USB flash-memory drive with dazzling marquee-pattern driver for multi-LED display

Patent 7126559 Issued on October 24, 2006. Estimated Expiration Date:

December 24, 2023. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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Inventors

Application

No. 10707622 filed on 12/24/2003

US Classes:

345/46, Light-emitting diodes345/905, DISPLAY DEVICE WITH HOUSING STRUCTURE714/57, Error forwarding and presentation (e.g., operator console, error display)135/16, Combined361/737, IC card or card member365/52, HARDWARE FOR STORAGE ELEMENTS439/488, WITH INDICATING OR IDENTIFYING PROVISION714/800, Parity bit345/83, Color343/702, With radio cabinet381/119, WITH MIXER315/185R, PLURAL SERIES CONNECTED LOAD DEVICES710/301, Card insertion360/97.01, Disk record361/707, Through support means348/231.2, Image file management714/6, Redundant stored data accessed (e.g., duplicated data, error correction coded data, or other parity-type data)439/79, Panel circuit adapted to move along panel plane relative to coupling part for insertion of male contact710/74For data storage device

Examiners

Primary: Hjerpe, Richard
Assistant: Nguyen, Kevin M.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

International Class

G09G 3/14

Abstract

A multi-light-emitting diode (LED) display for a USB flash drive produces a visually dazzling display. When accessed, a USB flash controller drives pulses onto an activity signal that increments a counter on a pattern-decoding generator. The pattern-decoding generator decodes the count and drives signals to data outputs. The data outputs connect to LED's, turning LED's on and off according to a display pattern. The pattern can be programmed by the USB flash controller into the pattern-decoding generator, or can be a hardwired pattern. Marquee patterns having a lit LED appearing to move down a line of LED's have more visual appeal than single LED indicators. Each data line can drive two LED's in different parts of a dual display, reducing costs. Multi-color LED's can be used to improve variety. The multiple LED's and the pattern-decoding generator can be mounted on a flexible PCB.