JP2006079289A - Communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data communication system capable of communicating data at significantly high speeds. <P>SOLUTION: An electronic device 2 uses a channel detection switch 9 to detect a channel extension G10e that is exposed to the casing 5 of a memory card 4 and that indicates a parallel communication mode. Thus, it is recognized that the memory card 4 is compatible with parallel communication method. As a result, the sending and receiving of the actual data are immediately started, using the parallel communication method without the electronic device 2 communicating data to the memory card 4 by use of a serial communication method and executing a process for recognizing the communication method with which the memory card 4 is compatible, and the data communication system capable of communicating data at significantly higher speeds is thereby achieved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication system, and is suitable for application when communicating between an electronic device and a semiconductor memory device, for example.

  In recent years, a card-type semiconductor memory device (hereinafter also referred to as a memory card) incorporating a semiconductor memory such as a flash memory has been widely used. As such a memory card, a memory stick PRO (R) or the like is known. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). Since this memory card is smaller and more durable than a hard disk or the like, it is often used as a storage medium for portable electronic devices such as digital still cameras, mobile phones, and portable audio players. Yes. Further, it is also used in stationary electronic devices for viewing image data captured by a digital still camera or the like on a plasma television or a liquid crystal television, or editing image data on a desktop personal computer.

  In practice, the housing of an electronic device that uses a memory card as a storage medium is provided with an insertion hole (hereinafter also referred to as a card slot) for inserting the memory card. Is inserted into the memory card so that data communication is possible.

  Conventionally, in such electronic devices and memory cards, data communication using a serial communication method in which data is exchanged bit by bit has been the mainstream. However, in recent years, with the increase in capacity of memory cards, the amount of data handled by the memory cards has increased dramatically, so the communication speed is becoming a bottleneck in the serial communication system. Therefore, electronic devices and memory cards have been proposed that can perform data communication by a parallel communication method in which communication speed is improved over a serial communication method by exchanging data several bits at a time.

  In addition, for the electronic devices and memory cards compatible with the parallel communication method, those that support both serial and parallel communication methods are also proposed so that the serial communication method electronic devices and memory cards that are currently widely used can be used. Has been. Such electronic devices and memory cards that support both communication systems include, for example, a mode for data communication using a serial communication system (hereinafter also referred to as a serial communication mode) and a mode for data communication using a parallel communication system (hereinafter referred to as this). (Also referred to as parallel communication mode).

  Here, the procedure for switching the communication mode in an electronic apparatus compatible with both serial and parallel communication methods will be described with reference to the sequence chart of FIG.

  The electronic device is configured to operate in a compatible serial communication mode as an initial mode. When a memory card is inserted into the card slot, the insertion of the memory card is confirmed in step SP100, and the next Control goes to step SP101. In step SP101, the electronic device transmits a command for causing the memory card to read information indicating the type of the memory card (hereinafter also referred to as media type information) to the memory card by a serial communication method.

  When the memory card receives the command for reading the media type information from the electronic device, in step SP102, the memory card reads the media type information stored in the memory card and transmits it to the electronic device by the serial communication method.

  When receiving the media type information from the memory card, the electronic device recognizes the type of the memory card from the media type information in the next step SP103, and proceeds to the next step SP104.

  In step SP104, the electronic device determines whether or not the type of the inserted memory card is compatible with the parallel communication method. If an affirmative result is obtained here, the electronic device moves to the next step SP105, and changes the communication mode setting value written in a predetermined part of the register provided in the memory card from the value indicating the serial communication mode to the parallel communication mode. Is transmitted to the memory card by the serial communication method, and then its own communication mode is switched to the parallel communication mode.

  When the memory card receives the communication mode switching command from the electronic device, in step SP106, the memory card sets the communication mode setting value written in the predetermined part of the register provided in the serial communication mode in response to the communication mode switching command. The communication mode is switched to the parallel communication mode by rewriting the value indicating the parallel communication mode to the value indicating the parallel communication mode.

