Systems and methods for power reduction in systems having removable media devices

• US 20060138230A1
• Filed: 02/21/2006
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wurzburg, Henry
• Granted Patent: US 7,210,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/435
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0701 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for power management
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07732 the record carrier having a housing or construction similar to well-known portable memory devices, such as SD cards, USB or memory sticks housings for electrical equipment in general, see H05K5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0013 by galvanic contacts, e.g. card connectors for ISO-7816 compliant smart cards or memory cards, e.g. SD card readers connectors in general H01R13/00; connectors for SIM cards used in mobile phones or the like H04B1/3816
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0086 the connector comprising a circuit for steering the operations of the card connector

Abstract

In some embodiments, if a card in a card reader has not been accessed in a first specified amount of time, the card may be powered down. The card may be powered back up if an attempt is made to access the card. In some embodiments, if a memory card is in the memory card slot of the card reader, but has not been accessed in a second specified amount of time, the card reader may be electrically disconnected from the host controller if a sideband signal is available to signal the card reader when to electrically reconnect.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processor;

a host controller coupled to the processor; and

a card reader coupled to the host controller;

wherein the card reader is operable to apply power to a memory card in the card reader; and

wherein the card reader is operable to discontinue applying power to the memory card in the card reader without the processor being powered down, if the memory card has not been accessed in a first specified amount of time.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the card reader is internal to a computer system housing the processor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the card reader is external to a computer system housing the processor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory card is a flash memory card.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first specified amount of time is approximately in a range of 0 to 10 seconds.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein if the memory card is accessed, the system is operable to apply power to the memory card.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the host controller provides a peripheral bus interface for the card reader.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the host controller is a universal serial bus (USB) host controller and the card reader is a USB card reader.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is operable to power down the processor if the memory card has not been accessed for a second specified amount of time.

10. A method, comprising:

applying power to a memory card in a card reader coupled to a computer;

detecting whether the memory card has been accessed during a first specified amount of time;

if the memory card has not been accessed during the first specified amount of time, removing power from the memory card, independent from a shutdown process of the computer; and

if the memory card has been accessed during the first specified amount of time, continuing to power the memory card.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the memory card is a flash memory card.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first specified amount of time is approximately in a range of 0 to 10 seconds.

13. The method of claim 10, the method further comprising:

if the memory card is accessed, applying power to the memory card.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the computer provides a peripheral bus interface for the card reader.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the computer comprises a universal serial bus (USB) host controller and the card reader is a USB card reader.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising

if the memory card has not been accessed for a second specified amount of time, powering down the processor.

17. A method, comprising:

applying power to a memory card in a card reader coupled to a computer;

detecting whether the memory card has been accessed during a first specified amount of time;

if the memory card has not been accessed during the first specified amount of time, removing power from the memory card, independent from a shutdown process of the card reader; and

if the memory card has been accessed during the first specified amount of time, continuing to power the memory card.

18. A system, comprising:

a processor;

a host controller coupled to the processor; and

a card reader coupled to the host controller;

wherein the card reader is operable to apply power to a memory card in the card reader; and

wherein the card reader is operable to discontinue applying power to the memory card in the card reader without the card reader being powered down, if the memory card has not been accessed in a first specified amount of time.

19. A card reader, comprising:

a housing; and

one or more slots operable to receive one or more memory cards, wherein the one or more slots are comprised in the housing;

wherein the card reader is operable to apply power to a memory card inserted into a slot of the one or more slots of the card reader; and

wherein the card reader is operable to discontinue applying power to the memory card, independent of a shut down process of a host controller coupled to the card reader, if the memory card has not been accessed in a first specified amount of time.

20. A card reader, comprising:

a housing; and

one or more slots operable to receive one or more memory cards, wherein the one or more slots are comprised in the housing;

wherein the card reader is operable to apply power to a memory card inserted into a slot of the one or more slots of the card reader; and

wherein the card reader is operable to discontinue applying power to the memory card, without a host controller coupled to the card reader being powered down, if the memory card has not been accessed in a first specified amount of time.