Memory card and data processing system

• US 7,161,834 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Renesas Technology Corporation (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Yasuhiro, Shikata, Atsushi, Kasai, Hideo, Kumahara, Chiaki, Odate, Hidefumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Phung; Anh
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DANG T
• Application Number:
  US11/271,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20060062052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 365/185.18, 365/185.23, 365/185.22, 365/158, 365/189.07, 365/230.06, 365/185.33
• US Class Current: 365/185.18
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 16/30 Power supply circuits

Abstract

A memory card and a microcomputer with nonvolatile memory wherein operation under two different types of power supply specifications achieved are provided. A MultiMediacard includes a flash memory and with the flash memory. When the controller judges the level of supply voltage supplied from host equipment, operates as follows: the controller judges whether detecting point corresponding to voltage level 1.8V system been exceeded. After the judgment of excess, the controller judges whether detecting point corresponding to the voltage level system has been exceeded. When the 1.8V system, flash memory to operate the controller causes the 1.8v-system operation mode without driving regulators voltage level shifters. When the supply voltage level 3.3V system, the controller drives the regulators and the level shifters convert the voltage level causes the flash memory operate the 3.3V-system operation mode.

Claims

1. A memory card, which is capable of connecting to a host system and receiving an operation voltage from said host system, comprising:

system information including operation voltage information for said memory card;

a nonvolatile memory; and

a controller which controls operations associated with said nonvolatile memory and comprises a voltage generating circuit,

wherein said nonvolatile memory is capable of operating at a first voltage level,

wherein when said operation voltage information indicates that said memory card is operable at said first voltage level and said memory card is supplied with a voltage at said first voltage level as said operation voltage from said host system, said controller performs control to deactivate said voltage generating circuit and supplies said voltage at said first voltage level to said nonvolatile memory, and

wherein when said operation voltage information indicates that said memory card is operable at a second voltage level different from said first voltage level, and said memory card is supplied with a voltage at said second voltage level as said operation voltage from said host system, said controller performs control to activate said voltage generating circuit for generating voltage at said first voltage level from said voltage at said second voltage level and supplies said generated voltage to said nonvolatile memory.

2. A memory card according to claim 1,

wherein said controller is capable of outputting said system information to said host system.

3. A memory card according to claim 2,

wherein said controller is capable of receiving a first command, which is for instructing to change voltage level of said operation voltage from said second voltage level to said first voltage level, from said host system.

4. A memory card according to claim 3,

wherein said controller further comprises a control circuit, which is capable of operating at said first voltage level.

5. A memory card according to claim 4,

wherein said controller further comprises an IO circuit including a level shift circuit, and

wherein said level shift circuit shifts a signal level received from said host system from said second voltage level to said first voltage level, when said memory card is supplied said voltage at said second voltage level as said operation voltage from said host.

6. A memory card according to claim 5,

wherein said first voltage level is lower than said second voltage level.

7. A memory card according to claim 1,

wherein said voltage generating circuit comprises a voltage level detection circuit.