Flash memory card with enhanced operating mode detection and user-friendly interfacing system

• US 20020112101A1
• Filed: 04/01/2002
• Published: 08/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Estakhri, Petro, Assar, Mahmud
• Granted Patent: US 7,174,445 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/11
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/387 for adaptation of different data processing systems to different peripheral devices, e.g. protocol converters for incompatible systems, open system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4081 Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/0042 Universal serial bus [USB]
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/1045 Read-write mode select circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/20 Memory cell initialisation circuits, e.g. when powering up or down, memory clear, latent image memory

Abstract

An interfacing system facilitating user-friendly connectivity in a selected operating mode between a host computer system and a flash memory card. The interfacing system includes an interface device and a flash memory card. The interfacing system features significantly expanded operating mode detection capability within the flash memory card and marked reduction in the incorrect detection of the operating mode. The interface device includes a first end for coupling to the host computer and a second end for coupling to the flash memory card, while supporting communication in the selected operating mode which is also supported by the host computer system. The flash memory card utilizes a fifty pin connection to interface with the host computer system through the interface device. The fifty pin connection of the flash memory card can be used with different interface devices in a variety of configurations such as a universal serial mode, PCMCIA mode, and ATA IDE mode. Each of these modes of operation require different protocols. Upon initialization with the interface device, the flash memory card automatically detects the selected operating mode of the interface device and configures itself to operate with the selected operating mode. The operating mode detection is accomplished by sensing unencoded signals and encoded signals. The encoded signals are encoded with a finite set of predetermined codes. Each predetermined code uniquely identifies a particular operating mode.

Claims

1. A flash memory card for coupling to a host computer system and performing data storage operations in plurality of selected operating modes without requiring configuration instructions from an external source, the flash memory card comprising:

a. a flash memory module for executing a write operation, a read operation, and an erase operation;

b. a controller coupled to the flash memory module, the controller processing an unencoded signal originating from the host computer system and an encoded signal in the flash memory card and configuring the flash memory card to the selected operating mode in response to the unencoded signal and the encoded signal;

c. encoding means for applying to a preencoded signal originating from the host computer system a finite set of predetermined codes, each predetermined code uniquely identifying an operating mode, thereby transforming the preencoded signal into the encoded signal, the encoding means being coupled to the controller; and

d. sensing means for monitoring the unencoded signal and the encoded signal, the sensing means being coupled to the controller.

2. The flash memory card according to claim 1 wherein the finite set of predetermined codes is programmed into the controller.

3. The flash memory card according to claim 1 wherein the encoded signal is an ATA IDE operating mode signal pin selected from HA3, HA4, HA5, HA6, HA7, HA8, HA9, and HA10.

4. The flash memory card according to claim 1 further comprising a fifty pin connector end configured to couple to an interface device.

5. The flash memory card according to claim 1 further comprising a sixty-eight pin connector end configured to couple to an interface device.

6. An interfacing system for coupling a peripheral device to a host computer system supporting communication in a selected operating mode with the peripheral device and for allowing the peripheral device to automatically detect and configure the peripheral device to utilize the selected operating mode, the interfacing system comprising:

a. an interface device having a first end configured for coupling to the host computer system and a second end configured for coupling to the peripheral device, wherein the first end and the second end support communication in the selected operating mode;

b. a controller integrated into the peripheral device, the controller processing an unencoded signal originating from the host computer system and an encoded signal in the peripheral device and configuring the peripheral device to the selected operating mode in response to the unencoded signal and the encoded signal;

c. encoding means for applying to a preencoded signal originating from the host computer system a finite set of predetermined codes, each predetermined code uniquely identifying an operating mode, thereby transforming the preencoded signal into the encoded signal, the encoding means being coupled to the controller; and

d. sensing means for monitoring the unencoded signal and the encoded signal, the sensing means being coupled to the controller.

7. The interfacing system according to claim 6 wherein the finite set of predetermined codes is programmed into the controller.

8. The interfacing system according to claim 6 wherein the peripheral device is a flash memory card.

9. The interfacing system according to claim 8 wherein the encoded signal is an ATA IDE operating mode signal pin selected from HA3, HA4, HA5, HA6, HA7, HA8, HA9, and HA10.

10. The interfacing system according to claim 6 wherein the second end of the interface device supports a fifty pin connection.

11. The interfacing system according to claim 6 wherein the second end of the interface device supports a sixty-eight pin connection.

12. The interfacing system according to claim 6 wherein the interface device is implemented as a PCMCIA interface.

13. The interfacing system according to claim 6 wherein the interface device is implemented as an ATA IDE interface.

14. The interfacing system according to claim 6 wherein the interface device is implemented as a universal serial bus interface.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the step of sequentially analyzing the signals includes the following steps:

a. sensing within the peripheral device an encoded signal originating from the host computer system and an unencoded signal originating from the host computer system; and

b. encoding a preencoded signal originating from the host computer system with a finite set of predetermined codes, each predetermined code uniquely identifying an operating mode, thereby transforming the preencoded signal into the encoded signal.

17. The method according to claim 16 further comprising the step of configuring the peripheral device into a preliminary operating mode before the step of encoding the preencoded signal.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the preliminary operating mode is an ATA IDE mode.

19. The method according to claim 15 wherein the peripheral device is a flash memory card.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the encoded signal is an ATA IDE operating mode signal pin selected from HA3, HA4, HA5, HA6, HA7, HA8, HA9, and HA10.

21. The method according to claim 15 wherein the selected operating mode is a PCMCIA mode.

22. The method according to claim 15 wherein the selected operating mode is a universal serial bus mode.

23. The method according to claim 15 wherein the selected operating mode is an ATA IDE mode.

15. A method of automatically configuring a peripheral device to communicate with a host computer system in a selected operating mode, comprising the following steps:

a. coupling the peripheral device to the host computer system, the coupling step establishing a communication channel between the peripheral device and the computer system;

b. powering the peripheral device;

c. sequentially analyzing within the peripheral device plurality of signals until the selected operating mode is identified; and

d. automatically configuring the peripheral device into the selected operating mode in response to the signals.