JP3493518B2 - Memory card having multi-interface and its conversion adapter - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a memory card having a multi-interface and its conversion adapter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Along with the release of digital products, small memory cards having many different standards are on the market. For example, STONE card, SmartMedia
a card, MMC card, Memory Stick card, CompactFlash (registered trademark) card, and the like. These memory cards are commercially available with a relatively high distribution rate. This type of memory card is light, thin,
It has short and small characteristics, meets the needs of data storage in digital products, and has reached the capacity of megabytes. Therefore, it is very convenient when using digital products such as digital cameras.

[0003]

The above-mentioned conventional memory card has the following problems. <B> Since the memory card is used with it inserted in the product, it is necessary to perform the processing by the computer in order to read the data stored in the memory card. Moreover, since this type of memory card is not a standard product that can be adapted to a normal computer, it must be used through the following method when connecting to a computer.

Using a card reader. This kind of card reader is designed for each memory card. For example, SmartMedia
Each of the a card, the MMC card, the Memory Stick card, and the CompactFlash card has a dedicated card reader. The memory card can finally be accessed through the card reader by connecting the card reader to the interface hub of the computer and then inserting the memory card into the card reader.

Using a floppy disk adapter. The size of this type of floppy disk adapter is 3.5
Same as an inch floppy. The floppy disk adapter has a connection slot for inserting a memory card. With the memory card still inserted in the floppy disk adapter, the floppy disk adapter is inserted into the 3.5-inch floppy drive of the computer to read / write data.

The above-mentioned two conventional methods have the following problems. (A) Many card readers can read data, but cannot write directly. (B) When reading and writing via the floppy disk adapter, the access speed is significantly reduced. Moreover, the possibility of mechanical failure tends to increase due to the multiplex conversion via the floppy disk adapter and the floppy drive.

<B> New standard products of computer interface hubs appear one after another after a certain period of time.
For example, USB (Universal Serial Bus), IEEE 1394, etc., which have become popular in recent years, can be cited. U
The SB interface is said to be able to connect up to 127 peripheral devices in series, and is applied to solve the shortage of expansion slots in computers. Also, the data transfer speed is a point emphasized by the vendor, and USB is 1
2Mbit / sec, IEEE1394 is 1 each
00 Mbit / sec, 200 Mbit / sec and 4
It is suitable for peripheral devices that require high transfer rates, such as displays and external hard disks, at 00 Mbit / sec. Then, users of different computers generally select different interface hubs depending on the purpose of use. In addition, different card readers and conversion adapters must be used to connect the memory card to the computer through interfaces of different standards. This is obviously very inconvenient for the memory card user. As described above, since there are various problems in the conventional technology regarding the connection between the memory card and the computer, it is necessary to further study and solve these problems.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the mechanical failure while simplifying the connection with a computer and increasing the access speed. It is to provide a memory card having an interface and a conversion adapter thereof.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to claim 1 of the present invention, one micro control unit (10) and an externally connected computer or digital product are micro control units. One memory module (20) for reading and writing data through, and a memory module through a micro control unit for controlling data I / O and connecting to a computer comply with different interface hub standards To connect with one or more sets of connection interfaces (30, 31, 32) and digital products, and provide a data storage function.
It comprises one product interface (40), one or more sets of connection interfaces, and an interface pin hub (51) for connecting to one product interface, and the interface pin hub has a pin connector (63) of a conversion adapter. A memory card having a multi-interface, characterized in that it is connected to an interface connector (64, 65) of a conversion adapter via the memory card.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a memory card having a multi-interface according to the first aspect, wherein two sets of connection interfaces are provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the memory card having the multi-interface according to the first or second aspect, the connection interfaces are USB (Universal Serial Bus) and IEEE, respectively.
It is a memory card having a multi-interface characterized by being 1394.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the memory card having the multi-interface according to the first aspect, the micro control unit has one microprocessor therein, one or more sets of connection interface controllers, and one HOST. A memory card having multiple interfaces, comprising a (host) interface controller and one memory interface.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, one my
Black control unit and externally connected computer
Or digital products have micro control units
One memory module that reads and writes data through
Memory through the micro control unit
-Connects with modules to control data I / O
And connect to a different interface to connect to the computer.
One or more sets of connection interfaces that comply with face hub standards.
Interface to connect digital products to record data
One product interface that provides existing functions
More than one set of connection interface and one product interface
Interface pin hub to connect to
In the conversion adapter of the memory card to be formed , having a memory card slot to insert the memory card ,
One case (61, 62) and memory card slot
Located inside and connect to the interface pin hub
Pin connector (63) and the pin connector
A conversion adapter for a memory card having a multi-interface, characterized by comprising: an interface connector (64, 65) .

