Electronic device with card interface

• US 7,237,052 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Memory Corporation (Kioxia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Fujimoto, Akihisa, Suga, Masao, Sakamoto, Hiroyuki, Okamoto, Kosei
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Christopher E.
• Application Number:
  US11/600,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20070057046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 221 Days
• Field of Search: 710/11, 710/63, 710/301, 710/302, 307/43, 358/1.13, 703/13, 713/300, 326/37, 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 710/301
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/14 Handling requests for interconnection or transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4018 with data-width conversion
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4022 using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network G06F13/4009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/409 Mechanical coupling back panels H05K7/1438
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/42 Bus transfer protocol, e.g. handshake; Synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4282 on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/10 Plug-in assemblages of components , e.g. IC sockets

Abstract

When initializing a card-shaped device inserted in a card interface, operation mode acquiring means incorporated in an electronic device acquires operation mode information, stored in a register file incorporated in the card-shaped device, by a predetermined procedure using a predetermined pin. Operation mode setting means incorporated in the electronic device executes signal assignment on a plurality of data pins peculiar to an operation mode indicated by the acquired operation mode information, thereby switching a data transfer width, and allowing the card-shaped device to operate in the operation mode.

Claims

1. A method of operating a storage device accessed by an electronic device, the storage device having connector pins that include data pins, a command pin, and a power signal pin, the method comprising:

receiving a first command for reading operation mode information from the electronic device via the command pin, the operation mode information indicating one of first and second operation modes;

transmitting the operation mode information to the electronic device via one of the connector pins in response to the first command;

receiving data from the electronic device using one of the data pins in the first operation mode;

receiving data from the electronic device using four data pins in the second operation mode;

receiving a second command for reading operation voltage information from the electronic device via the command pin, the operation voltage information concerning an operation voltage of the storage device;

transmitting the operation voltage information to the electronic device via the command pin in response to the second command; and

receiving a third command for setting an operation mode of the storage device into one of the first and second operation modes.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving power voltage information concerning a power voltage, the power voltage supplied from the electronic device via the power signal pin.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising transmitting a response if the storage device can operate with the power voltage.

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising receiving an initial voltage from the electronic device via the power signal pin before receiving the power voltage information.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the initial voltage differs from the power voltage.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a fourth command for reading an address, assigned to the storage device, from the electronic device via the command pin; and

transmitting the address to the electronic device via the command pin in response to the fourth command.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a fifth command for selecting the storage device, the fifth command including an address indicating a storage device to be selected; and

shifting the storage device to a selected state if the address included in the fifth command is identical to the address assigned to the storage device.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a sixth command for reading identification data, unique to the storage device, from the electronic device via the command pin; and

transmitting the identification data to the electronic device via the command pin in response to the sixth command.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising shifting the storage device from a Ready State to an Identification State after transmitting the identification data.

10. A method of operating a storage device accessed by an electronic device, the storage device having connector pins that include data pins, a command pin, and a power signal pin, the method comprising:

receiving a first command for reading operation mode information from the electronic device via the command pin, the operation mode information indicating first and second operation modes;

transmitting the operation mode information to the electronic device via one of the connector pins in response to the first command;

receiving data from the electronic device using one of the data pins in the first operation mode;

receiving data from the electronic device using four data pins in the second operation mode;

receiving a second command for reading operation voltage information from the electronic device via the command pin, the operation voltage information concerning an operation voltage of the storage device;

transmitting the operation voltage information to the electronic device via the command pin in response to the second command;

receiving a third command for setting an operation mode of the storage device into one of the first and second operation modes; and

setting the operation mode of the storage device in response to the third command.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising receiving power voltage information concerning a power voltage, the power voltage being supplied from the electronic device via the power signal pin.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising transmitting a response if the storage device can operate with the power voltage.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising receiving an initial voltage from the electronic device via the power signal pin before receiving the power voltage information.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the initial voltage differs from the power voltage.

15. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a fourth command for reading an address assigned to the storage device from the electronic device via the command pin; and

transmitting the address to the electronic device via the command pin in response to the fourth command.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a fifth command for selecting the storage device, the fifth command including an address indicating a storage device to be selected; and

shifting the storage device to a selected state if the address included in the fifth command is identical to the address assigned to the storage device.

17. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a sixth command for reading an identification data, unique to the storage device, from the electronic device via the command pin; and

transmitting the identification data to the electronic device via the command pin in response to the sixth command.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising shifting the storage device from a Ready State to an Identification State after transmitting the identification data.