JP2005267054A - Read/write device with special function for flash memory card - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a read/write device with a special function for a memory card adding a new use to a memory card by using an auxiliary storage part of the memory card. <P>SOLUTION: The read/write device with the special function for a flash memory card comprises a converting means 2 for carrying out conversion into a format for transfer to a personal computer; an SM connector 3 connected to the converting means 2; a USB connector 4; a first control mode change-over switch SW1 for carrying out a change-over of a control mode of the converting means 2 between a USB connected read/write mode SW1-(L) and a USB connected keyboard mode SW1-(H); and a second control mode change-over switch SW2 carrying out a change-over of the control mode of the converting means 2 between a normal read/write mode SW2-(L) and a read/write mode SW2-(H) of special data. By operating the first and second control mode change-over switches SW1 and SW2, read/write of the special data recorded in a special data area of an SM5 inserted in a slot of the SM connector 3 is carried out. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a read / write device with a special function for a flash memory card, in which special data can be written to or read from a spare storage unit prepared in a flash memory card (including a stick type). It is.

Currently, compact flash (registered trademark) (hereinafter referred to as CF), microdrive (registered trademark) (hereinafter referred to as MD), smart media (registered trademark) (hereinafter referred to as “CF”) used in information devices including digital cameras. Rewriting is repeated on flash memory cards (hereinafter simply referred to as memory cards) such as SM, Memory Stick (registered trademark) (hereinafter referred to as MS), SD cards, and multimedia cards (registered trademark) (hereinafter referred to as MMC). In addition to the user-usable main storage unit, the data storage unit has a spare storage unit in units of several blocks, and the user-usable main storage unit block is defective. If it occurs, the block including the location where the defect occurred is not included in the block of the spare storage unit on a block basis. Replaced by a mark "00", it is set to disable the block.
Utility Model Registration No.3074562

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a read / write device with a special function for a memory card that adds a new use to the memory card by using a spare storage unit of the memory card.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. The first invention is that a part of the spare storage unit provided in the memory card is used as a special data writing area, and the special data writing area is usually used as the special data writing area. A read / write device with a special function for a memory card, characterized in that use is prohibited and data in the special data write area can be read and written as necessary.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a conversion means for converting to a format for transfer to a personal computer, a memory card connector connected to the conversion means, a USB connector, and a control mode of the conversion means for a read / write mode SW1- (L) or a first control mode switch for switching to a USB-connected keyboard mode SW1- (H), and the control mode of the conversion means is a normal read / write mode SW2- (L) or a special data read / write mode SW2. A second control mode changeover switch for switching to (H), and the control mode is changed by operating these first and second control mode changeover switches, so that the normal read of the memory card connected to the card connector Write or read special data recorded in the special data writing area of the spare storage A read / write device with a special function for a memory card.

  According to the present invention, special data can be read / written to / from a spare storage unit that is normally prohibited from writing or reading data by operating the first and second changeover switches. it can.

  For example, conventionally, when several people use one PC, an ID and a password are taught to a person who has authority to use. In this case, if the password is complicated, it will not be remembered, so it will be written in a memo, and password leakage will be a problem.

  The advent of the device of the present invention makes it possible to use a memory card as a memory for a complicated password. Therefore, the trouble of teaching a password to a person who has authority to use a PC is eliminated, and convenience when a password is required. There is a real benefit that increases. The apparatus of the present invention can usually be used as a read / write apparatus for a USB-connected memory card.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, wherein 1 is an SM read / write device, 2 is a conversion means comprising an IC chip having a computer, a ROM and a card interface, and 3 and 4 are connected to the conversion means 2. SM connector and USB connector. SW1 and SW2 are two control mode changeover switches connected to the conversion means 2, and output an L signal when tilted to one, and output an H signal when tilted to the other. 5 is SM and 6 is PC.

  The operation software of the SM read / write device 1 is stored in the ROM, and this software reads the values (L or H) of the control mode change-over switches SW1 and SW2 when the power is turned on. It is supposed to work with.

By operating the first control mode switch SW1, the following two modes are switched.

SW1- (L): SM connection / write mode with USB connection SW1- (H): Keyboard mode with USB connection

Further, by operating the second control mode changeover switch SW2, the following two modes can be switched in the SW1- (L): USB connection SM read / write mode.

SW2- (L): Conventional SM read / write mode SW2- (L): Special function SM read / write mode

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of the mode switching operation software when the control mode switching switches SW1 and SW2 are operated. When both switches are switched, the following control mode is set.
(A) When the two control mode changeover switches are SW1- (L) and SW2- (L), the SM read / write mode is equivalent to the conventional one, and the user-usable main memory is used as the memory card memory. Let the PC 6 recognize it. In other words, the SM read / write device 1 performs the same read / write operation as that of a normal USB-connected SM read / write device currently sold at mass retailers. For example, if a 32 MB SM is inserted into the SM connector 3 slot, it is recognized as a 32 MB memory card.
(B) When the two control mode changeover switches are set to SW1- (L) and SW2- (H), the special function SM read / write mode is set, and the PC 6 is recognized as the memory card memory unit. The spare storage unit is recognized as a memory card having a capacity of several KB, and the SM read / write device 1 operates in the same manner as a normal USB-connected SM read / write device. That is, in the (B) mode, the spare storage unit can be read / written.
(C) When the control mode changeover switch is set to SW1- (H), the USB connection keyboard mode is set. That is, the PC 6 recognizes it as a normal USB-connected keyboard.

