JP2003303058A - Pc adaptor for small card - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To resolve the problems that when a small card and a device such as a PHS (personal handy phone) and a wireless LAN for outputting interrupt signals are inserted, a notification of an interrupt to a PC (personal computer) side is needed, however, at an adaptor for storage device such as a conventional PC card adaptor, in such a state that clocks for dropping consumption currents are stopped, there is no means for notifying the interrupt signals from the small card and the device so that interrupt processing can not be executed. <P>SOLUTION: In the adaptor for storage device such as the PC adaptor card, such a circuit that assigns interrupt signal lines from the small card and device such as the PHS and wireless LAN and notifies to the PC side is provided inside of a control LSI of an interface of a PC or in its surrounding circuit. A device which is able to switch ON/OFF of the circuit b a bender unique command issued from a PC driver and switch an interrupt transfer function to the PC in use or not in use. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a small card PC adapter, and more particularly to a method for connecting a removable small card to an interface of a host computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, PC cards have been used in personal computers, digital cameras, PDAs, handy terminals and the like. For digital cameras, ATA
It is often used to store image data on a small card such as a smart media card that does not comply with the standard interface, and a PC card adapter for reading and writing image data stored on the small card by a host computer is also often used.

A conventional PC card adapter is, for example, one described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-43033, and a PC card A is used as an interface of the PC card.
The TA standard is used. In the interface, when a command comes from the PC side to the ATA interface LSI, an interrupt is transmitted to the PC at the end of the command processing. Although a small memory device type card such as an SD memory card communicates with the interface LSI, it does not have an interrupt signal detection function because it does not output an interrupt signal from the small card.

[0004]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] PHS and wireless L
When a small card such as an AN that outputs an interrupt signal is inserted, it is necessary to notify the PC of the interrupt. However, when the clock of the PC card adapter is stopped in order to reduce the current consumption, there is no means for notifying the PC of the interrupt signal from the small card, and the PC cannot perform interrupt processing.

Further, when an interrupt signal from the small card is notified on the PC side, the PC may malfunction due to the interrupt signal notification unless an appropriate driver for processing the interrupt signal is incorporated.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A PHS is used as an interface LSI with a PC mounted on a small card adapter.
OR interrupt signals from detachable devices such as wireless LAN, SDIO card, etc. with conventional interrupt signals
A circuit that allocates so as to meet the conditions and transmits to the PC side is provided.

Further, there is provided a device having a function capable of switching the validity / invalidity of the circuit by a vendor unique command issued via a driver incorporated in the PC, and enabling / disabling the interrupt transmission function.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic component constructional diagram of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, the PC adapter for a small card of the present invention is
It is mainly composed of 10, 11, 12, and 13 parts.
12 is A for connecting with a host computer (PC)
A TA standard interface connector 13 is a connector for inserting and connecting a PC card adapter and a small card such as a PHS, LAN card, or SD memory card. A controller LSI 10 is for controlling a small card connected to the connector 12, a host computer connected to the connector 12, and an ATA standard interface. Reference numeral 11 is an LSI peripheral circuit component for operating the controller LSI. As an interface between the small card and the controller LSI of 10, communication is performed by a protocol for controlling the small card.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic connection configuration diagram of a PC adapter for a small card of the present invention and a PC.

The small card PC adapter 23 can be installed in a PC card slot which is installed in the PC main body or externally connected to the PC, and when installed in the PC, it becomes a PC host system of 22. Communication is performed by the ATA interface protocol.

On the other hand, by inserting the 24 small cards into the 23 small PC adapters for the small cards, communication is performed according to the communication protocol of the small cards.

By connecting in this way, 21 PCs
With this, communication of 24 small cards becomes possible.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of the interrupt signal (IREQ).

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram in which an interrupt signal from a small card 34 is transmitted to a PC host system 32 through a signal line and a small card PC adapter 33 of the present invention.

The conventional IREQ signal 35 is A from the PC side.
This is a signal used to notify the PC of the end of command processing after a command is transmitted to the controller LSI via the TA interface. PC
When there is no command transmitted from the device, the interrupt signal is non-active, and in the past, the PC card adapter or the inserted small card became the master, and did not request any processing from the PC side.

When a device for generating an interrupt signal, such as a PHS or a LAN card, is inserted and the above-mentioned conventional state is maintained, the generation of the interrupt cannot be notified to the PC side, and therefore the circuit A of 36 is used. To enable selection. The circuit A of 36 may exist inside the controller LSI or in the LSI peripheral circuit. By providing this circuit, the PC card adapter or the connected small card becomes the master, generates an interrupt signal from the communication line or the like of the card interface, and makes it possible to request some processing from the PC side.

For example, when the normal card PC adapter is not operating, the standby state is entered and the controller LSI
The operation clock of is also stopped and is in a state of low power consumption. Even in this case, it becomes possible to directly notify the host system of the PC of the interrupt signal of the PHS, LAN card or the like through the circuit A of 36, and the PC side can execute the necessary interrupt processing.

Next, in FIG. 4, another interrupt signal (IRE
The structure of Q) is shown.

The operation of the circuit A of the conventional IREQ signals 45 and 46 is as described above with reference to FIG. Circuit B is provided. The circuit B of 48 can be turned on / off by a vendor unique command of 47. This circuit is also the controller LS similar to the circuit A of 46.
It may exist inside I or in an LSI peripheral circuit.

By setting a vendor unique command with a command issued via a driver incorporated in a PC and controlling the circuit B of 48, the user intentionally sets the PH
It is possible to freely switch the method of using the interrupt signal of the S or LAN card.

[0022]

By providing such a circuit in a small card PC adapter, when a removable small card or device that outputs an interrupt signal such as a PHS or LAN card is inserted, the interrupt signal is sent to the PC. It becomes possible to notify the side.

Further, even in the state where the current consumption is reduced when the clock of the small card adapter is stopped, the interrupt signal can be transmitted to the PC side and the interrupt processing can be performed on the PC side.

Furthermore, by using the vendor unique command in the driver incorporated in the PC, it is possible to use the function of notifying the interrupt signal to the PC side and switch it to the unused state, so that it can be used according to the purpose of the user. Will be able to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a small card PC adapter of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a connection configuration between a PC adapter for a small card of the present invention and a PC.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an interrupt signal of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of another interrupt signal of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 20 Controller LSI 11 Internal circuit (LSI peripheral circuit) 12 ATA I / F connector 13 Small card connector 14, 24, 34, 44 Small card (PHS, LAN
Card etc.) 21, 31, 41 Personal computer (PC) main body 22, 32, 42 PC host system 23, 33, 43 PC card adapter 35, 45 Conventional IREQ signal 36, 46 Circuit A 47 Vendor unique command control signal 48 Circuit B

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A method for connecting a removable small card to an interface of a host computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC), which comprises connecting means 1 for connecting the small card and a PC.
Connecting means 2 for connecting to the interface, and means for reading the unique data stored in the small card,
A PC adapter for a small card, which has an interface control means for transferring data to and from the PC through an interface of the PC and has a function of transmitting an interrupt signal from the removable small card to the PC. 2. A small card PC adapter having a function of transmitting an interrupt signal from the removable small card, wherein the interrupt transmission function is enabled or disabled by issuing a vendor unique command from the PC driver. A PC adapter for small cards that has a function that allows switching between