WO2000067128A1 - Linear flash memory compatible with compactflash® mechanical interface - Google Patents
Linear flash memory compatible with compactflash® mechanical interface Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2000067128A1 WO2000067128A1 PCT/US2000/011754 US0011754W WO0067128A1 WO 2000067128 A1 WO2000067128 A1 WO 2000067128A1 US 0011754 W US0011754 W US 0011754W WO 0067128 A1 WO0067128 A1 WO 0067128A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- memory
- standard
- address lines
- lines
- address
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11C—STATIC STORES
- G11C8/00—Arrangements for selecting an address in a digital store
Definitions
- the present invention relates to data storage devices for use in embedded and other applications and more particularly to linear flash memory devices that are partly compatible with the CompactFlash® specification.
- PCMCIA Personal Computer Memory Card International Association
- flash memories One of the most popular applications of PCMCIA or PC-card technology as it has lately come to be called, are flash memories. Flash memories provide a fast portable mass storage device to replace the hard disks associated with notebooks and desktop computers.
- CompactFlash® provides an even smaller form factor than the PCMCIA standard and is well suited to embedded systems.
- the CompactFlash® specification provides a smaller form factor, the number of signal lines is substantially smaller than that of the PCMCIA specification.
- conforming memory devices are required to be addressed via a page mode process in which blocks of data are read from the memory and the particular data required retrieved from the blocks after they are read into the working memory of a host computer.
- CompactFlash® memory cards are used in many embedded system applications because of their small size.
- data retrieved by the embedded system may routinely be downloaded from, or uploaded to, the mass storage of the embedded system device.
- a convenient way to expedite this process is to employ removable mass storage devices or media.
- mass storage devices can be collected from the embedded system users and read (or written to) by a single support computer.
- measured data can be stored on the removable media used by distributed embedded systems (i.e., data loggers).
- data retrieved by the embedded system is routinely downloaded from, or uploaded to, the mass storage of the embedded system device. If the mass storage is provided by a detachable device, they can be collected from the embedded systems and consecutively read (or written to) by the support computer.
- data downloaded could be data collected via the host data terminal (i.e., data logger).
- Table 1 the pin assignments used to implement linear flash memories in a PCMCIA compatible format are shown. As can be seen, all of the signals of the linear flash device map comfortably into the PCMCIA format. There are 26 address signal lines in the linear flash memory. Table 1 - Signal Mapping for PCMCIA Card
- the address space of CFA standard memories is only eleven bits wide.
- the address space of linear flash memory is much higher, but requires a large physical connection, at least in terms of the number of signal lines.
- the invention permits a linear memory device to be mapped into the physical format of the CFA interface.
- the following signals are not used in the Compact Linear Flash® physical configuration in comparison to the CFA® standard: #IORD, #IOWR, WP, R/B, RESET, #REG, #WAIT, #VS1, #VS2, #BVD1, #BVD2, #CSEL, and #INPACK.
- the "recovered" pins are mapped to address lines spanning 11-23. This provides a 24 bit linearly addressable space.
- the invention provides a memory card with a memory.
- the memory has N address lines and is packaged according to a standard that provides only N-M address lines.
- the standard provides P terminals to connect with a host computer. These P terminals are used to provide signals other than the address line signals.
- M of the P terminals are connected to M of the N address lines so that the linearly addressable memory conforms to the package standard while providing N address lines.
- the memory may include a linear flash memory.
- the package standard may include the CompactFlash® specification.
- at least one of the P terminals is used, according to the standard, to provide a signal indicating a voltage requirement.
- the invention provides a computer with a linear flash memory packaged in a CompactFlash® housing.
- the CompactFlash ® housing provides a plurality of signal lines conforming to the CompactFlash® specification.
- a linear flash memory is wired to the plurality of signal lines such that the linear flash memory is linearly addressable.
- the plurality of signal lines are address lines and the address lines are more than a number of address lines provided in the CompactFlash® specification.
