| US 7,613,857 B2 | ||
| Memory device with a built-in memory array and a connector for a removable memory device | ||
| Kevin P. Kealy, Edinburgh (United Kingdom); and Maria A. Sabatini, Edinburgh (United Kingdom) | ||
| Assigned to SanDisk Corporation, Milpitas, Calif. (US) | ||
| Filed on Mar. 30, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/731,511. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2008/0244179 A1, Oct. 02, 2008 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. G06F 13/12 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 710—74 [710/38] | 13 Claims |
| 1. A memory device comprising:
a built-in memory array;
a first connector configured to connect to (i) a removable memory device comprising a memory array and a memory controller
and (ii) a removable memory device comprising a memory array without a memory controller;
a second connector configured to connect to a host device; and
circuitry operative to determine if a removable memory device connected to the first connector comprises a memory controller;
wherein the circuitry is further operative to control read/write operations to the removable memory device's memory array
if the circuitry determines that the removable memory device does not comprise a memory controller;
wherein when a connected removable memory device does not comprise a memory controller, the memory device functions as a hybrid
memory device to transfer data between the built-in memory array in the memory device and the memory array in the removable
memory device, and wherein when a connected removable memory device comprises a memory controller, the memory device functions
as an adapter for the removable memory device with the memory device acting as a passive pass-through between the host device
and the removable memory device.
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