, for example, from one or more

memory modules, via the floppy disk drive of a personal computer.

l o According to another aspect of the invention, music and/or image

data, for example, can be recorded on one or more memory modules via

the personal computer floppy disk drive.

These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished

by the method and apparatus disclosed herein.

15

- 13 - BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the invention will

become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the

drawings in which:

Fig. la is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of

the invention for use with MMC modules;

Fig. lb is an illustration of an MMC module to be used with the

adapter of Fig. la;

Fig. 2a is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of

the invention for use with SSFDC/SMC modules; and

Fig. 2b is an illustration of an SSFDC/SMC module to be used with

the adapter of Fig. 2a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention will now be described in more detail by example with

reference to the embodiments shown in the Figures. It should be kept in

mind that the following described embodiments are only presented by way

- 14 - of example and should not be construed as limiting the inventive concept

to any particular physical configuration.

Fig. la shows an exemplary embodiment of the invention, generally

indicated as 1A. In particular, an insertable frame 15 A, in the shape and

size of a floppy diskette housing, houses one or more batteries 2. magnetic

interface (e.g., a coil) 3 which is in or adjacent to slot 4, and a

driver/converter (A/D-D/A) 5. The magnetic interface 3 at slot 4 is

arranged to magnetically couple with the read/write head of a floppy disk

drive (not shown) when the adapter is inserted therein, to permit the

exchange of data therewith. The driver/converter 5 converts digital data

signals from the processor 6 into an analog signal form typically used by

floppy disk drives (MFM) and drives the magnetic interface 3 therewith.

The driver/converter 5 likewise converts analog signals picked-up by the

magnetic interface 3 from the read/write head into digital form for use by

the processor 6. The processor 6 is coupled to on-board memory 7, which

may contain programs and/or data and provides storage which can be used

by the processor 6 in carrying out its operations. The processor 6 could be

a Motorola 6805, or the like, for example. The one or more batteries 2

provide power to the adapter components. A spindle recess 9 is provided

- 15 - on the frame 15 A which accommodates a floppy disk drive spindle when

the adapter 1 A is inserted in a drive. An optional generator or alternator

and associated regulator circuitry 14 (shown in Fig. 2a) could be provided

on-board which would be driven by the floppy disk drive spindle in use to

provide a recharging of the one or more batteries 2.

A number of recesses 23A-E are provided in the frame 15 A, and

contacts 19A are disposed therein for providing connection between the

processor 6 and a respective memory module inserted therein. Fig. lb

shows a memory module 16A which has corresponding contacts thereon.

Although four contacts are shown for illustration purposes, this number

may vary depending on the memory module and adapter. Three contacts

would probably be sufficient to provide power, ground and signal in the

most rudimentary case. However, some contacts to provide address lines,

control lines, and the like, are possible. The contacts are illustrated in a

line, however other configurations are possible. In short, the number,

configuration and function of the contacts is dependent on the type of

memory module used, and the invention is not limited to any particular

number or configuration or function.

Lines from the contacts 19A in each of the recesses 23A-E are

- 16 - routed to the processor 6. As one skilled in the art would realize,

depending on the memory modules used, data may output from the

memory modules in serial or parallel form, and this could be by separate

dedicated data and/or address and/or control lines, or a shared bus

structure. The lines from the contacts could be multiplexed by the

addition of a multiplexer, for example. Such details are within the scope

of knowledge of those skilled in the art, and as such, need not be described

here in detail. The invention is not intended to be limited to any particular

memory module or data communication protocol.

The user removable memory modules 16A may comprise only

memory, e.g., Flash-memory, and connectors, i.e., there may be no

significant processor power on the module 16A itself. As known in the

art, some types of memory modules may contain a rudimentary state

machine logic for handling addressing of memory cells therein, for

example, while others may have on-board more significant processing

capabilities, for handling addressing, refreshing, etc.