- the invention provides a memory device, with an electrical signal terminal conforming to a physical portion of a standard specification for computer peripheral devices. The device has a linear memory.
- the standard specification provides for page-mode addressing using a certain number of lines associated with the terminal, but the address lines actually used is greater than the number of lines provided by the specification, which contemplates page mode addressing.
- the standard specification is the CompactFlash® specification.
- the standard specification may be other than the CompactFlash® specification and still provide for a data bandwidth signal line that indicates a bandwidth of data transmission through the data signal lines. In this standard specification, at least one of the data bandwidth signal lines is usurped for use as an address line of the linear memory.
- the standard specification may provide for a write protection signal line and the write protection signal line may be usurped to serve as an address line of the linear memory.
- the non CompactFlash® standard specification may provide for a busy signal, which indicates that a host computer must wait for a process to be completed before attempting to read or write data to/from a device. This busy signal line may usurped and mapped to an address line of the linear memory.
- the non CompacfFlash®-standard specification may provide for reset signal line to reset the device that submits to the standard and this reset signal line usurped and mapped to an address line of the linear memory.
- the non CompactFlash® standard specification may provide for an attribute memory enabling signal line. This attribute memory enabling signal line may be mapped to an address line of the linear memory.
- the standard specification may provide for a voltage signal line that indicates a voltage to be applied to a device. This voltage signal line may be mapped to an address line of the linear memory.
- the invention is a memory card, having a memory having N address lines. It is packaged in conformance with a standard providing N-M address lines and P terminals for connecting signal lines other than the address lines. M of the P terminals are connected to M of the N address lines so that the linearly addressable memory conforms to the package standard while providing N address lines.
- the memory includes a linear flash memory.
- the invention is a memory card, having a memory having N address lines. It is packaged in conformance with a standard providing N-M address lines and P terminals for connecting signal lines other than the address lines. M of the P terminals are connected to M of the N address lines so that the linearly addressable memory conforms to the package standard while providing N address lines, the memory including a linear flash memory.
- the package standard includes the CompactFlash® specification.
- the invention is a memory card, having a memory having N address lines. It is packaged in conformance with a standard providing N-M address lines and P terminals for connecting signal lines other than the address lines. M of the P terminals are connected to M of the N address lines so that the linearly addressable memory conforms to the package standard while providing N address lines. At least one of the P terminals is used, according to the standard, to provide a signal indicating a voltage requirement.
- a linear flash memory is incorporated in a CompactFlash® mechanical package providing addressing for 32 and 48 MB of memory without the page addressing mode restriction otherwise imposed by the small number of address lines of the CompactFlash® standard. This is accomplished by sacrificing certain signals and mapping the unused lines so that they carry the additional address signals necessary to address up to 32 or up to 64 MB of memory directly.
- PCMCIA signals that are sacrificed to fit the linear flash memory into the CompactFlash® form factor are:
- #CE2 Card Enable 2. The choice was made to dedicate the Compact Linear Flash memory to use all 16 data lines. Since #CE1 and #CE2 are used to enable the upper and lower data bytes respectively, and since the CLF cards of 32 MB capacity and higher always use 16 data lines, the #CE2 signal could be sacrificed for these cards. The cards of less than 32MB capacity still use #CE2 signal to enable the upper data byte.
- R/B - Ready Busy signal This is another output from the external device. This signal indicates to the host that the device is active and that the host must wait to do another operation. This signal could be sacrificed because the same information can be achieved by reading the content of internal registers of each memory component of the card. Note that the same role as the R/B signal can be played by internal registers of memory card, which hold information about the memory device.
- RESET - This signal is used to reset the card. It is optional because all external devices have some simple circuitry to reset the card to power-up condition. During certain conditions, the card is held in reset state. The device resets itself upon power-on condition.
- #REG - This signal enables attribute memory. This option was sacrificed to recover this signal line because attribute memory is not required in a linear flash memory device.
- a host computer 100 provides an interface 120 with the signal lines shown in Table 3.