  Here, in the normal SM, “FFh” is written in the Data Status Area (516 bytes) of each block in the case of a normal block, and a bad block mark “00h” is written in the case of a bad block. Whether the block is a normal block is determined based on the value of (516 bytes).

  Each block has a reserved area (512 to 515 bytes) in addition to the data status area (516 bytes). This reserved area is an area prepared for future function expansion and is not currently used. This area is a fixed value of “FFFFFFFFh”.

  In the conventional SM read / write device, this Reserved Area (512 to 515 bytes) is not checked, but only the Data Status Area (516 bytes) is checked to determine whether or not the block is defective based on the presence or absence of a defective block mark. .

  In the present invention, first, when a bad block mark is intentionally written in the Data Status Area (516 bytes) of an arbitrary block in the spare storage unit, and actually becomes a bad block in the main storage unit used by the user, the block is replaced. Thus, the identification mark “01234567” is written in the Reserved Area (512 to 515 bytes), and it can be determined whether the block is intentionally defective or a genuine defective block. This process is performed when the (B) mode is set, and the operation when the (B) mode is set will be described below.

  First, when SM5 is inserted into the slot of the SM connector 3, a bad block created intentionally as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is searched. If no SM5 is found, the data status area (516 bytes) of any one block is searched. , “00”, “01234567” is written in the Reserved Area (512 to 515 bytes), and is transmitted to the PC 6 as a drive of one block capacity (0.5 KB). If a block created intentionally is found, it is transmitted to the PC 6 as a memory card with a capacity of 0.5 KB.

  As described above, by setting the mode (B), the SM5 spare storage unit can be used as a normal user-usable storage unit as necessary. In a normal SM read / write device other than the present embodiment, blocks that are intentionally defective blocks cannot be read from or written to the spare storage unit, so that special data stored in the spare storage unit of SM5 can be concealed. .

  Next, the operation when the control mode (C) is set will be described.

  First, in the control mode of (B), for example, two text files in which an ID and a password are described are created, IDs and passwords used for logging in to the PC 6 are written in the files, and these files are stored in the above-mentioned file. Write in the bad block created in step 1.

  For example, when the mode (B) is set as described above, reading / writing to the spare storage unit of SM5 becomes possible, and it is transmitted to the PC 6 as a removable media drive having a capacity of 0.5 KB. Special data such as passwords can be written in the procedure.

The user first creates the following file on the PC 6 using a text editor or the like.
File name: password.txt
File content: ABCDEFGH01234567

  Next, copy the created file to a removable media drive with a 0.5 KB capacity.

  The SM read / write device 1 writes the copied file in the data area in the special data writing area. At that time, the ECC calculation is performed and the result is recorded in the same manner as when writing in the normal data area. This ensures the reliability of data written in the special data writing area.

Next, when logging into the PC 6 in the control mode (C),
(1) When the control mode of the SM read / write device 1 is switched to the control mode of (C) and the PC 6 is activated and the login screen appears, the SM 5 is inserted into the device 1. The apparatus 1 detects the insertion of SM5 and determines whether the inserted SM5 is a medium on which a bad block has been intentionally created. (Figure 3)

  If it can be determined that the media has been intentionally created, two text files containing the ID and password are read.

  Since the PC 6 is waiting for the password, the Tab, ID, Tab, password, and Enter key code are transmitted to the PC 6 and the login is completed.

  Here, if it cannot be determined that the medium has intentionally created a defect, no operation is performed.

  Further, when the PC operation is finished halfway and temporarily leaves the PC 6, the SM 5 is removed from the apparatus 1 so that another person cannot operate the PC 6. Then, the device 1 detects that the SM 5 has been pulled out, and performs the following operation to lock the PC 6.

  (2) Specifically, for example, when the OS of the PC 6 is Windows NT (registered trademark), Windows 2000 (registered trademark), or Windows XP (registered trademark) of Microsoft Corporation, standard commands for the lock function of the PC, Ctrl + Alt + Del, Enter key The code is transmitted and the PC 6 is locked.

  While the PC is locked, the PC is waiting for a password as in the case of login. Therefore, when returning to the PC 6 and continuing the operation again, the slot of the SM connector 3 of the SM read / write device 1 is used. When SM5 is inserted, the operation (1) is performed, whereby the login is completed again and the lock function is released.

The block diagram of one Example of this invention. Flowchart of mode switching operation software. The flowchart when inserting SM5 into the slot of SM connector.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 SM read / write device 2 Conversion means 3 SM connector 4 USB connector 5 SM
6 PC

Claims (2)

A part of the spare storage unit provided in the memory card is used as a special data writing area, and the special data writing area is normally disabled, and special data can be written to and read from the special data writing area as necessary. A read / write device with a special function for a memory card, characterized by being made possible. Conversion means for converting to a format for transfer to a personal computer, a memory card connector connected to the conversion means, a USB connector, and a control mode of the conversion means is a USB connection read / write mode SW1- (L) or USB connection. The first control mode switch for switching to the keyboard mode SW1- (H) and the control mode of the conversion means are switched to the normal read / write mode SW2- (L) or the special data read / write mode SW2- (H). A second control mode changeover switch, and by operating these first and second control mode changeover switches, the normal read / write of the memory card connected to the card connector by switching the control mode or the spare storage unit Read / write special data recorded in the special data writing area A read / write device with special functions for memory cards.

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