<P> USB flash drives use the USB mass storage device class standard, supported natively by modern operating systems such as Windows, Linux, macOS and other Unix - like systems, as well as many BIOS boot ROMs . USB drives with USB 2.0 support can store more data and transfer faster than much larger optical disc drives like CD - RW or DVD - RW drives and can be read by many other systems such as the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, DVD players, automobile entertainment systems, and in a number of handheld devices such as smartphones and tablet computers, though the electronically similar SD card is better suited for those devices . </P> <P> A flash drive consists of a small printed circuit board carrying the circuit elements and a USB connector, insulated electrically and protected inside a plastic, metal, or rubberised case, which can be carried in a pocket or on a key chain, for example . The USB connector may be protected by a removable cap or by retracting into the body of the drive, although it is not likely to be damaged if unprotected . Most flash drives use a standard type - A USB connection allowing connection with a port on a personal computer, but drives for other interfaces also exist . USB flash drives draw power from the computer via the USB connection . Some devices combine the functionality of a portable media player with USB flash storage; they require a battery only when used to play music on the go . </P> <P> USB flash drives were invented at M - Systems, an Israeli company, in a US patent filed in April 5, 1999 by Amir Ban, Dov Moran and Oron Ogdan, all M - Systems employees at the time . The product was announced by the company in September 2000, and was first sold by IBM in 8MB capacity starting December 15, 2000 . </P> <P> Pua Khein - Seng from Malaysia is considered by many to be the "Father of Pen Drive". He is notable for incorporating the world's first single chip USB flash controller . Pua hails from Sekinchan, Selangor, Malaysia . Pua founded Phison Electronics based in Taiwan with four other partners and is believed to have produced the world's first USB flash drive with system - on - chip technology . </P>

When was the first usb flash drive invented
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