Summary of the invention
According to exemplary embodiment of the present invention, above-mentioned and other problem is overcome and has been realized other advantage.
In its first aspect, the invention provides and a kind ofly be used for bus by comprising signal wire the method for first module interface to Unit second.This method comprises: by signal wire the first information is driven into Unit second from first module; From the second unit drive signals line to cause state variation; In first module the state variation of signal wire is interpreted as having first implication, and in response from first module with second information-driven to signal wire; From the second unit drive signals line to cause state variation once more; And will be interpreted as having the Secondary Meaning that is different from first implication in the state variation of the signal wire that second information-driven is occurred after signal wire in first module.
In its second aspect, the invention provides a kind of computer program, it is contained in the computer-readable medium, and comprises that the bus that is used to carry out by comprising signal wire is with the programmed instruction of first module interface to the operation of Unit second.These operations comprise: by signal wire the first information is driven into Unit second from first module; From the second unit drive signals line to cause state variation; In first module the state variation of signal wire is interpreted as having first implication, and in response from first module with second information-driven to signal wire; From the second unit drive signals line to cause state variation once more; And will be interpreted as having the Secondary Meaning that is different from first implication in the state variation of the signal wire that second information-driven is occurred after signal wire in first module.
In its third aspect, the invention provides and a kind ofly be used for bus by comprising signal wire the device of first module interface to Unit second.This device is included in the driver that is coupled to signal wire of first module and at the receiver that is coupled to signal wire of first module in this embodiment.This driver can operate in order to by signal wire with the first information and then second information is driven into Unit second from first module, and this receiver can be operated in order to after Unit second receives the first information and receive after second information reception from the state variation of the signal wire of second unit drives.Can operate at the controller of first module and to be interpreted as after the first information being driven into Unit second from first module, having first implication in order to state variation and after second information being driven into Unit second from first module, to have the Secondary Meaning that is different from first implication by signal wire by signal wire with signal wire.First module can comprise main frame and Unit second can comprise memory card.
In its fourth aspect, the invention provides and a kind ofly be used for bus by comprising signal wire the device of first module interface to Unit second.This device is included in the driver that is coupled to signal wire of first module and at the receiver that is coupled to signal wire of first module in this embodiment.This receiver can be operated in order to receiving the first information from Unit second and to receive second information then by signal wire, and this driver can be operated in order to after receiving the first information and after reception second information state variation of signal wire is driven into Unit second.Controller in first module makes the state variation of signal wire have first implication and have the Secondary Meaning that is different from first implication by signal wire after Unit second receives second information after Unit second receives the first information by signal wire.First module can comprise memory card and Unit second can comprise main frame.
In aspect it is another, the invention provides a kind of method that is used for data being sent to from first module Unit second by bus.This method comprises: start the n blocks of data and transmit, wherein n〉1; For preceding n-1 the data block that is sent to Unit second from first module, control status signal that Unit second generated with become after each data block in n-1 data block buffer busy/the ready state signal, thereby when first module can transmit next data block to the notice first module; And for n the data block that is sent to Unit second from first module, the state of a control signal with after n data block, become programming busy/the ready state signal, thereby if inside programming is arranged the notice first module then Unit second has stopped inside programming.
In aspect it is another, the invention provides a kind of computer program, be contained in the computer-readable medium, and comprise and be used to carry out the programmed instruction that data is sent to the operation of Unit second from first module by bus.These operations comprise: start the n blocks of data and transmit, wherein n〉1; For preceding n-1 the data block that is sent to Unit second from first module, control status signal that Unit second generated with become after each data block in n-1 data block buffer busy/the ready state signal, thereby when first module can transmit next data block to the notice first module; And for a cutter data block that is sent to Unit second from first module, the state of a control signal with after n data block, become programming busy/the ready state signal, thereby if inside programming is arranged the notice first module then Unit second has stopped inside programming.
In aspect it is another, the invention provides a kind of device that is used for data being sent to from first module Unit second by bus.This device comprises in order to start the controller that the n blocks of data transmits, wherein n〉1.For preceding n-1 the data block that is sent to Unit second from first module, the second unit controls status signal is had much to do/the ready state signal to become buffer after each data block in n-1 data block, thereby when first module can transmit next data block to the notice first module; And for n the data block that is sent to Unit second from first module, the second unit controls status signal with after n data block, become programming busy/the ready state signal, thereby if inside programming is arranged the notice first module then Unit second has stopped inside programming.
