JP2003260268A - Memory card and relay adaptor of video game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To share a memory card between different models of video game machines. <P>SOLUTION: The memory card comprises a card end connector 2 to be inserted into a memory slot of a video game machine and connected to a connector 1 inside the slot, first and second memory circuits 3a and 3b whose memory buses are independent from each other, a first interface circuit 4a connected to the bus of the first memory circuit 3a, a second interface circuit 4a connected to the bus of the second memory circuit 3a, a selector circuit 5 for selectively connecting the first interface circuit 4a or the second interface circuit 4b to the card end connector 2, and an operation switch 6 for transmitting a switch signal to the selector circuit 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to Sony PlayStation, Nintendo GameCube, or Microsoft Xbox (both are trade names).
The present invention relates to improvements in memory cards used in such video game machines, and particularly to technology for sharing memory cards between video game models with different memory card connection standards.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Role-playing games and the like often require a huge amount of time to complete the game, and it is normal to play them for many days while interrupting them many times. When the game is interrupted, the game progress data up to that time is saved in a memory card, and the saved data is read into the video game machine when the game is restarted. The memory card has a built-in flash memory, and by inserting it into the memory slot of the video game console, the connector inside the slot and the card end connector are connected, and the computer of the video game console accesses the memory card to read and write data. .

Video game enthusiasts have a large number of memory cards, and keep track of which game and when data is stored in which memory card. Many enthusiasts own multiple video game consoles of different models. It is not possible to share a memory card between video game consoles of different manufacturers due to different standards. In some cases, the Sony PlayStation memory card can also be used in some cases, such as the PlayStation 2, which is a higher-end model of the Sony memory card.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to allow a memory card to be shared between different types of video game machines. To achieve this object, a memory card according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a card end connector that is inserted into a memory slot of a video game machine and connected to a connector in the slot, a first memory circuit and a first memory circuit that have independent memory buses. Two memory circuits, a first interface circuit connected to the bus of the first memory circuit, and a second interface circuit connected to the bus of the second memory circuit,
A selector circuit for selectively connecting the first interface circuit and the second interface circuit to the card end connector and an operation switch for giving a switching signal to the selector circuit are provided.

A memory card according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a card end connector which is inserted into a memory slot of a video game machine and connected to a connector in the slot, a memory circuit, and a first common connection to a bus of this memory circuit. An interface circuit and a second interface circuit; and a first
A selector circuit for selectively connecting the interface circuit and the second interface circuit to the card end connector;
An operation switch for giving a switching signal to the selector circuit is provided.

In the memory card according to the first invention or the second invention, the selector circuit switches connection between the first interface circuit and the second interface circuit in response to the switching signal on condition that the memory is not being accessed. It is desirable to configure

A relay adapter according to a third aspect of the invention is used for the memory card according to the first or second aspect of the invention, and has a root connector connected to a card end connector of the memory card and a parallel connection to the root connector. The first cable and the second cable which are connected, the first connector which is connected to the tip of the first cable and is inserted into the memory slot of the first video game machine and is connected to the connector in the slot, and the tip of the second cable And a second connector which is connected to the memory slot of the second video game machine and is connected to the connector in the slot.

A memory card according to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes a first card end connector which is inserted into a memory slot of a first video game machine and is connected to an in-slot connector, and a second card end connector which is provided at the opposite card end. A second card end connector inserted into the memory slot of the video game machine and connected to the in-slot connector, first and second interface circuits respectively connected to the first and second card end connectors, and both interfaces And two memory circuits connected to each circuit.

A memory card according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes a card end connector which is inserted into a memory slot of a video game machine and is connected to an in-slot connector, an interface circuit connected to the card end connector, and an interface circuit. The standard of the connected memory circuit and the relay connector connected to the card end connector and the interface circuit and externally connected to the card end connector is determined, and the operation standard of the interface circuit is switched according to the determination result. And a controller for controlling.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION === First Embodiment === The electrical configuration of a memory card of the first embodiment is shown in FIG. 1, and an example of its appearance is shown in FIG. This memory card is a card end connector 2 which is inserted into a memory slot of a video game machine and connected to a connector 1 in the slot.
, A first memory circuit 3a and a second memory circuit 3b having independent memory buses, and a first interface circuit 4 connected to the bus of the first memory circuit 3a.
a, a second interface circuit 4b connected to the bus of the second memory circuit 3b, and a first interface circuit 4a
And a selector circuit 5 for selectively connecting the second interface circuit 4b to the card end connector 2, and an operation switch 6 for giving a switching signal to the selector circuit 5.

