Combination non-volatile memory and input-output card with direct memory access

• US 20040103234A1
• Filed: 11/21/2002
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sandisk Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Pinto, Yosi, Holtzman, Micky, Cedar, Yoram, Zer, Aviad
• Granted Patent: US 8,037,229 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/301
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/28 using burst mode transfer, e.g. direct memory access DMA, cycle steal G06F13/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/3804 Memory card connected to a computer port directly or by means of a reader/writer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/3814 Wireless link with a computer system port
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A removable electronic circuit card having both a memory module with a non-volatile mass storage memory and a separate input-output module so that data transfers may be made through the input-output module directly to and from the mass storage memory in a direct memory access (DMA) type transfer when the card is inserted into the host system but without having to pass the data through the host system. Once the host gives a DMA command, the data transfer is accomplished independently of the host system, except for the host supplying power and possibly a clock signal and other like support, during such a data transfer directly with card. The data for the transfer can be communicated between the input-output module and the exterior device through either wireless or an electrical connection means.

Claims

1. An electronic circuit card connectable to a host system, the card comprising:

a memory module including a non-volatile mass data storage portion; and

an input-output module to communicate data between the card and an external device, wherein, in response to a command from a host to which the card is connected, the card performs a data transfer between the external device and the nonvolatile mass data storage memory using a direct memory access type transfer of said data between the input-output module and the mass data storage portion.

2. The card of claim 1, wherein the memory module further includes a memory controller and the input-output module further includes an input-output controller, the card further comprising:

a bus structure whereby data and commands are exchanged between the host and card, wherein the memory controller and the input-output controller are both independently connected the bus structure and wherein said direct memory access type transfer is preformed using the bus structure.

3. The card of claim 2, wherein the host supplies a clock signal to the card over the bus structure during the direct memory access type transfer.

4. The card of claim 1, wherein the memory module further includes a combined memory and input-output controller, the card further comprising:

a bus structure whereby data and commands are exchanged between the host and card, wherein the combined controller is connected the bus structure and wherein said direct memory access type transfer is preformed without using the bus structure.

5. The card of claim 4, wherein the direct memory access type transfer is performed independently of the host'"'"'s clock.

6. The card of claim 4, wherein the host can access said data during said direct memory access type transfer.

7. The card of claim 1, wherein the card conforms to the SD Card standard.

8. The card of claim 1, wherein the input-output module includes an infrared transceiver.

9. The card of claim 1, wherein the input-output module includes a radio frequency transceiver.

10. The card of claim 1, wherein the input-output module includes port for a cable connection to the external device.

11. A system, comprising:

a host;

an external communication device; and

an electronic circuit card connectable to a host system, the card comprising;

a memory module including a non-volatile mass data storage portion; and

an input-output module to communicate data between the card and the external device, wherein, in response to a command from the host, the card performs a data transfer between the external device and memory using a direct memory access type transfer of said data between the input-output module and the mass data storage portion.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the memory module further includes a memory controller and the input-output module further includes an input-output controller, the card further comprising:

a bus structure whereby data and commands are exchanged between the host and card, wherein the memory controller and the input-output controller are both independently connected the bus structure and wherein said direct memory access type transfer is preformed using the bus structure.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the host supplies a clock signal to the card over the bus structure during the direct memory access type transfer.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the memory module further includes a combined memory and input-output controller, the card further comprising:

a bus structure whereby data and commands are exchanged between the host and card, wherein the combined controller is connected the bus structure and wherein said direct memory access type transfer is preformed without using the bus structure.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the direct memory access type transfer is performed independently of the host'"'"'s clock.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the host can access said data during said direct memory access type transfer.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the card conforms to the SD Card standard.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the input-output module includes an infrared transceiver.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the input-output module includes a radio frequency transceiver.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the input-output module includes port for a cable connection to the external device.

21. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a socket structure whereby the card is attachable to the host.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the socket structure is part of the host.

23. A method of communicating data between a non-volatile memory module of an electronic circuit card connected with a host system and an external device, comprising issuing a command from the host to the card and, in response, communicating data between the memory module and the external device through an input-output module of the card using a direct memory access transfer between the non-volatile memory and the input-output module rather than through the host system.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein data is wirelessly communicated between the input-output module and the external device through an antenna included within the input-output module.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein communicating data between the memory and the external device through the input-output module utilizes a controller in the card that also controls the transfer of data between the memory and the host system.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein communicating data between the host and the external device through the input-output module utilizes a controller in the card that also controls the transfer of data between the input-output module and the host system.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the host can access the data during the direct memory access transfer.

28. An electronic circuit card connectable to a host system, the card comprising:

a memory module including a non-volatile mass data storage portion; and

an input-output module to perform an external data transfer including receiving data from and/or transmitting data to externally to the host-card system, wherein, in response to a command from a host to which the card is connected, the card performs the external data transfer to/from the non-volatile mass data storage portion using a direct memory access type transfer of said data between the input-output module and the mass data storage portion.

29. The card of claim 28, wherein said data is image information.

30. The card of claim 29, wherein the input-output module includes an image sensor.

31. The card of claim 29, wherein the input-output module includes a lens.

32. The card of claim 28, wherein the memory module further includes a memory controller and the input-output module further includes an input-output controller, the card further comprising:

a bus structure whereby data and commands are exchanged between the host and card, wherein the memory controller and the input-output controller are both independently connected the bus structure and wherein said direct memory access type transfer is preformed using the bus structure.

33. The card of claim 32, wherein the host supplies a clock signal to the card over the bus structure during the direct memory access type transfer.

34. The card of claim 28, wherein the memory module further includes a combined memory and input-output controller, the card further comprising:

a bus structure whereby data and commands are exchanged between the host and card, wherein the combined controller is connected the bus structure and wherein said direct memory access type transfer is preformed without using the bus structure.

35. The card of claim 34, wherein the direct memory access type transfer is performed independently of the host'"'"'s clock.

36. The card of claim 34, wherein the host can access said data during said direct memory access type transfer.

37. A system, comprising:

a host; and

an electronic circuit card connectable to a host system, the card comprising;

a memory module including a non-volatile mass data storage portion; and

an input-output module to perform an external data transfer including receiving data from and/or transmitting data to externally to the system, wherein, in response to a command from the host, the card performs the external data transfer to/from the non-volatile mass data storage portion using a direct memory access type transfer of said data between the input-output module and the mass data storage portion.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein said data is image information.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the input-output module includes an image sensor.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the input-output module includes an image sensor.

41. The system of claim 37, wherein the memory module further includes a memory controller and the input-output module further includes an input-output controller, the card further comprising:

a bus structure whereby data and commands are exchanged between the host and card, wherein the memory controller and the input-output controller are both independently connected the bus structure and wherein said direct memory access type transfer is preformed using the bus structure.

42. The system of claim 38, wherein the host supplies a clock signal to the card over the bus structure during the direct memory access type transfer.

43. The system of claim 37, wherein the memory module further includes a combined memory and input-output controller, the card further comprising:

a bus structure whereby data and commands are exchanged between the host and card, wherein the combined controller is connected the bus structure and wherein said direct memory access type transfer is preformed without using the bus structure.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the direct memory access type transfer is performed independently of the host'"'"'s clock.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the host can access said data during said direct memory access type transfer.

46. The system of claim 37, further comprising:

a socket structure whereby the card is attachable to the host.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the socket structure is part of the host.