Combination non-volatile memory and input-output card with direct memory access

• US 8,037,229 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2002
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sandisk Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Holtzman, Micky, Zer, Aviad, Pinto, Yosi, Cedar, Yoram
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart; Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, TRISHA U
• Application Number:
  US10/302,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20040103234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,246 Days
• Field of Search: 710 22- 28, 710300-302, 710/308
• US Class Current: 710/308
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/28 using burst mode transfer, e.g. direct memory access DMA, cycle steal G06F13/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/3804 Memory card connected to a computer port directly or by means of a reader/writer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/3814 Wireless link with a computer system port
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A removable electronic circuit card having both a memory module with a non-volatile mass storage memory and a separate input-output module so that data transfers may be made through the input-output module directly to and from the mass storage memory in a direct memory access (DMA) type transfer when the card is inserted into the host system but without having to pass the data through the host system. Once the host gives a DMA command, the data transfer is accomplished independently of the host system, except for the host supplying power and possibly a clock signal and other like support, during such a data transfer directly with card. The data for the transfer can be communicated between the input-output module and the exterior device through either wireless or an electrical connection means.

Claims

1. An electronic circuit card connectable to a host system, the card comprising:

a memory module including a memory controller and a non-volatile mass data storage portion;

an input-output module including an input-output controller to communicate data between the card and an external device, wherein, in response to a command from a host to which the card is connected, the card performs a data transfer between the external device and the non-volatile mass data storage memory using a direct memory access type transfer of the data between the input-output module and the mass data storage portion; and

a bus structure through which the memory controller and input-output controller each communicate autonomously with the host;

wherein the direct memory access type transfer is performed using the bus structure, and wherein the host supplies a clock signal to the card over the bus structure during the direct memory access type transfer.

2. The card of claim 1, wherein the card conforms to the SD Card standard.

3. The card of claim 1, wherein the input-output module includes an infrared transceiver.

4. The card of claim 1, wherein the input-output module includes a radio frequency transceiver.

5. The card of claim 1, wherein the input-output module includes port for a cable connection to the external device.

6. A system, comprising:

a host;

an external communication device; and

an electronic circuit card connectable to a host system, the card comprising;

a memory module including a memory controller and a non-volatile mass data storage portion;

an input-output module including an input-output controller to communicate data between the card and the external device, wherein, in response to a command from the host, the card performs a data transfer between the external device and the non-volatile mass data storage memory using a direct memory access type transfer of the data between the input-output module and the mass data storage portion; and

a bus structure through which the memory controller and input-output controller each communicate autonomously with the host;

wherein the direct memory access type transfer is performed using the bus structure, and wherein the host supplies a clock signal to the card over the bus structure during the direct memory access type transfer.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the card conforms to the SD Card standard.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the input-output module includes an infrared transceiver.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the input-output module includes a radio frequency transceiver.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the input-output module includes port for a cable connection to the external device.

11. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a socket structure whereby the card is attachable to the host.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the socket structure is part of the host.

13. A method of communicating data between a non-volatile memory module including a memory controller and a non-volatile mass data storage portion of an electronic circuit card connected with a host system and an external device, comprising:

receiving a command from the host;

communicating the data between the mass data storage portion of the memory module and the external device through an input-output module of the card using a direct memory access transfer between the non-volatile memory and the input-output module rather than through the host system, wherein the input-output module includes an input-output controller;

wherein the card includes a bus structure through which the memory controller and input-output controller each communicate autonomously with the host, wherein the direct memory access type transfer is performed using the bus structure, and wherein the host supplies a clock signal to the card over the bus structure during the direct memory access type transfer.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein data is wirelessly communicated between the input-output module and the external device through an antenna included within the input-output module.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein communicating data between the memory and the external device through the input-output module utilizes a controller in the card that also controls the transfer of data between the memory and the host system.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein during the direct memory access transfer, communicating the data to the host during the direct memory access transfer between the mass data storage portion of the memory module and the input-output module.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

receiving a command from the host to communicate the data from the external device to the mass data storage portion of the memory module, wherein the data is not provided to the host; and

communicating the data from the external device to the mass data storage portion through an input-output module of the electronic circuit card based on the direct memory access transfer between the mass data storage portion and the input-output module.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

receiving a command from the host to communicate the data from the mass data storage portion of the memory module to the external device, wherein the data is not provided by the host; and

communicating the data from the mass data storage portion of the memory module to the external device through the input-output module based on the direct memory access transfer between the mass data storage portion and the input-output module.

19. An electronic circuit card connectable to a host system, the card comprising:

a memory module including a memory controller and a non-volatile mass data storage portion;

an input-output module including an input-output controller to perform an external data transfer including receiving data from and/or transmitting data to externally to the host-card system, wherein, in response to a command from a host to which the card is connected, the card performs the external data transfer to/from the non-volatile mass data storage portion using a direct memory access type transfer of the data between the input-output module and the mass data storage portion; and

a bus structure through which the memory controller and input-output controller each communicate autonomously with the host;

wherein the direct memory access type transfer is performed using the bus structure, and wherein the host supplies a clock signal to the card over the bus structure during the direct memory access type transfer.

20. The card of claim 19, wherein said the data is image information.

21. The card of claim 20, wherein the input-output module includes an image sensor.

22. The card of claim 20, wherein the input-output module includes a lens.

23. A system, comprising:

a host; and

an electronic circuit card connectable to a host system, the card comprising;

a memory module including a memory controller and a non-volatile mass data storage portion;

an input-output module including an input-output controller to perform an external data transfer including receiving data from and/or transmitting data to externally to the system, wherein, in response to a command from the host, the card performs the external data transfer to/from the non-volatile mass data storage portion using a direct memory access type transfer of the data between the input-output module and the mass data storage portion; and

a bus structure through which the memory controller and input-output controller each communicate autonomously with the host;

wherein the direct memory access type transfer is performed using the bus structure, and wherein the host supplies a clock signal to the card over the bus structure during the direct memory access type transfer.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the data is image information.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the input-output module includes an image sensor.

26. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

a socket structure whereby the card is attachable to the host.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the socket structure is part of the host.