Multi-functional mini-memory card suitable for SFMI and USB interfaces

• US 6,745,267 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2002
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carry Computer Engineering Co Ltd
• Original Assignee: Carry Computer Engineering Co Ltd
• Inventors: Chen, Chia Li, Hsien, Hsiang An
• Primary Examiner(s): Perveen, Rehana
• Application Number:
  US10/244,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20040030818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 710/36, 710/74, 710/301, 711/100, 711/168, 711/173
• US Class Current: 710/74
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• 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

Abstract

A multi-functional mini-memory card serves for storing data and support data input and output. The multi-functional mini-memory card comprises a memory card I/O functional module; a memory for storing data; and a main controller connecting between the memory card I/O functional module and the memory. The input/output port of the multi-functional mini-memory card have eight joints, four of the eight joint is used for USB interface, and all eight joints are used for an SFMI interface. The power source joint and ground joint of the SFMI interface are identical to the power source joint and the ground joint of the USB interface, respectively. A multi-functional mini-memory card slot has eight joints, wherein four of the eight joints are suitable for USB interface and all the eight joints suitable for an SFMI interface. The joint may be male joint or female joint.

Claims

1. A multi-functional mini-memory card for storing data and support data input and output, the multi-functional mini-memory card comprising:

a memory card I/O functional module for inputting and outputting data;

a memory for storing data; and

a main controller connecting between the memory card I/O functional module and the memory for controlling the operation of the memory card I/O functional module and the memory;

characterized in that;

the input/output port of the multi-functional mini-memory card have eight joints, four of the eight joint is used for USB interface, and all eight joints are used for an SFMI interface;

the four joints used to USB interface includes a power source joint (Vcc), a ground (GND) joint, two data transfer joints (D+and D−

);

the eight joints used in SFMI interface includes a power source joint (Vcc), a ground (GND) joint, four data transfer joints (D0, D1, D2, and D3), a clock joint (CLK) and a memory card insertion signal detection joint;

wherein the power source joint and ground joint of the SFMI interface are identical to the power source joint and the ground joint of the USB interface, respectively.

2. The multi-functional mini-memory card as claim in claim 1, wherein the main controller includes:

an I/O controller for controlling the memory card I/O functional module and having function of determining an operation mode of the memory card I/O functional module to be in an input mode or in an output mode or in SFMI operation mode or in USB operation mode;

a memory controller for controlling the memory;

a formatter for formatting formats of output data to be acceptable by a receiving end;

a deformatter for deformatting the data from the receiving data for storage.

3. The multi-functional mini-memory card as claim in claim 1, wherein two of the data transfer joints of the SFMI interface are identical to the two data transfer joints of USB interface.

4. The multi-functional mini-memory card as claim in claim 3, wherein the D0 is the bit 0 in the SFMI interface and is the D+ in USB interface;

and the D1 is the bit 1 in the SFMI interface and is the D+ in USB interface.

5. The multi-functional mini-memory card as claim in claim 1, wherein after the memory card I/O functional module, main controller, and memory are integrated in the circuit board;

the circuit board has terminals of the multi-functional mini-memory card interface for being connected to the electronic application device.

6. The multi-functional mini-memory card as claim in claim 1, wherein the circuit board is a printed circuit board.

7. The multi-functional mini-memory card as claim in claim 1, wherein the memory card I/O functional module has a detecting circuit for detecting a coupling interface to be a USB interface or an SFMI interface.

8. The multi-functional mini-memory card as claim in claim 6, wherein the detecting circuit includes a power source end, an input detecting end, an output detecting end, a first diode, a second diode, a first resistor, and a second resistor wherein

Vcc is connected to the power source;

the memory card insertion detecting signal connected to an BD input detection end through the second diode which is connected positively;

the system interface and memory card insertion detecting signal is connected to a CD output detecting end through the second diode which is negatively connected;

the memory card insertion detecting signal is connected to the ground end through the second resistor; and

a first resistor is connected between the power source end and memory card insertion detecting signal.

9. The multi-functional mini-memory card as claim in claim 1, wherein the memory is one of a DRAM, EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory.

10. A multi-functional mini-memory card slot having eight joints, wherein four of the eight joints are suitable for USB interface and all the eight joints suitable for an SFMI interface.

11. The multi-functional mini-memory card slot as claim in claim 10, wherein each joint is a male joint.

12. The multi-functional mini-memory card slot as claim in claim 10, wherein each joint is a female joint.