Further, the removable memory modules 16A could be, for

example, the type that are typically used in digital cameras. Since the

insertable frame 15A is designed to fit into a personal computer (PC)

- 17 - floppy disk drive, e.g., a 3-1/2 inch floppy disk drive, pictures taken with a

digital camera and stored on a removable memory module 16A could thus

be transferred to a personal computer for editing and the like. The picture

data so transferred may appear to the computer user as standard a JPEG

(compressed) picture format file, for example, on a standard floppy

diskette. The user can access the pictures from the removable memory

module 16A using the standard disk operations of the operating system of

the PC. The user can. for example, read or write to the memory, get a

directory of the pictures on the memory device, copy, delete, and view

with a standard PC picture viewer, etc., just as if using a standard floppy

diskette. An individual insertable memory module currently may store on

the order of 2 to 16 megabytes. However, with the adapter 1 A, which

accommodates up to 5 modules, has an overall storage capacity which is

multiplied by 5. This is advantageous for storing relatively long audio

and/or visual passages, for example.

Processor 6 could be programmed to perform compression and

decompression of data so that memory is used more efficiently.

Encryption and decryption of private and/or sensitive data is an option as

well. Where transmitting data over public telephone lines may pose a security risk, the adapter 1 A could be useful to encrypt and store such data

in memory modules 16A which can then be transported in a relatively

small package to a remote site for decryption through another adapter 1 A.

The data can be password protected through interaction between the on-

5 board processor 6 in the adapter 1 A and a personal computer.

As mentioned, besides pictures, audio and multimedia data can be

conveniently transferred to and from a PC using this adapter 1 A with

memory modules 16A. Further, the memory modules 16A could be used

to provide a backup of important hard disk data, or to transfer data from

l o one PC to another, as would be apparent to one skilled in the art.

The adapter 1A could be used to store to memory modules 16A

data, including audio and/or visual information, obtained from the Internet

by a personal computer, for example.

Phone numbers and names stored on a personal computer address

15 book could be transferred to the memory modules 16A with the adapter

1 A, and then used in a cellular phone, or other telephone communication

device, adapted to receive memory modules 16A. Virtually any sort of

data stored in a personal computer could be transferred to memory

modules 16A with the adapter 1A, and conveniently transferred to another

- 19 - device.

Since an adapter 1A with 5 modules 16A therein may hold over 40

megabytes of data uncompressed, such an arrangement may be used to

conveniently transport personal data files, i.e., spreadsheets, word-

processor documents, database files, and the like, thus eliminating the

need of carrying an expensive and fragile laptop computer having a hard

disk drive storing such data thereon. One or more such adapters 1 A with

modules 16A could be conveniently and safely carried and then used in

another personal computer at a remote destination. Since the data is stored

in non-volatile memory, it is more safely carried through airport metal

detectors and the like, than ordinary floppy disks which can be

accidentally erased by such machines. Further, they are not subject to

scratching like conventional compact disks, for example.

As mentioned above, digital images can be stored in the memory

modules 16A, either from a PC or from a digital camera device, such as

Intel's 971 PC camera or the Polaroid PDC 300, for example. When

placed in an adapter 1 A, such images can be transferred to another PC

anywhere in the world over the Internet.

Under the control of an application program, when used the first

- 20 - time, a unique number can be assigned to each memory module 16A and

stored therein. The application program further keeps track of what files

are stored on which module 16 A and this information can be stored on the

respective module 16A as an index or directory. The index/directory can

later be read by another application program so that the desired data can

be accessed. This can all be handled according to standard disk operating

system (DOS) parameters and formats, or can be handled in a non-

standard as an additional way to prevent unauthorized access to the data.

Fig. 2a shows just one of many possible alternate embodiments, in

particular, an embodiment designed for use with 2 SSFDCs 16B (i.e.,

SmartMediaCards - SMCs), which have a larger external size and use

different interconnecting contacts 19B. In this illustrated embodiment,

only two recesses 23F-G are provided due to space constraints.

(Note that although it may appear so from the schematic drawing of

Fig. 2a, the modules 16B would not actually extend into the space of

spindle recess 9, at least not to a point where they interfered with a floppy

disk drive spindle.)

It will be understood that the above description of the present

invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations,

- 2 1 - and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and

range of equivalents of the appended claims.

22

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An adapter for insertion into a floppy disk drive, comprising:

a frame having the external shape of a floppy diskette and having a

plurality of recesses for accommodating a respective plurality of insertable

memory modules; and

interface circuitry housed in the frame which provides an interface

between a read/write head of a floppy disk drive and memory modules

when inserted in the recesses.

2. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the frame has the

shape and size of a 3-1/2 inch floppy diskette.

3. The adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of

recesses are adapted to receive at least one of a plurality of standard

memory modules, the plurality of standard memory modules including:

multi-media cards (MMCs); and

smart media cards (SMCs or SSFDCs).