According to another pattern of the present invention, embodiments of the invention comprise a kind of in order to data are sent to method, computer program and the equipment of Unit second by bus from first module.This method comprises: start the n blocks of data and transmit, wherein n〉1; For preceding n-1 the data block that is sent to Unit second from first module, control status signal that Unit second generated with become after each data block in n-1 data block buffer busy/the ready state signal, thereby when first module can transmit next data block to the notice first module; And after n the data block that is sent to Unit second from first module, to Unit second transmission stopping transmission command, and the state of a control signal with become programming busy/the ready state signal, thereby if inside programming is arranged the notice first module then Unit second has stopped inside programming.
Embodiment
Fig. 1 shows first module such as main frame 1 is connected to Unit second such as memory card 2 (for example MMC) by the bus 3 that comprises the busy signal 4 that is associated with data line 5.Also show order (CMD) line 6 and clock (CLK) line 7, main frame 1 is given an order to card 2 by this CMD line 6.Generally speaking, except as make amendment so that provide multi-usage or the multi-mode busy signal 4 according to embodiments of the invention, bus 3 can be compatible with as " The MultiMediaCard; System Specification; Version 3.31; MMCA Technical Committee ", 2003 defined buses.Yet will be appreciated that embodiments of the invention should not be construed as only to be limited to uses with MMC compatible cards, interface and bus.
Main frame 1 can be cell phone or digital camera or PC or any suitable equipment that can hold the use of memory card 2.Suppose that main frame 1 comprises driver 1A and the receiver 1B that is coupled to data signal line 5 and is coupled to driver 1A and receiver 1B and the steering logic 1C that can instruction according to the present invention operates.Suppose that memory card 2 comprises driver 2A and the receiver 2B that is coupled to data signal line 5 and is coupled to driver 2A and receiver 2B and the steering logic 2C that can instruction according to the present invention operates.
Exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides the implication that changes busy signal 4 in the command execution process.With regard to this situation of MMC data transfer operation, this means for first data block that sends, busy signal 4 is used and explains (i.e. " buffer busy/ready ") as current definition by main frame 1, but for last data block, busy signal 4 is interpreted as " programming busy/ready ".Should be noted that in data transfer procedure in MMC 2, ongoing data programing to be arranged.Therefore, " programming busy/ready " status signal is used to notify main frame 1 when to finish the inside programming of memory card 2.
The exemplary embodiment of the application of the invention need not inside " programming busy/ready " status signal of main frame 1 poll MMC 2, has saved host interface (IF) resource thus.Main frame 1 can replace continuation and send use more efficiently based on the interrupt-driven formula operator scheme of busy signal at whole data.In addition, the use of the embodiment of the invention mean need be still less software timer (such as being used for that polling operation is carried out software timer regularly), simplified enforcement thus.The use of the embodiment of the invention also means can realize that performance strengthens; The compatibility possibility that becomes backward and forward; And concurrent activities implement to be used with the effective and efficient manner possibility that becomes.
Two exemplary mode of operation are described now.Will be appreciated that use by the embodiment of the invention can realize the operator scheme more than these two operator schemes.
First operator scheme is called as polylith and writes.For the MMC compatible operations, command sequence is as follows:
CMD16(Set_Block_Length);
CMD23 (Set_Block_Count); According to this information, MMC2 can determine which data block is last piece; And
CMD24 (Write_Block): write a plurality of data blocks.
Follow then is on data line 5 data block to be sent to MMC2 after this command sequence.Between each data block, busy signaling is arranged on data line 5.Busy implication in this case is " buffer busy/ready ".In case (uprising) established in the busy signal cancellation, main frame 1 just can send to next data block MMC 2.As mentioned above, in data transfer procedure, in MMC 2, ongoing data programing can be arranged.According to an aspect of the present invention, after MMC 2 received last data block, it became the implication of busy signal 4 " programming busy/ready ".This means that main frame 1 need not to begin the programming state of poll MMC 2, also wait for busy interruption in this dial-tone stage but can replace continuation.Yet the busy appearance of interrupting is interpreted as the appearance of " it is ready to programme " state indication by main frame 1.
The polylith that second operator scheme is called the open end formula writes.For the MMC compatible operations, command sequence is as follows:
CMD16(Set_Block_Length);
CMD25(Write_Multiple_Block);
On data line 5, send data block; And
CMD12 (Stop_Transmission); According to this information, MMC2 knows and has sent last data block.