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the conversion adapter of the memory card having the multi-interface according to the fifth aspect, the housing of the conversion adapter is configured such that the upper housing and the lower housing face each other. However, opposite notches are formed at both ends of the housing, one notch is used to install a memory card slot, and the other notch is used to install an interface connector, It is a conversion adapter for a memory card having a multi-interface.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the conversion adapter for a memory card having the multi-interface according to the fifth aspect, the corresponding pin connector is formed in a U-shaped case, and the case is composed of two facing each other. Conversion of a memory card having a multi-interface, including side frames and one connecting beam, one rail formed on the inner walls of both side frames facing each other, and a plurality of pins passing through the connecting beams of the pin connector. It is an adapter.

[0016]

[0017]

[0018]

[0019]

[0020]

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<A> Memory Card FIG. 1 is an internal circuit diagram showing a preferred embodiment of a memory card having a multi-interface according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the memory card is connected to one micro control unit 10 and the micro control unit 10 via a serial bus.
At the same time, it is composed of one memory module (20) for reading and writing data by a computer or product connected to the outside. Further, one set or one or more sets of connection interfaces 31 and 32 are connected to the memory module 20 through the microphone control unit 10 to control data I / O. Furthermore, one product interface 40 is connected to a digital product (for example, a digital camera or the like) to read or write data.

<B> Micro control unit 10
The function of the micro control unit 10 is adapted to execute data conversion work by adding appropriate firmware, and to save the data read from the product at a specific address of the memory module (20) while converting the data. Also, when connected to a computer,
After detecting and converting the stored data from the memory module (20), it can be sent out to the computer through the corresponding interface.

<C> Micro control unit 10
Internal structure of the micro control unit 10 as shown in FIG.
Is one microprocessor 13, a plurality of connection interface controllers 11 and 12, and one H
OST (host) interface controller 14
And one memory interface 15. In this embodiment, two connection interface controllers 11 and 12 are arranged inside the corresponding micro control unit 10. One is a USB interface controller, the other is IE
It is an EE1394 interface controller. Further, the HOST (host) interface controller 14 conforms to the STONE card standard and is used for connection with an external product interface 40.
However, the aforementioned HOST (host) interface controller 14 is configured not only to comply with the STONE card standard, but also to comply with the standards of other memory cards.

<D> Memory Module 20 As shown in FIG. 1, the memory module 20 is composed of a flash memory and a readable / writable memory or a read-only memory. In this embodiment, the memory module 20 includes four flash memories 2
It is composed of 1 to 24. Further, these flash memories 21 to 24 are connected to the bus and also to the micro control unit 10 at the same time. On the other hand, the connection interfaces 31 and 32 may be composed of one set or a plurality of sets. In this embodiment, two sets of different I / Os, USB and IEEE 1394, are used.
O interface is connected interface 31, 32
Are connected to the two connection interface controllers 11 and 12 inside the micro control unit 10. Also, the corresponding product interface 40
Is composed of an I / O interface conforming to the standard of one STONE card, and is connected to a HOST (host) interface controller 14 inside the micro control unit 10. However, in addition to the STONE card described above, other memory card standards, such as the SmartMedia card, the MMC card, the Memory Stick card, and the Compa card.
It can also be configured with a compliant I / O interface for a ctFlash card or the like. On the other hand, when the memory card is installed inside the product and connected through the product interface 40, the data in the product is sent from the data output interface through the product interface 40, and the data in the micro control unit 10 is stored in the micro controller unit 10. After being processed by the processor, it is stored in a specific address of the memory module 20.

By utilizing the above design ideas,
A memory card can be installed in the related product to save recorded data. It is also possible to transfer the stored data to the computer through a different interface or write the data from the computer.

An embodiment of a memory card having a multi-interface according to the present invention will be described below. This example provides a specific structure and method of use to prove the feasibility of the present invention, and does not limit the application target or product type of the present invention.