In the example of FIG. 2, the operation switch 6 is a slide switch, and its lever is located at the end opposite to the card end connector 2. The selector circuit 5 is the first
Interface circuit 4a and second interface circuit 4b
Two LEDs, depending on which of the two is selected
It also includes an LED lighting circuit for lighting one of the lamps 7a and 7b. In the example of FIG. 2, the LED lamps 7a and 7
b is arranged near the switch 6. Further, the selector circuit 5 monitors a signal exchanged with the connected video game machine, and the video game machine displays the memory circuit 3a / 3.
When any one of b is being accessed, the interface circuits 4a and 4b are not switched even when the switch 6 is switched, and the switching is executed when the memory access operation is completed. FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which the arrangement positions of the LED lamps 7a and 7b are different.

=== Second Embodiment === The electrical configuration of a memory card of the second embodiment is shown in FIG. An example of the appearance of this is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 (in common with the first embodiment already described). This memory card is inserted into a memory slot of a video game machine and connected to an in-slot connector 1 at a card end connector 2, a memory circuit 3, and a first interface circuit 4a commonly connected to the bus of the memory circuit 3. And a second interface circuit 4b, a selector circuit 5 for selectively connecting the first interface circuit 4a and the second interface circuit 4b to the card end connector 2, and an operation switch 6 for giving a switching signal to the selector circuit 5. Is equipped with.

Similar to the first embodiment, the selector circuit 5 includes a lighting circuit for the LED lamps 7a and 7b that indicates a switching selection state and a circuit that prohibits switching during access.

In the second embodiment, since the first interface circuit 4a and the second interface circuit 4b are connected to the common memory circuit 3, for example, the first interface circuit 4a
The data written in the memory circuit 3 via the interface circuit 4a can be read out via the second interface circuit 4b.

=== Relay Adapter === A relay adapter 50 as shown in FIG. 5 can be applied to the memory cards of the first and second embodiments. This relay adapter 50 is a base connector 5 connected to the card end connector 2 of the memory card MC.
1, a first cable 52a and a second cable 52b connected in parallel to the root connector 51, a tip of the first cable 52a, a memory slot of the first video game machine A, and a connector in the slot. And a second connector 53b connected to the tip of the second cable 52b and inserted into the memory slot of the second video game machine B to be connected to the in-slot connector.

By using the relay adapter 50, while the memory card MC is still connected to the video game machines A and B, the operation switch 6 is switched so that the memory card MC can be connected to the video game machine A without being detached. B
Applicable to both.

=== Third Embodiment === FIG. 6 shows an electrical configuration of a memory card of a third embodiment, and FIG. 7 shows an example of its external appearance. This memory card includes a first card end connector 2a which is inserted into the memory slot of the first video game machine and is connected to the connector 1a in the slot, and a memory of the second video game machine which is provided at the opposite card end. A second card end connector 2b inserted into the slot and connected to the in-slot connector 1b, and first and second card end connectors 2a and 2b
It is provided with first and second interface circuits 4a and 4b connected to each, and two memory circuits 3a and 3b connected to each of the interface circuits 4a and 4b. That is, the memory card of this embodiment is used by changing the inserting direction into the slot according to the video game machine.

A modification of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 6 will be described. First, the first memory circuit 3a and the second memory circuit 3b are replaced with a large-capacity one memory circuit so that they can be accessed from both the first interface circuit 4a and the second interface circuit 4b. Further, the interface circuit for accessing one memory circuit is also integrated into one, and this is connected to the first card end connector 2
a and the second card end connector 2b.

