JP2001307038A - Memory card with multi-interface and its conversion adaptor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a memory card with multi-interface the connection of which with a computer is simplified and to reduce mechanical failures as enhancing access speed and its conversion adaptor. SOLUTION: One microcontrol unit 10, one memory module 20 and plural interfaces are provided inside the memory card. Connection interfaces with different standards are connected with a USB interface of the computer through one conversion adaptor to perform read/write to the memory module 20 via the microcontrol unit 10 by the computer. The memory card is connected with the computer with an unspecified standard after connection with a digital product and can easily perform the read and the write of data.

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 With the release of digital products, small memory cards having a number of 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 at a relatively high distribution rate. This kind of memory card is light, thin,
With its short and small features, it satisfies the data storage needs of digital products and has reached megabytes of storage. Therefore, it is very convenient to use a digital product such as a digital camera.

[0003]

The above-mentioned conventional memory card has the following problems. <A> Since a memory card is used while being inserted into a product, it is necessary to perform a computer process in order to read data stored in the memory card. In addition, since this type of memory card is not a standard product compatible with a normal computer, it must be used through the following method when connecting to a computer.

Use of a card reader. This type of card reader is designed for each memory card. For example, SmartMedia
The a card, the MMC card, the Memory Stick card and the CompactFlash card all have a dedicated card reader. By connecting the card reader to the interface hub of the computer and then inserting the memory card into the card reader, the memory card can be finally accessed via the card reader.

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

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

<B> Every time a certain time elapses, new standardized computer interface hubs appear one after another.
For example, USB (Universal Serial Bus), IEEE 1394, and the like, which have become popular in recent years, can be cited. U
The SB interface is applied to solve a shortage of expansion slots of a computer, by saying that up to 127 peripheral devices can be connected in series. In addition, the data transfer speed is a point that the trader emphasizes, and USB is 1
2Mbit / sec and IEEE1394 are 1
00Mbit / sec, 200Mbit / sec and 4
At 00 Mbit / sec, it is mainly compatible with peripheral devices that require a high transfer speed, such as displays and external hard disks. Users of different computers generally select different interface hubs depending on the purpose of use. In order to connect a memory card to a computer through an interface of a different standard, a different card reader or conversion adapter must be used. This is obviously very inconvenient for the user of the memory card. As described above, there are various problems in the related art relating to the connection between a memory card and a computer, and 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 it is an object of the present invention to simplify the connection with a computer, increase the access speed, and reduce the number of mechanical failures. An object of the present invention is to provide a memory card having an interface and a conversion adapter thereof.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a micro control unit and an externally connected computer or product reads and writes data through the micro control unit. One memory module and one or more sets of connections according to different interface hub standards to connect with the memory module through micro control unit, control data I / O and connect with computer The present invention is a memory card having a multi-interface, comprising a single product interface that is connected to an interface and a digital product and provides a data recording and storage function.