<B> In the overall FIG. 3 of the first embodiment, 50 is a memory card and 60 is a conversion adapter 60. Inside the memory card 50, the micro control unit 10 and the memory module 2
0 and a plurality of sets of interfaces are installed. Further, an interface pin hub 51 is installed at the tip thereof. Among them, four pins are used as a USB type connection interface, and the remaining pins are IEEE
It is used as an E1394 connection interface and a product interface compliant with the STONE card standard. On the other hand, in order to connect to different I / O interface hubs of a computer, a conversion adapter 60 for connecting to the memory card 50 is provided. By using the connection connector installed in the conversion adapter 60, the connection can be made by plugging in the interface hub of the computer.

<B> Conversion Adapter 60 As shown in FIG. 3, the conversion adapter 60 of the present invention is formed in a housing shape, and has an upper housing 61 mainly having a symmetrical shape.
And a lower housing 62. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, one pin connector 63 is installed inside the conversion adapter 60. Furthermore, one USB connector 64 is provided at one end and one IEEE 13 is provided at the other end.
A 94 connector 65 is attached. The upper housing 61 and the lower housing 62 may be faced to each other and coupled by a suitable method. Further, both the upper housing 61 and the lower housing 62 have cutouts at both ends. One opposing notch forms a memory card slot 66. The other is further divided into two notches, USB connector 64 and I, respectively.
An EEE1394 connector 65 is arranged. Also,
The memory card slot 66 is the pin connector 6
It is designed to be located on the outside of 3.

The pin connector 63 has a U-shape, and is constructed by integrating two facing side frames and a beam connecting them. The inner walls of the both side frames facing each other are guided by one rail (not shown), and the memory card 50
Slide in (see Figure 4). Further, the connecting beam of the pin connector 63 has a plurality of pins 631.
, And one end of each pin 631 corresponds to the interface pin hub 51 on the memory card 50. The other end of the pin 631 is a USB
The connector 64 and the IEEE 1394 connector 65 can be connected. When the memory card (50) is inserted into the conversion adapter 60, the interface pin hub 51 is connected to the pin 631 on the pin connector 63. Further, the interface pin hub 51 can be connected to the USB connector 64 and the IEEE 1394 connector 65 through the pins 631, respectively.

<C> Usage state FIG. 5 shows a usage state of the memory card 50 having the multi-interface according to the present invention. The memory card 50 has a USB connector 64 or IEEE.
Through the 1394 connector 65, it can be plugged into the corresponding expansion slot of the target computer. In addition, the memory card 50 inside the conversion adapter 60
Completes the connection with the computer via the USB connector or the IEEE 1394 connector.

Further, since the memory card 50 is directly connected to the computer through the above-mentioned high-speed interface hub, the read / write operation of the memory card 50 is made more convenient in the computer by taking advantage of the characteristics of high-speed transfer. And it can be done quickly.

The conversion adapter 60 can be plugged into an expansion slot that is standard in a computer, or can be inserted into a slot of a hub and connected to a computer through the hub.

[0034]

Second Embodiment of the Invention A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

<A> Overall Memory Card FIG. 6 is an internal circuit diagram showing a second embodiment of a memory card having a multi-interface according to the present invention. In the second embodiment, the circuit structure is almost the same as that in the first embodiment. The difference is that the memory card having multiple interfaces according to the present embodiment includes only a single connection interface 30 and one product interface 40. Also,
The connection interface 30 and the product interface 40 described above are connected to the memory module 20 through the micro control unit 10 as in the first embodiment.

<B> Micro Control Unit 10 As shown in FIG.
One microprocessor 13 and one IEEE1
394 interface controller 12 and one H
OST (host) interface controller 14
And one memory interface 15. The IEEE 1394 interface controller 12 is connected to the connection interface 30. Further, the HOST (host) interface controller 14 is connected to the product interface 40 as in the first embodiment described above.

The memory card 50 can be connected to a product and applied to record and store data, and can also be connected to an IEEE 1394 interface hub of a computer through one conversion adapter.

<C> Conversion Adapter FIG. 8 shows another example of the conversion adapter 70 according to the present invention. In the figure, the structure of the conversion adapter 70 is
It is almost the same as that in the first embodiment. The difference is that the conversion adapter 70 uses only one set of IEEE 1394 connectors 71. As a result, the memory card 50 inserted in the conversion adapter 70 will be
Connection with 4 interface hubs has become more convenient.

