PC card

• US 6,292,863 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1998
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TDK Corporation
• Original Assignee: TDK Corporation
• Inventors: Terasaki, Yukio, Karibe, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Rupal
• Application Number:
  US09/201,904
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 710/102, 710/131, 710/101, 710/129, 710/126, 710/36, 710/38, 713/300-340
• US Class Current: 710/313
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices

Abstract

The present invention relates to a PC card detachably installed and used for an information processing device such as a personal computer, digital-still-camera and so on to process a variety of information and its objects is to provide a PC card connectable to a plurality of information processing devices without losing the advantages of easy detachability, flexibility and portability originally owned by the PC card. A structure is formed to provide a first interface section 100 to execute data transfer between a function block supplying a predetermined function for information processing device and a portable PC (omitted in FIG. 1), and a second interface section 101 having a different interface specification from the first interface section to transfer data between the function block 2 and a desktop PC 10.

Claims

1. A PC card comprising:

a function block providing a predetermined function for an information processing device;

a first interface section executing a data transfer between the function block and a first information processing device;

a second interface section having a different specification from the first interface section, the second interface section executing a data transfer between the function block and a second information processing device;

a plurality of signal lines having at least a first signal lines connected to the first interface section, a second signal lines connected to the second interface section, and a common signal lines connected to the function block by being commonly connected to both of the first and the second signal lines through a junction section, the plurality of signal lines connected from the function block to the first interface section and/or the second interface section; and

a switching means for selecting one of the first or second interface section and connecting the selected one to the function block;

wherein the switching means has a signal line switching section to electrically connect the common signal lines to only one of the first or second signal lines on the basis of a first power source voltage supplied from the first information processing device to the first interface section and a second power source voltage supplied from the second information processing device to the second interface section.

2. A PC card as set forth in claim 1, wherein the signal line switching section has a switching circuit for selecting one of the first or second signal lines to electrically connect to the common signal lines when both of the first power voltage and the second power voltage are supplied.

3. A PC card as set forth in claim 1, wherein the signal line switching section sets one of the first signal lines or the second signal lines, which is not electrically connected to the common signal lines, relatively in the state of high impedance.

4. A PC card comprising:

a function block providing a predetermined function for an information processing device;

a first interface section executing a data transfer between the function block and a first information processing device;

a second interface section having a different specification from the first interface section, the second interface section executing a data transfer between the function block and a second information processing device;

a plurality of signal lines having at least a first signal lines connected to the first interface section, a second signal lines connected to the second interface section, and a common signal lines connected to the function block by being commonly connected to both of the first and the second signal lines through a junction section, the plurality of signal lines connected from the function block to the first interface section and/or the second interface section; and

a switching means for selecting one of the first or second interface section and connecting the selected one to the function block;

wherein the switching means has a signal line switching section setting one of the first signal lines or the second signal lines, which is not electrically connected to the common signal lines, relatively in the high impedance state.

5. A PC card comprising:

a function block providing a predetermined function for an information processing device;

a first interface section executing a data transfer between the function block and a first information processing device;

a second interface section having a different specification from the first interface section, the second interface section executing a data transfer between the function block and a section information processing device;

a plurality of signal lines having at least a first signal lines connected to the first interface section, a second signal lines connected to the second interface section, and a common signal lines connected to the function block by being commonly connected to both of the first and the second signal lines through a junction section, the plurality of signal lines connected from the function block to the first interface section and/or the second interface section; and

a switching means for selecting one of the first or second interface section and connecting the selected one to the function block;

wherein the switching means has a power source control circuit to deactivate one of the first or second interface sections by controlling voltages supplied to the first interface section and the second interface section.