Efficient connection between modules of removable electronic circuit cards
First Claim
1. An electronic circuit card connectable to a host system, the card comprising:
- a first module including a first controller;
a second module including a second controller;
a bus structure connected to both the first controller and the second controller in parallel, whereby data and commands can be exchanged between the host and the first and second modules when the card is connected to the host; and
one or more control lines connected between the first controller and the second controller to exchange signals whereby the two modules can interact independently with the host while appearing as a single unit to the host.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A removable electronic circuit card has multiple modules connected to the card'"'"'s bus in parallel so that each module can exchange commands and data independently with the host. According to a first aspect of the present invention, this achieved by a controller-to-controller interface whereby the modules can facilitate their interactions with the host. In a first set of embodiments, the modules are on a single card, while in a second set of embodiments the modules are distributed across multiple cards, where a first card attaches to the host and other cards attach to the first card rather than directly to the host. In all of these cases, the host sees the multiple modules as a single card having a single module. In a further aspect of the present invention, the card or cards are able to communicate with the host in more than one protocol.
101 Citations
58 Claims
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1. An electronic circuit card connectable to a host system, the card comprising:
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a first module including a first controller;
a second module including a second controller;
a bus structure connected to both the first controller and the second controller in parallel, whereby data and commands can be exchanged between the host and the first and second modules when the card is connected to the host; and
one or more control lines connected between the first controller and the second controller to exchange signals whereby the two modules can interact independently with the host while appearing as a single unit to the host. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An electronic circuit card system comprising:
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a first card connectable to a host, the first card including a first controller;
a second card connectable to the first card, the second card including a second controller;
a bus structure connected to both the first controller and the second controller in parallel when the first and second cards are connected, whereby data and commands are exchanged between the host and the first and second controllers when the cards are connected and the first card is connected to the host; and
one or more control lines connected between the first controller and the second controller to exchange signals when the first and second cards are connected, whereby the two cards can interact independently with the host while appearing as a single card to the host. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. An first electronic circuit card connectable to a host system, the card comprising:
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a first module including a first controller;
a connector for the attachment of a second electronic circuit card, the second card having a second module including a second controller;
a bus structure connected to both the first controller and the connector for connecting the second controller in parallel, whereby data and commands are exchanged between the host and the first and second modules when the first card is connected to the host and the second card; and
one or more control lines connected between the first controller and the connector for connecting the second controller to exchange signals whereby the two modules can interact independently with the host while appearing as a single unit to the host. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. An first electronic circuit card connectable to a second electronic circuit card, the card comprising:
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a first module including a first controller;
a connector for the attachment of the second electronic circuit card, the second card connectable to a host system and having a second module including a second controller;
a bus structure connected to both the first controller and the connector for connecting the second controller in parallel, whereby data and commands are exchanged between the host and the first and second modules when the first card is connected to the second card and the second card is connected to the host; and
one or more control lines connected between the first controller and the connector for connecting the second controller to exchange signals whereby the two modules can interact independently with the host while appearing as a single unit to the host. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A system, comprising:
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a host;
a first electronic circuit card connectable to the host system, the card comprising a first module including a first controller;
a second module including a second controller;
a bus structure connected to both the first controller and the second controller in parallel when the first and second modules are connected to the host, whereby data and commands can be exchanged between the host and the first and second controllers; and
one or more control lines connected between the first controller and the second controller to exchange signals when the first and second modules are connected to the host, whereby the two modules can interact independently with the host while appearing as a single card to the host. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 58)
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57. The card of claim E.4, wherein the second card does not conform mechanically to an SD Card standard.
Specification