[0039]

Since the present invention is as described above,
The following effects can be obtained. <B> According to the present invention, the existing STONE card, Sm
artMedia card, MMC card, Memory
It can be applied to a Stick card, a CompactFlash card, or the like, and a computer can read and write various memory cards. <B> According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a memory card having a plurality of computer connection interfaces and one product interface. Therefore, in addition to installing a memory card inside the product and using the product's interface to record and save data, connect it to an unspecified interface hub on the computer and let the computer directly access the memory card via the high-speed interface. Since you can read the accumulated data in
It can also make reading and writing to the memory card of the computer more convenient and faster. <C> For computer users, without having to worry about different interface hubs coexisting in the computer, without using a specific card reader or conversion device, the same conversion adapter can be used to achieve the connection purpose. be able to. <D> Also, in terms of convenience, the memory card and the conversion adapter of the present invention are superior to the conversion device of the same kind as the conventional card reader having a single standard function.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an internal circuit diagram showing a first preferred embodiment of a memory card having a multi-interface according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an internal circuit diagram showing a first preferred embodiment of a microcontroller unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment 1 of a memory card having a multi-interface and a conversion adapter thereof according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a preferred embodiment 1 of a memory card having a multi-interface and a conversion adapter thereof according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a reference view showing a usage state of a preferred embodiment 1 of a memory card having a multi-interface according to the present invention and its conversion adapter.

FIG. 6 is an internal circuit diagram showing a second preferred embodiment of a memory card having a multi-interface according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an internal circuit diagram showing a second preferred embodiment of the microcontroller unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a second preferred embodiment of a memory card having a multi-interface and a conversion adapter thereof according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: Micro control units 11 and 12: Connection interface controller 13: Microprocessor 14: HOST (host) interface controller 15: Memory interface 20: Memory modules 21-24: Memory 30, 31, 32: Connection interface 40: Product interface 50 : Memory card 51: Interface pin hub 60, 70: Conversion adapter 61: Upper case 62: Lower case 63: Pin connector 631: Pin 64: USB connector 65: IEEE1394 connector 66: Memory card slot 71: IEEE1394 connector

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A single micro control unit (1
0) and an externally connected computer or digital product reads / writes data through the micro control unit, connects to one memory module (20) and the memory module through the micro control unit to control data I / O, One product that provides one or more sets of connection interfaces (30, 31, 32) conforming to different interface hub standards for connecting to a computer and a digital product to provide a data storage function. An interface pin hub (5) for connecting to the interface (40), one or more sets of connection interfaces and one product interface.
1) and the interface pin hub is connected to the interface connector (64, 65) of the conversion adapter via the pin connector (63) of the conversion adapter . Memory card with multiple interfaces. 2. A memory card having a multi-interface according to claim 1, wherein two sets of connection interfaces are provided. 3. A memory card having a multi-interface according to claim 2, wherein each connection interface is USB (Universal Serial Bus).
And a memory card having a multi-interface, which is IEEE 1394. 4. A memory card having a multi-interface according to claim 1, wherein the micro control unit has one microprocessor therein.
One or more sets of connection interface controllers, product
One HOS to connect with the interface (40)
A T interface controller (14) , and one memory interface,
Memory card with multiple interfaces. 5. A micro control unit,
An externally connected computer or digital product reads / writes data through the micro control unit, connects to one memory module and the memory module through the micro control unit, controls data I / O, and connects to the computer. One or more connection interfaces that comply with different interface hub standards, one product interface that connects with digital products and provides data storage function, one or more connection interfaces and one product interface A memory card conversion adapter comprising an interface pin hub connected to and a memory card slot having a memory card slot into which a memory card is inserted, and a memory card. Is disposed inside the lot, the interface connector for connecting the pin connector (63) connected to the interface pin hub, the pin connectors (6
4, 65), and a conversion adapter for a memory card having a multi-interface. 6. A memory card conversion adapter having a multi-interface according to claim 5, wherein a housing of the conversion adapter is configured such that an upper housing and a lower housing face each other, and both housings are provided at both ends of the housing. Are formed to face each other, one notch is used to install a memory card slot, the other notch is used to install an interface connector,
Memory card conversion adapter with multiple interfaces. 7. The conversion adapter for a memory card having a multi-interface according to claim 5, wherein the corresponding pin connector is a U-shaped housing, and the housing has two side frames facing each other and one connecting beam. A conversion adapter for a memory card having a multi-interface, comprising: one rail is formed on inner walls of both side frames facing each other, and a plurality of pins are passed through a connecting beam of a pin connector.