- a Compact Linear Flash device 110 contains a flash memory (not shown) of up to 32 or up to 64 MB of storage space depending on whether signal A24 is implemented.
- the Compact Linear Flash device 110 has a physical housing and pin layout conforming to the CompactFlash® specification. Thus, the Compact Linear Flash device fits into standard slots configurations for CompactFlash® devices.
- the host computer can be programmed to permit it to interface with devices with the signal attributes of the Compact Linear Flash device or devices conforming to the CompactFlash® specification.
- the #CE2 signal is retained to permit data to be exchanged as 8 bit or 16 bit words under the control of the host computer. In other words, the #CE2 signal is not sacrificed to make another address line available, thereby reducing the linearly addressable space to 32 MB, but preserving the #CE2 signal.
- the Compact Linear Flash device 110 can be used is in the context of multiple embedded system computers 180 such as optical scanners, autonomous cash register terminals, customer information terminals, data loggers, or other embedded system applications.
- multiple embedded systems are employed by an entity, data may be gathered or downloaded from the embedded system computers 180 as shown in Fig. 2A.
- the Compact Linear Flash device 110 can be intermittently removed from the embedded system computer 180 and connected to the support computer 200 for down uploading of data.
- the support computer 200 is provided with a PCMCIA standard interface and a PCMCIA-CLF® adapter interface 150 that maps the signal lines from the Compact Linear Flash device 110 specification to the PCMCIA specification.
- the PCMCIA- CLF® adapter interface 150 may provide some signals that the Compact Linear Flash device 110 specification does not provide.
- the PCMCIA-CLF® adapter interface 150 may provide #VS1 and #VS2 to indicate the voltage to be supplied or any of the other signal lines of the PCMCIA standard interface that are not supplied by the Compact Linear Flash device 110 specification.
- the Compact Linear Flash device 110 is connected to the PCMCIA-CLF® adapter interface 150, the latter is connected to the support computer 200 and support computer 200 can access the linear flash memory inside the Compact Linear Flash device 110.
- the up/down-loading of data to/from the support computer could be accomplished by means of a Modified interface 120 on the support computer.
- the above is merely a convenient alternative. Also note that although all of the features of the invention are discussed in the context of the CompactFlash® mechanical specification, it is clear that many features of the invention can be implemented according to other specifications.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP00928669A EP1210666A1 (en) | 1999-04-29 | 2000-04-28 | Linear flash memory compatible with compactflash mechanical interface |
AU46869/00A AU4686900A (en) | 1999-04-29 | 2000-04-28 | Linear flash memory compatible with compactflash mechanical interface |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13159499P | 1999-04-29 | 1999-04-29 | |
US60/131,594 | 1999-04-29 | ||
US33475499A | 1999-06-17 | 1999-06-17 | |
US09/334,754 | 1999-06-17 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2000067128A1 true WO2000067128A1 (en) | 2000-11-09 |
Family
ID=26829620
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2000/011754 WO2000067128A1 (en) | 1999-04-29 | 2000-04-28 | Linear flash memory compatible with compactflash® mechanical interface |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1210666A1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU4686900A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2000067128A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2003017283A1 (en) * | 2001-08-13 | 2003-02-27 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Synchronous flash memory with virtual segment architecture |
WO2003088021A2 (en) * | 2002-04-08 | 2003-10-23 | Socket Communications, Inc | Wireless enabled memory module |
US8014529B2 (en) | 2006-08-18 | 2011-09-06 | Eye-Fi, Inc. | In-band device enrollment without access point support |
US8046504B2 (en) | 2005-09-15 | 2011-10-25 | Eye-Fi, Inc. | Content-aware digital media storage device and methods of using the same |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5839108A (en) * | 1996-03-07 | 1998-11-17 | Norris Communications, Inc. | Flash memory file system in a handheld record and playback device |
-
2000
- 2000-04-28 AU AU46869/00A patent/AU4686900A/en not_active Abandoned
