MEMORY CARD AND CONTROL CHIP CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING VARIOUS VOLTAGE SUPPLIES AND METHOD OF SUPPORTING VOLTAGES THEREOF

• US 20070008801A1
• Filed: 07/10/2006
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VIA Technologies Incorporated (VIA Technologies)
• Original Assignee: VIA Technologies Incorporated (VIA Technologies)
• Inventors: Chiang, Chin-Yi, Chen, Chien-Zhi
• Granted Patent: US 7,596,047 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 365/226
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 16/30 Power supply circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/14 Power supply arrangements , e.g. power down, chip selection or deselection, layout of wirings or power grids, or multiple supply levels

Abstract

A memory card and a control chip capable of supporting various voltage supplies and a method of supporting voltages thereof are provided. The memory card comprises a flash memory and a control chip for controlling the flash memory, and the control chip has a voltage regulator, a pad power supplier, a core controller and an output circuit. The voltage regulator transforms an external working voltage into a working voltage. The pad power supplier receives the external working voltage and adjusts a level of the external working voltage to output a pad working voltage according to an operating mode. The core controller receives the working voltage to work and generates a control signal. The output circuit receives the control signal and outputs a memory control signal according to a level of the pad working voltage. The control chip controls a flash memory with the memory control signal.

Claims

1. A memory card capable of supporting various voltage supplies, the memory card comprising:

a flash memory; and

a control chip for controlling the flash memory, the control chip comprising;

a voltage regulator for receiving an external working voltage and transforming the external working voltage into a working voltage;

a pad power supplier for receiving the external working voltage and adjusting a level of the external working voltage to output a pad working voltage according to an operating mode;

a core controller for receiving the working voltage to work and generating a control signal; and

an output circuit for receiving the control signal and outputting a memory control signal according to a level of the pad working voltage, wherein the control chip controls the flash memory with the memory control signal.

2. The memory card according to claim 1, wherein the external working voltage is 3.3 volts or 1.8 volts.

3. The memory card according to claim 1, wherein the pad working voltage is 3.3 volts or 1.8 volts.

4. The memory card according to claim 1, wherein the voltage regulator receives the external working voltage through a pad of the control chip.

5. The memory card according to claim 1, wherein the pad power supplier receives the external working voltage through a pad of the control chip.

6. The memory card according to claim 1, wherein t the voltage regulator outputs the working voltage through a first pad on the control chip, and the flash memory receives the working voltage through a second pad of the flash memory.

7. The memory card according to claim 1, wherein the output circuit outputs the memory control signal to the flash memory through a pad of the control chip.

8. A control chip for a flash memory, comprising:

a voltage regulator for receiving an external working voltage and transforming the external working voltage into a working voltage;

a pad power supplier for receiving the external working voltage and adjusting a level of the external working voltage to output a pad working voltage according to an operating mode;

a core controller for receiving the working voltage to work and generating a control signal; and

an output circuit for receiving the control signal and outputting a memory control signal according to a level of the pad working voltage, wherein the control chip controls the flash memory with the memory control signal.

9. The control chip according to claim 8, wherein the external working voltage is 3.3 volts or 1.8 volts.

10. The control chip according to claim 8, wherein the pad working voltage is 3.3 volts or 1.8 volts.

11. The control chip according to claim 8, wherein the voltage regulator receives the external working voltage through a pad of the control chip.

12. The control chip according to claim 8, wherein the pad power supplier receives the external working voltage through a pad of the control chip.

13. The control chip according to claim 8, wherein the voltage regulator outputs the working voltage through a first pad of the control chip, and the flash memory receives the working voltage through a second pad of the flash memory.

14. The control chip according to claim 8, wherein the output circuit outputs the memory control signal to the flash memory through a pad on the control chip.

15. A voltage supplying method for a control chip, comprising:

receiving an external working voltage and transforming the external working voltage into a working voltage;

generating a control signal according to the working voltage;

receiving the external working voltage and adjusting a level of the external working voltage to output a pad working voltage according to an operating mode; and

outputting a memory control signal to control a flash memory according to the control signal and a level of the pad working voltage.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the external working voltage is 3.3 volts or 1.8 volts.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the pad working voltage is 3.3 volts or 1.8 volts.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the control chip receives the external working voltage through a pad of the control chip.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein the control chip outputs the working voltage through a first pad of the control chip, and the flash memory receives the working voltage through a second pad of the flash memory.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein the control chip further comprises a pad, through which the control chip outputs the memory control signal to the flash memory.