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 a multi-interface according to the first or second aspect, the connection interfaces are USB (Universal Serial Bus) and IEEE, respectively.
1394 is a memory card having a multi-interface.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a memory card having a multi-interface according to the first aspect, wherein the micro-control unit includes one microprocessor, one or more sets of connection interface controllers, and one HOST. A memory card having a multi-interface, comprising a (host) interface controller and one memory interface.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a case having a slot for inserting a memory card, and one or more sets of connection interfaces used for plugging into a corresponding I / O interface slot of a computer. A plurality of pins are installed, one pin is connected to each of the interface connectors, and the other pin is plugged in according to an interface pin hub provided on the memory card. It is a conversion adapter for a memory card having an interface.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a conversion adapter for a memory card having a multi-interface according to the fifth aspect, wherein a housing of the conversion adapter is configured such that an upper housing and a lower housing face each other. And, opposite ends of the housing are formed with facing notches, one notch is used for installing a memory card slot, and the other notch is used for installing an interface connector. This 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 a multi-interface according to the fifth aspect, the corresponding pin connector is formed of a U-shaped casing, and this casing is provided with two opposed faces. Conversion of a memory card having a multi-interface, comprising a side frame and one connecting beam, forming one rail on inner walls opposite to both side frames, and passing a plurality of pins through a connecting beam of a pin connector. Adapter.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided one microcontroller unit and one memory module in which an externally connected computer or product reads and writes data through the microcontroller unit.
To connect with the memory module through the micro control unit, control the data I / O, and connect with the computer, a set of connection interface conforming to the standard of the IEEE 1394 interface hub, connect with the digital products, and connect with the data. A memory card having a multi-interface, comprising a single product interface for providing a recording function.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the memory card having the multi-interface according to the eighth aspect, the micro control unit includes one microprocessor, one connection interface controller, and one HOST (host). A) A memory card having a multi-interface, comprising an interface controller and one memory interface.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a single housing having a slot for inserting a memory card, and a set of IEEE 1394 connection interfaces used for plugging into a corresponding I / O interface slot of a computer. A plurality of pins are installed, one pin is connected to each of the interface connectors described above, and the other pin is connected to an interface pin hub provided on the memory card, and is connected to one pin connector. It is a conversion adapter for a memory card having a multi-interface, characterized by comprising.

According to claim 11, claim 1 relates to claim 1.
0, a conversion adapter for a memory card having a multi-interface, wherein a housing of the conversion adapter is configured such that an upper housing and a lower housing face each other, and opposite ends of the housing are formed with facing cutouts. , One notch is used to install a memory card slot,
The other opening is a conversion adapter for a memory card having a multi-interface, which is used for installing an interface connector.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the conversion adapter for a memory card having a multi-interface according to the tenth aspect, the corresponding pin connector is formed of a U-shaped casing, and this casing is provided with two opposed faces. Conversion of a memory card having a multi-interface, comprising a side frame and one connecting beam, forming one rail on inner walls opposite to both side frames, and passing a plurality of pins through a connecting beam of a pin connector. Adapter.

[0021]

Embodiment 1 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 via a serial bus and the micro control unit 10,
At the same time, it comprises one memory module (20) for reading and writing data by a computer or a product connected to the outside. One or more sets of connection interfaces 31, 32 are connected to the memory module 20 through the microphone control unit 10 to control data I / O. Further, one product interface 40 is connected to a digital product (for example, a digital camera or the like), and reads and writes data.

<B> Micro control unit 10
The microcontroller unit 10 performs a data conversion operation by adding appropriate firmware, and stores 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 to a computer through a corresponding interface.

<C> Micro control unit 10
Internal structure of the micro-control unit 10 as shown in FIG.
Is a single microprocessor 13, a plurality of connection interface controllers 11, 12, and one H
OST (host) interface controller 14
And one memory interface 15. In the present embodiment, two connection interface controllers 11 and 12 are disposed inside the microcontroller unit 10. One is USB interface controller and the other is IE
EE1394 interface controller. The HOST (host) interface controller 14 conforms to the STONE card standard, and is used for connection to an external product interface 40.
However, the above-described HOST (host) interface controller 14 is configured to be compliant not only with the standard of the STONE card but also with the standard of another memory card.

<D> Memory Module 20 As shown in FIG. 1, the memory module 20 includes 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
1 to 24. The flash memories 21 to 24 are connected to a bus and also to the micro control unit 10 at the same time. On the other hand, the connection interfaces 31, 32 may be composed of one set or a plurality of sets. In the present embodiment, two different I / O sets, USB and IEEE1394, are used.
Connect O interface to interface 31, 32
Are connected to 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, other memory card standards besides the above-mentioned STONE card, for example, SmartMedia card, MMC card, MemoryStick card, Compa
A ctFlash card or the like may be configured with a compliant I / O interface. On the other hand, when the memory card is installed inside the product and connected via the product interface 40, the data in the product is sent from the data output interface through the product interface 40, and the micro data inside the micro control unit 10 is transmitted. After being processed by the processor, it is stored at a specific address of the memory module 20.