- 2000-04-28 WO PCT/US2000/011754 patent/WO2000067128A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2000-04-28 EP EP00928669A patent/EP1210666A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5839108A (en) * | 1996-03-07 | 1998-11-17 | Norris Communications, Inc. | Flash memory file system in a handheld record and playback device |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2003017283A1 (en) * | 2001-08-13 | 2003-02-27 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Synchronous flash memory with virtual segment architecture |
US6625081B2 (en) | 2001-08-13 | 2003-09-23 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Synchronous flash memory with virtual segment architecture |
US6667932B2 (en) | 2001-08-13 | 2003-12-23 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Synchronous flash memory with virtual segment architecture |
US6798710B2 (en) | 2001-08-13 | 2004-09-28 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Synchronous flash memory with virtual segment architecture |
US7016254B2 (en) | 2001-08-13 | 2006-03-21 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Synchronous flash memory with virtual segment architecture |
WO2003088021A2 (en) * | 2002-04-08 | 2003-10-23 | Socket Communications, Inc | Wireless enabled memory module |
WO2003088021A3 (en) * | 2002-04-08 | 2005-01-06 | Socket Communications Inc | Wireless enabled memory module |
US8046504B2 (en) | 2005-09-15 | 2011-10-25 | Eye-Fi, Inc. | Content-aware digital media storage device and methods of using the same |
US8014529B2 (en) | 2006-08-18 | 2011-09-06 | Eye-Fi, Inc. | In-band device enrollment without access point support |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1210666A1 (en) | 2002-06-05 |
AU4686900A (en) | 2000-11-17 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US9558135B2 (en) | Flashcard reader and converter for reading serial and parallel flashcards | |
US5867417A (en) | Computer memory cards using flash EEPROM integrated circuit chips and memory-controller systems | |
US5815426A (en) | Adapter for interfacing an insertable/removable digital memory apparatus to a host data part | |
US5812814A (en) | Alternative flash EEPROM semiconductor memory system | |
US6658516B2 (en) | Multi-interface memory card and adapter module for the same | |
US7162549B2 (en) | Multimode controller for intelligent and “dumb” flash cards | |
US20030084220A1 (en) | Active adapter chip for use in a flash card reader | |
US9177654B2 (en) | Solid-state memory device with plurality of memory cards | |
US8473672B2 (en) | System and method for storing data using a flexible data format | |
US20070083689A1 (en) | USB system having card-type USB interface connector | |
EP0461623A1 (en) | IC memory card having direct and indirect access card interface functions | |
EP1146428B1 (en) | Multi-interface memory card and adapter module for the same | |
EP2105829B1 (en) | Memory card that supports file system interoperability | |
EP1210666A1 (en) | Linear flash memory compatible with compactflash mechanical interface | |
US7555582B2 (en) | Portable universal serial bus memory devices and methods for using such devices | |
CA2324006A1 (en) | Apparatus and method for direct connection of a mass storage drive to a digital appliance | |
JPH05181566A (en) | Personal computer and magnetic disk device used for the same | |
US6751692B1 (en) | Adapter for memory device and connecting method using the same | |
KR20050034153A (en) | Adapter device for flash memory | |
JPH0460272B2 (en) | ||
AU2005211564A1 (en) | Flashtoaster for reading several types of flash memory cards with or without a PC |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AK | Designated states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CR CU CZ DE DK DM DZ EE ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VN YU ZA ZW |
|
AL | Designated countries for regional patents |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW SD SL SZ TZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GW ML MR NE SN TD TG |
|
121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application | ||
DFPE | Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101) | ||
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 2000928669 Country of ref document: EP |
|
REG | Reference to national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: 8642 |
|
WWP | Wipo information: published in national office |
Ref document number: 2000928669 Country of ref document: EP |
|
WD | Withdrawal of designations after international publication |
Free format text: US |
|
WWW | Wipo information: withdrawn in national office |
Ref document number: 2000928669 Country of ref document: EP |
|
NENP | Non-entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: JP |