Electronic device with card interface

• US 9,367,503 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2013
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• 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: Okamoto, Kosei, Sakamoto, Hiroyuki, Fujimoto, Akihisa, Suga, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): Cleary, Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US13/948,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20140032805A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 storage device that communicates with an electronic device, the storage device comprising:

a plurality of connector pins comprising data pins and a power signal pin, the connector pins configured to be connectable to the electronic device;

an interface including a transmitter, the interface configured to execute data transfer from the storage device to the electronic device using m number of data pins among the data pins (where m is a natural number) between the storage device and the electronic device which are capable of transmitting data using n number of data pins (where n is a natural number greater than m) in a first operation mode;

a first register storing operation mode information of the storage device, the operation mode information concerning a second operation mode, the second operation mode being an operation mode to execute data transfer from the storage device to the electronic device using the n number of data pins among the data pins; and

a second register storing operation voltage information, the operation voltage information concerning an operation voltage of the storage device, wherein;

the transmitter is configured to transmit the operation mode information to the electronic device via at least one of the connector pins, when a first command for reading the operation mode information is received from the electronic device via at least one of the connector pins;

the transmitter is configured to transmit the operation voltage information to the electronic device via at least one of the connector pins, when a second command for reading the operation voltage information is received from the electronic device via at least one of the connector pins;

the interface is configured to execute data transfer from the storage device to the electronic device using the n number of data pins in the second operation mode; and

the interface is configured to switch from the first operation mode to the second operation mode and from the second operation mode to the first operation mode in accordance with a selection by the electronic device.

2. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the connector pins receives power voltage information indicating a power voltage supplied from the electronic device, the power voltage supplied via the power signal pin.

3. The storage device according to claim 2, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit a response whether the storage device is operable with the power voltage.

4. The storage device according to claim 2, wherein the power signal pin is configured to receive an initial voltage before receiving the power voltage information.

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

6. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit an address assigned to the storage device via at least one of the connector pins.

7. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the connector pins is configured to receive a third command for reading an address assigned to the storage device via at least one of the connector pins; and

wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the address via at least one of the connector pins in response to the third command.

8. The storage device according to claim 7, wherein:

at least one of the connector pins is configured to receive a fourth command for selecting the storage device, the fourth command including an address indicating portion of the storage device to be selected; and

the storage device is configured to shift to a selected state when the address included in the fourth command is identical to the address assigned to the storage device.

9. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the connector pins is configured to receive a third command for reading identification data unique to the storage device; and

the transmitter is configured to transmit the identification data via at least one of the connector pins in response to the third command.

10. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein m is equal to 1 and n is equal to 4.

11. A storage device that communicates with an electronic device, the storage device comprising:

a plurality of connector pins comprising data pins and a power signal pin, the connector pins configured to be connectable to the electronic device;

an interface including a transmitter, the interface configured to execute data transfer from the electronic device to the storage device using m number of data pins among the data pins (where m is a natural number) between the electronic device which is capable of transmitting data using n number of data pins (where n is a natural number greater than m) and the storage device in a first operation mode;

a first register storing operation mode information of the storage device, the operation mode information concerning a second operation mode, the second operation mode being an operation mode to execute data transfer from the electronic device to the storage device using the n number of data pins among the data pins and

a second register storing operation voltage information, the operation voltage information concerning an operation voltage of the storage device wherein;

the transmitter is configured to transmit the operation mode information to the electronic device via at least one of the connector pins, when a first command for reading the operation mode information is received from the electronic device via at least one of the connector pins;

the transmitter is configured to transmit the operation voltage information to the electronic device via at least one of the connector pins, when a second command for reading the operation voltage information is received from the electronic device via at least one of the connector pins;

the interface is configured to execute data transfer from the electronic device to the storage device using the n number of data pins in the second operation mode; and

the interface is configured to switch from the first operation mode to the second operation mode and from the second operation mode to the first operation mode in accordance with a selection by the electronic device.

12. The storage device according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the connector pins receives power voltage information indicating a power voltage supplied from the electronic device, the power voltage supplied via the power signal pin.

13. The storage device according to claim 12, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit a response whether the storage device is operable with the power voltage.

14. The storage device according to claim 12, wherein the power signal pin is configured to receive an initial voltage before receiving the power voltage information.

15. The storage device according to claim 14, wherein the initial voltage differs from the power voltage.

16. The storage device according to claim 11, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit an address assigned to the storage device via at least one of the connector pins.

17. The storage device according to claim 11, wherein:

at least one of the connector pins is configured to receive a third command for reading an address assigned to the storage device via at least one of the connector pins; and

wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the address via at least one of the connector pins in response to the third command.

18. The storage device according to claim 17, wherein:

at least one of the connector pins is configured to receive a fourth command for selecting the storage device, the fourth command including an address indicating portion of the storage device to be selected; and

the storage device is configured to shift to a selected state when the address included in the fourth command is identical to the address assigned to the storage device.

19. The storage device according to claim 11, wherein:

at least one of the connector pins is configured to receive a third command for reading identification data unique to the storage device; and

the transmitter is configured to transmit the identification data via at least one of the connector pins in response to the third command.

20. The storage device according to claim 11, wherein m is equal to 1 and n is equal to 4.