Today, we’re going to take a look at the various components of a USB memory stick, and how they work together to store and transmit information. This one’s going to be brief, compared to some of the other entries in the series – there’s not as much to USB sticks as there is to, say, a keyboard or LCD screen. In any case, let’s get started.
The USB-A Connector
This is the component of the flash drive which is inserted into the USB port of your computer. It works in pretty much the same fashion as any other USB device(which makes sense; since it’s a standardized peripheral format). You just plug it in, wait for the PC to recognize the device and install any requisite firmware, and then you’re good to go.
The Memory Chip
Here’s where the actual information is stored. The memory chip of a USB drive is located on the device’s main circuit-board. Most USB sticks use the NAND flash memory format; it’s the same type of memory used in digital cameras.
Mass Storage Controller
The mass storage controller contains a very small amount of RAM and ROM, and basically functions as a very small, very simplistic on-board computer. The Mass Storage Controller is what communicates with whatever system you’ve got your USB stick plugged into (via the USB Host Controller), and, in most cases, also contains any firmware which might be present on your storage device.
The Light
Most USB sticks contain some sort of light within them to indicate what the device is doing. If it’s flashing slowly or turned off, chances are the device is safe to remove, but if it’s solid or flashing rapidly, chances are your USB stick is transferring data – and removing it could corrupt said data. This light usually consists of a small Light Emitting Diode.
Crystal Oscillator
While the mass storage controller communicates with the system and stores your firmware, the crystal oscillator controls the data output of the USB device along with the device’s clock signal (essentially, an electronic signal which is used to transmit data between your USB device and your computer).
Other Features
Occasionally, a USB device will feature a retractable USB connector or a cap to protect the USB connector, a write protection switch (flipping it on prevents any data from being modified or erased), a ring, chain, or hook to facilitate easy transportation, hardware components for testing, and/or expandable storage.
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anyone could of figured this stuff out on their own. Why didn’t you write about how each part works not what it does.
I find these articles interesting and helpful. I also find it interesting that many times someone feels it necessary to add a negative comment to each article. Not sure what they are trying to prove.