Electronic device with card interface

• US 9,965,423 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2016
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Memory Corporation (Kioxia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Memory Corporation (Kioxia Corporation)
• Inventors: Okamoto, Kosei, Sakamoto, Hiroyuki, Fujimoto, Akihisa, Suga, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): Cleary, Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US15/151,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20160253281A1
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• 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. An electronic device that communicates with a storage 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,

the electronic device comprising an interface,

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) in a first operation mode,

the interface configured to execute data transfer from the storage device to the electronic device using n number of data pins among the data pins (where n is a natural number greater than m) in a second operation mode,

the interface configured to receive an operation mode information of the storage device, the operation mode information concerning the second operation mode,

the interface configured to receive an operation voltage information concerning an operation voltage of the storage device,

the interface configured to receive the operation mode information from the storage device via at least one of the connector pins, when a first command for reading the operation mode information is transmitted to the storage device via at least one of the connector pins,

the interface configured to receive the operation voltage information from the storage device via at least one of the connector pins, when a second command for reading the operation voltage information is transmitted to the storage device via at least one of the connector pins,

the interface 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 electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to transmit power voltage information to at least one of the connector pins, the power voltage information indicating a power voltage supplied to the storage device via the power signal pin.

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

4. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the interface is configured to transmit an initial voltage to the power signal pin before transmitting the power voltage information.

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

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

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

the interface is configured to transmit a third command for reading an address to at least one of the connector pins, the address assigned to the storage device, and

the interface is configured to receive the address via at least one of the connector pins in response to the third command.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein:

the interface is configured to transmit a third command for selecting the storage device to at least one of the connector pins, the third 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 third command is identical to the address assigned to the storage device.

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

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

the interface is configured to receive 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. An electronic device that communicates with a storage 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,

the electronic device comprising an interface,

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) in a first operation mode,

the interface configured to execute data transfer from the electronic device to the storage device using n number of data pins among the data pins (where n is a natural number greater than m) in a second operation mode,

the interface configured to receive an operation mode information of the storage device, the operation mode information concerning the second operation mode,

the interface configured to receive an operation voltage information concerning an operation voltage of the storage device,

the interface configured to receive the operation mode information from the storage device via at least one of the connector pins, when a first command for reading the operation mode information is transmitted to the storage device via at least one of the connector pins,

the interface configured to receive the operation voltage information from the storage device via at least one of the connector pins, when a second command for reading the operation voltage information is transmitted to the storage device via at least one of the connector pins,

the interface 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 electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the interface is configured to transmit power voltage information to at least one of the connector pins, the power voltage information indicating a power voltage supplied to the storage device via the power signal pin.

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

14. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the interface is configured to transmit an initial voltage to the power signal pin before transmitting the power voltage information.

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

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

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

the interface is configured to transmit a third command for reading an address to at least one of the connector pins, the address assigned to the storage device, and

the interface is configured to receive the address via at least one of the connector pins in response to the third command.

18. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein:

the interface is configured to transmit a third command for selecting the storage device to at least one of the connector pins, the third 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 third command is identical to the address assigned to the storage device.

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

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

the interface is configured to receive 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.