=== Fourth Embodiment === FIG. 8 shows the electrical construction of a memory card of a fourth embodiment. This memory card has a card end connector 2
An interface circuit 4 connected to the card end connector 2, a memory circuit 3 connected to the interface circuit 4, a card end connector 2 and an interface circuit 4, and an external connection to the card end connector 2. The controller 8 determines the standard of the relay connector (9a or 9b) and switches the operation standard of the interface circuit 4 according to the result of the determination. If it is connected to the first video game machine via the relay connector 9a, the interface circuit 4 has an operating standard adapted to it, and if it is connected to the second video game machine via the relay connector 9b, the interface circuit 4 is adapted to it. It becomes the operation standard.

=== Other Embodiments === When the memory card shown in FIG. 9 is inserted into the memory slot of the first video game machine, the memory card shown in FIG. When inserting, insert it with the back side facing up. As a result, the connection state with the slot connector of the game machine is switched, and the enable / disable of the interface circuit is automatically switched.

In the memory card shown in FIG. 10, the operation switch 6 has four switching positions, and there are four LED lamps 7a to 7d corresponding thereto. Depending on the switching position of the operating switch 6, it is possible to comply with one of the four standards or enable one of the four memory blocks.

In the memory card shown in FIG. 11, each time the operation switch 6 is pressed, the number on the adjacent display 11 is changed to 0 to 9 in sequence, whereby one of the 10 standards is met. Or enable one of the ten memory blocks.

[0023]

According to the present invention, a memory card can be shared between different types of video game machines.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a memory card according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the memory card of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is another external view of the memory card of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a memory card according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a relay adapter according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a memory card according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an external view of a memory card according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an external view of a memory card according to other embodiment 1;

FIG. 10 is an external view of a memory card according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an external view of a memory card according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1.1a / 1b slot connector 2, 2a, 2b Card end connector 3, 3a, 3b memory circuit 4, 4a, 4b interface circuit 5 selector circuit 6 operation switch 7a-7d LED lamp 50 relay adapter 51 root connector 52a first cable 52b Second cable 53a First connector 53b Second connector A first video game machine B Second video game machine MC memory card

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06K 19/07 G06K 19/00 QF term (reference) 2C001 BD07 5B035 BB09 BB11 BC00 CA05 CA06 CA11 CA22 CA29 5B058 CA13 KA24 YA20 5B065 BA09 ZA11

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A card end connector inserted into a memory slot of a video game machine and connected to a connector in the slot, a first memory circuit and a second memory circuit having independent memory buses, and a first memory circuit. First interface circuit connected to the bus of the second memory circuit, a second standard interface circuit connected to the bus of the second memory circuit, and a selector for selectively connecting the first interface circuit and the second interface circuit to the card end connector. A memory card for a video game machine, comprising a circuit and an operation switch for giving a switching signal to the selector circuit. 2. A card end connector inserted into a memory slot of a video game machine and connected to a connector in the slot, a memory circuit, and a first interface circuit and a second interface circuit commonly connected to a bus of the memory circuit. And a selector circuit for selectively connecting the first interface circuit and the second interface circuit to the card end connector, and an operation switch for giving a switching signal to the selector circuit. Memory card. 3. The selector circuit according to claim 1, wherein the selector circuit switches connection between the first interface circuit and the second interface circuit in response to the switching signal, provided that the memory is not being accessed. A memory card for a video game console. 4. A root connector connected to the card end connector in the memory card according to claim 1 or 2, a first cable and a second cable connected in parallel to the root connector, and a first cable A first connector connected to the tip and inserted into the memory slot of the first video game console and connected to the connector inside the slot, and a connector connected to the tip of the second cable and inserted into the memory slot of the second video game console and inside the slot A relay adapter for a memory card, which has a second connector connected to the connector. 5. A first card end connector inserted into the memory slot of the first video game machine and connected to the connector in the slot, and a memory slot of the second video game machine provided on the opposite card end. A second card end connector that is inserted and connected to the slot connector,
A memory for a video game machine, comprising first and second interface circuits connected to the first and second card end connectors, respectively, and two memory circuits connected to the interface circuits, respectively. card. 6. A card end connector, an interface circuit connected to the card end connector, a memory circuit connected to the interface circuit, the card end connector and the interface circuit, and the card end connector. A memory card for a video game machine, comprising: a controller that determines the standard of an externally connected relay connector and controls switching of the operation standard of the interface circuit according to the determination result.