By utilizing the above design concept,
By installing a memory card in a related product, it is possible to save recorded data. In addition, the stored data can be transferred to a computer through a different interface, or data can be written from the computer.

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

<A> Entire Embodiment 1 In FIG. 3, reference numeral 50 denotes a memory card, and 60 denotes 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. Further, an interface pin hub 51 is provided at the tip. Among them, four pins are used as USB type connection interface, and the remaining pins are IEEE
Used as an E1394-type connection interface and a product interface conforming to the STONE card standard. On the other hand, in order to connect to a different I / O interface hub of the computer, a conversion adapter 60 connected to the memory card 50 is provided. By using the connection connector provided on 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 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 IEEE13
A 94 connector 65 is attached. The upper housing 61 and the lower housing 62 may be connected to face each other by an appropriate method. Both the upper housing 61 and the lower housing 62 have openings at both ends. One of the opposite cutouts forms a memory card slot 66. The other is further divided into two notches, each with a USB connector 64 and I
An EEE1394 connector 65 is provided. Also,
The memory card slot 66 is provided with the pin connector 6
3 outside.

The pin connector 63 has a U-shape, and is formed integrally with two facing side frames and a beam connecting them. Opposite inner walls of both side frames are guided by one rail (not shown), and
(See FIG. 4). Also, a plurality of pins 631 are provided on the connecting beam of the pin connector 63.
, And one end of each pin 631 corresponds to the interface pin hub 51 on the memory card 50. The other ends of the pins 631 are USB
The connector 64 and the IEEE1394 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 respective pins 631.

<C> State of Use FIG. 5 shows the state of use of the memory card 50 having the multi-interface according to the present invention. The memory card 50 has a USB connector 64 or an IEEE
Via the 1394 connector 65, it can be plugged into the corresponding expansion slot of the target computer. 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 high-speed interface hub, the data read / write speed is increased by utilizing the characteristics of the high-speed transfer, and the read / write operation for the memory card 50 in the computer becomes more convenient. And can be done quickly.

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

[0034]

Second Embodiment Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

<A> Entire 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 structure of the circuit is substantially the same as that in the first embodiment. As a difference, the memory card having a multi-interface 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 a connection interface 30. Further, the HOST (host) interface controller 14 is connected to the product interface 40 as in the first embodiment.

The memory card 50 can be connected to a product and connected to an IEEE 1394 interface hub of a computer through one conversion adapter, in addition to being applicable to recording and storing data by connecting to a product.

<C> Conversion Adapter FIG. 8 shows another example of the conversion adapter 70 according to the present invention. In the drawing, the structure of the conversion adapter 70 is as follows.
This is almost the same as that in the first embodiment. The difference is that the conversion adapter 70 uses only one set of the IEEE1394 connector 71. Thus, the memory card 50 inserted into the conversion adapter 70 is stored in the IEEE 139 of the computer.
Connection with 4 interface hubs is more convenient.

[0039]

Since the present invention has been described above,
The following effects can be obtained. <A> According to the present invention, the existing STONE card, Sm
artMedia card, MMC card, Memory
The present invention can be applied to a Stick card, a CompactFlash card, and the like, and enables a computer to read and write various memory cards. <B> According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a memory card having both a plurality of computer connection interfaces and one product interface. Therefore, a memory card is installed inside the product, and data can be recorded and saved using the product interface.In addition, it is connected to an unspecified interface hub on the computer, and the computer directly connects to the memory card via the high-speed interface. Since you can read the accumulated data in the
Reading and writing to and from a memory card of a computer can also be made more convenient and faster. <C> For the computer user, the connection purpose is achieved by using the same conversion adapter without using a specific card reader or conversion device, without worrying that different interface hubs are mixed in the computer. be able to. <D> Also, from a convenient point of view, the memory card and the conversion adapter of the present invention are superior to the conventional conversion device of the same type as a card reader having a single standard function.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an internal circuit diagram showing a preferred embodiment 1 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 the 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 its conversion adapter according to the present invention.