The adapter according to claim 3, wherein the recesses are

- 23 - adapted for MMCs, and wherein there are provided five recesses on the

frame.

5. The adapter according to claim 3, wherein the recesses are

adapted for SMCs or SSFDCs, and wherein there are provided two

recesses on the frame.

6. The adapter according to claim 3, wherein the interface

circuitry includes:

respective contacts disposed in respective ones of the

plurality of recesses which couple with corresponding respective contacts

on respective memory modules when inserted in the respective recesses;

a magnetic interface which is adapted to magnetically couple

with a read/write head of a floppy disk drive when the adapter is inserted

in the floppy disk drive; and

a processor, coupled to the contacts, which is operable to

receive and transmit signals to and from respective memory modules

through the respective contacts, and to receive and transmits signals to and

from the magnetic interface.

- 24 -

7. The adapter according to claim 6, further comprising:

a memory connected to the processor which stores data

and/or programs used by the processor; and

wherein the magnetic interface comprises a magnetic transducer

which is operable to send and receive magnetic signals to and from a

floppy disk drive read/write head, and a driver/converter connected to the

transducer and the processor which is operable to convert signals from the

transducer to a form useful to the processor, convert signals from the

processor to a form used by a floppy disk drive, and to drive the

transducer with the converted signals from the processor.

8. The adapter according to claim 7, further comprising at least

one battery which is connected to provide power to the interface circuitry

and memory modules.

9. The adapter according to claim 6, wherein the processor

includes programming to perform at least one of:

encryption of data;

- 25 - decryption of data;

compression of data; and

decompression of data.

10. The adapter according to claim 6, wherein the processor

includes programming to perform interactive password checking to verify

authorized use of the adapter and/or the memory modules.

1 1. A method of storing and/or retrieving data to and/or from a

plurality of memory modules with a computer having a floppy disk drive

comprising utilizing the adapter according to claim 1.

12. The method according to claim 1 1, further comprising:

storing a unique identifier in a memory module when the

memory module is first accessed using the adapter; and

storing information on the memory module indicating what

data is stored on a memory module.

13. A method of transferring picture data which is stored on a

- 26 - memory module by a digital camera to a computer having a floppy disk

drive, comprising utilizing the adapter according to claim 1.

14. A method of transferring telephone number data from a

computer having a floppy disk drive to a hand-held telephone adapted to

receive at least one memory module, comprising utilizing the adapter

according to claim 1.

15. A method of transferring audio and/or video data to or from

at least one memory module, comprising utilizing the adapter according to

claim 1.

16. An adapter comprising:

a housing having the shape and size of a 3-1/2 inch floppy diskette

housing, and having at least two recesses with respective contacts therein

for receiving and connecting to memory modules inserted therein:

a processor coupled to the contacts in the recesses to receive and

transmit data to and from memory modules inserted in the recesses;

memory coupled to the processor which stores data used by the

- 27 - processor;

a transducer which magnetically interfaces with a read/write head of

a floppy disk drive when the adapter is inserted in the floppy disk drive;

a driver and converter circuit which receives and transmits signals

to and from the processor and the transducer, converts signals to and from

analog and digital formats, drives the transducer with analog signals

converted from digital signals received from the processor, and provides

digital signals to the processor converted from analog signals from the

transducer; and

at least one battery connect to provide power to the adapter

processor, memory and driver and converter circuit, and to any memory

modules inserted in the adapter recesses.

17. A device for transferring data between a data processing

machine and a plurality of memory cards, the data processing machine

having a disk drive for receiving a removable disk storage unit and for

exchanging data with the removable disk storage unit, the device

comprising:

a housing insertable into the disk drive, the housing having a

- 28 - plurality of recesses for receiving memory cards therein and supporting

the memory cards when the housing is inserted into the disk drive; and

means, disposed within the housing, for transferring data

between the disk drive of the data processing machine and the plurality of

memory cards.

18. The adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of

memory modules comprise a carrier having thereon at least memory

circuitry.

19. The adapter according to claim 18, wherein the at least

memory circuitry comprises memory circuitry and associated processing

circuitry.

20. The adapter according to claim 8, further comprising

electrical energy producing means, coupled to the at least one battery, in

the form of one of:

a generator driveable by a floppy disk drive spindle; and

an alternator driveable by a floppy disk drive spindle.

- 29 -