All there is being busy signaling to appear on the data line 5 between each data block.Busy implication in this case is " buffer busy/ready ".In case the busy signal cancellation is established, main frame 1 just can send to next data block MMC 2.In data transfer procedure, in MMC 2, ongoing data programing can be arranged.According to an aspect of the present invention, receive at MMC 2 and to cease and desist order (CMD 12) afterwards, it is provided with busy signal once more, but the implication of busy signal 4 is once more in this case " programming busy/ready ".
Can notice: have several following time slots, CMD 12 can be sent to MMC 2 in these time slot processes, and these can influence the implication and the explanation of busy signal 4.
Fig. 2 is the oscillogram that illustrates a kind of operator scheme, wherein on cmd signal line 6, send CMD23 (Set_Block_Count) and CMD25 (Write_Multiple_Block), and the figure shows data line 5 and transmit first and last data block and use by the card 2 bimodulus busy signals 4 that driven and indicate in " buffer busy/ready " and " programming have much to do/ready " one.
As optional embodiment, discrete busy line can be used for dissimilar state indications (for example being used for buffer status and programming state in this case).Yet this mode will need more physical pins and can not back compatible.
Contrast with the previous use of busy signal 4, according to many aspects of the present invention, the implication of change busy signal 4 in same order (for example polylith writes) and between the data block that transmits.
In the scope of exemplary embodiment of the present, 1 couple of MMC 2 of main frame programmes so that select the operator scheme of busy signaling.For example, powering on when resetting, MMC 2 can default to the routine of busy signaling is used, but then can be by main frame 1 programming in case with the multi-mode of busy signaling use (for example buffer busy/ready and programming is busy/ready) operate.Alternatively, the operator scheme that powers on can be defined as the multi-mode of busy signaling and use, and main frame 1 can be programmed so that utilize conventional having much to do/ready signaling to MMC 2 then.
In one aspect of the invention, embodiments of the invention provide the memory card 2 that comprises bus interface, and this bus interface is used for being coupled to main frame 1 by the bus 3 that comprises data line 5.This bus interface comprises driver 2A that is coupled to data signal line and the receiver 2B that also is coupled to data signal line 5.Receiver 2B can operate in order to receive the first information by data signal line 5 from main frame 1.Driver 2A can operate in order to the state variation (as the saltus step of busy signal 4) with data signal line 5 and be driven into main frame 1.Memory card 2 also comprises steering logic or controller 2C, and this steering logic or controller 2C are coupled to driver 2A and receiver 2B and can operate in order to the state variation that causes data signal line 5 so that have Secondary Meaning (for example " programme have much to do/ready ") by data signal line 5 have first implication (for example " buffer busy/ready ") after main frame 1 receives the first information by data signal line 5 after main frame 1 receives second information.
Bus 3 also comprises command signal line 6, and controller 2C in response to by command signal line 6 from least one order that main frame 1 receives, make the state variation of data signal line 5 after main frame 1 receives the first information, to have first implication by data signal line 5 and after main frame 1 reception second information, to have Secondary Meaning by data signal line 5.
Controller 2C can be in response to the programming that receives from main frame 1 so that determine the implication of the state variation of data signal line 5 as follows: have first implication and receiving second information from main frame after, having Secondary Meaning after main frame receives the first information by data signal line, perhaps after the main frame 1 reception first information, having first implication and after main frame 1 reception second information, also having first implication by data signal line 5 by data signal line 5 by data signal line.
More than describe by exemplary and nonrestrictive example provide to the current design of inventor be used to realize the best approach of the present invention and device not only fully but also the suggestive description of tool.Yet, in view of in the above description of reading with claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, various remodeling and change and can become obvious for the technician in the association area.
As just some examples of optional embodiment, those skilled in the art can attempt using other similar or equivalent signaling protocol and module type.In addition, can make busy signal 4 transmit the implication that presents in the command procedure more than two at individual data.As an example, when transmitting three data blocks, busy signal 4 can have first implication after first data block transmits, have Secondary Meaning and have the 3rd implication after second data block transmits after the transmission of the 3rd data block.In addition thus, busy signal can be used for indicating a plurality of different conditions in carrying out the multistage command procedure.For example, suppose to use the multistage erase command, wherein on order wire, send one or more address to be wiped, and wherein after receiving one or more first address busy signal 4 indicated and can send more one or more address, and busy signal 4 has been indicated erase status after transmission one or more FA final address to be wiped.
Yet, still all will fall in the scope of the embodiment of the invention all such with similar remodeling of instruction of the present invention.
In addition, some features of exemplary embodiment of the present still can advantageously be used when the correspondence of further feature not being used.Therefore, more than description should be considered to only principle of the present invention, instruction and embodiment be described and do not limit it.