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

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

FIG. 6 is an internal circuit diagram showing a preferred embodiment 2 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 preferred embodiment 2 of a memory card having a multi-interface and its conversion adapter according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

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

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A microcontroller unit, an externally connected computer or product that reads and writes data through the microcontroller unit, a memory module, and a microcontroller unit that connects to the memory module to perform data I / O. One or more sets of connection interfaces that conform to different interface hub standards to control and connect to computers, and one product interface to connect with digital products and provide data recording and storage functions A memory card having a multi-interface, characterized by comprising. 2. The memory card having a multi-interface according to claim 1, wherein two sets of connection interfaces are provided. 3. The memory card having a multi-interface according to claim 1, wherein each of the connection interfaces is a USB (Universal Universal Serial Bus).
A memory card having a multi-interface, which is a serial bus) and IEEE 1394. 4. The memory card having a multi-interface according to claim 1, wherein the micro-control unit includes one microprocessor, one or more connection interface controllers, one HOST (host) interface controller, and one micro-processor. A memory card having a multi-interface, comprising: one memory interface. 5. A single housing having a slot for inserting a memory card, one or more sets of connection interfaces used for plugging into a corresponding I / O interface slot of a computer, and a plurality of pins are provided. Wherein one of the pins is connected to each of the interface connectors and the other is plugged in in accordance with an interface pin hub provided on the memory card. . 6. The conversion adapter for a memory card having a multi-interface according to claim 5,
The housing of the conversion adapter is configured so that the upper housing and the lower housing face each other, and the opposite ends of the housing are formed with facing notches, and one of the notches is used for installing a memory card slot. Characterized in that the other cutout is used for installing an interface connector,
Conversion adapter for memory card with multi-interface. 7. The conversion adapter for a memory card having a multi-interface according to claim 5,
The corresponding pin connector is composed of a U-shaped housing, which includes two opposing side frames and one connecting beam, forms one rail on the opposing inner walls of both side frames, and forms a pin connector connecting beam. Characterized by passing through multiple pins,
Conversion adapter for memory card with multi-interface. 8. A microcontroller unit, a memory module through which an externally connected computer or product reads and writes data through the microcontroller unit, and a memory module through the microcontroller unit, and performs data I / O. A set of connection interfaces that comply with the IEEE 1394 interface hub standard to control and connect with a computer, and connect with digital products and provide data recording function;
A memory card having a multi-interface, comprising a single product interface. 9. The memory card having a multi-interface according to claim 8, wherein the micro-control unit has one microprocessor, one connection interface controller, one HOST (host) interface controller, and one memory therein. A memory card having a multi-interface, comprising an interface. 10. An enclosure having a slot for inserting a memory card, and a set of IEEE1394 used for plugging into a corresponding I / O interface slot of a computer.
One pin connector that has a connection interface and a plurality of pins, one pin connects to each of the interface connectors described above, and the other pin plugs in according to the interface pin hub provided on the memory card A memory card conversion adapter having a multi-interface. 11. The conversion adapter for a memory card having a multi-interface according to claim 10, wherein a housing of the conversion adapter is configured such that an upper housing and a lower housing face each other, and both ends of the housing are provided. Forming a facing cutout, one of the cutouts being used to install a memory card slot, and the other being used to install an interface connector, the conversion of a memory card having a multi-interface. adapter. 12. The conversion adapter for a memory card having a multi-interface according to claim 10, wherein the corresponding pin connector is formed of a U-shaped casing, and the casing includes two facing side frames and one connecting beam. A conversion adapter for a memory card having a multi-interface, wherein a single rail is formed on inner walls opposed to both side frames, and a plurality of pins are passed through a connecting beam of a pin connector.