  In step SP107, the electronic device transmits data to be written to the memory card to the memory card that has transitioned to the parallel communication mode in a parallel communication method. In the following description, data to be written to the memory card and data to be read from the memory card are also referred to as actual data.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP104 described above, this indicates that the type of the inserted memory card 4 is a type that is not compatible with the parallel communication system. Then, the process proceeds to step SP107 while maintaining the serial communication mode.

  In step SP107, the electronic device transmits actual data to the memory card that supports only the serial communication method using the serial communication method.

In this way, an electronic device that supports both serial and parallel communication systems first accesses the inserted memory card using the serial communication system, acquires media type information from the memory card, and based on the media type information. To recognize the corresponding communication method of the memory card. When the electronic device recognizes that the corresponding communication method of the memory card is, for example, both serial and parallel, the electronic device switches its communication mode and the communication mode of the memory card from serial to parallel, and And data communication with a parallel communication system.
JP 2003-242470 A

  By the way, in an electronic device compatible with both conventional serial and parallel communication methods, if the media identification information is not acquired by accessing the inserted memory card in the serial communication mode, the corresponding communication method of the memory card is used. Cannot be recognized as serial only or both serial and parallel.

  Therefore, for example, even if the inserted memory card is compatible with the parallel communication method, the electronic device first recognizes that the memory card is compatible with the parallel communication method by performing data communication using the serial communication method. Without it, it was impossible to start transmission / reception of actual data by the parallel communication method.

  As described above, in conventional electronic devices and memory cards, actual data is transmitted / received only after data communication is performed using a predetermined communication method (in this case, a serial communication method) to recognize each other's communication method. As a result, there is a problem that it takes time until transmission / reception of actual data is started.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and intends to propose a communication system capable of communicating at higher speed.

  In order to solve such a problem, in the communication system of the present invention, in the communication system in which the first communication device and the second communication device are connected and communicate with each other in a communication method corresponding to each other, A first communication unit corresponding to the first communication method and a casing formed with a recess indicating that the first communication method is supported are provided, and the second communication device supports the first communication method. Second communication means for detecting, a detection means for detecting a recess provided in the housing of the first communication device, and a second communication so as to communicate with the first communication method when the detection means detects the recess. And a control means for controlling the communication means.

  As a result, the second communication device detects the recess indicating that it corresponds to the first communication method provided in the casing of the first communication device, so that the first communication device performs the first communication. Since it can recognize that it corresponds to a system, it communicates with a 1st communication apparatus by a predetermined communication system, and does not perform processing which recognizes a communication system corresponding to the 1st communication apparatus, but immediately 1st Real data transmission / reception can be started by the communication method.

  According to the present invention, the second communication device detects the recess indicating that it corresponds to the first communication method provided in the housing of the first communication device, so that the first communication device is the first communication device. Since it can recognize that it corresponds to 1 communication system, it communicates with the 1st communication apparatus by a predetermined communication system, and does not perform processing which recognizes the communication system corresponding to the 1st communication apparatus immediately. The transmission and reception of actual data can be started by the first communication method, and thus a communication system that can communicate at higher speed can be realized.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(1) First Embodiment (1-1) System Configuration In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a communication system that supports both serial and parallel communication systems as a whole, and a card slot 3 provided in the electronic device 2 On the other hand, when the memory card 4 is inserted, the electronic device 2 and the memory card 4 are connected and data communication is possible.

  For example, when data to be written to the flash memory built in the memory card 4 (that is, actual data) is transferred from the electronic device 2 to the memory card 4, the memory card 4 writes the transferred actual data to the flash memory. It is made like that.

(1-2) Configuration of Memory Card and Card Slot As shown in FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B, the memory card 4 has a card-shaped housing 5 having a horizontally long flat rectangular shape. A slide groove 6 is provided at the center of the rear surface of the housing 5 along the longitudinal direction of the housing 5, and a slide switch 7 that can slide in the slide groove 6 is attached. When the slide switch 7 is slid to one end side of the slide groove 6 by a user, for example, the memory card 4 shifts to a serial communication mode in which data communication is performed by a serial communication method, and when the slide switch 7 is slid to the other end side, a parallel communication method is performed. In the parallel communication mode for data communication.

  Further, a plurality of strip-like grooves G (G1, G2,..., G10) are provided on one of the short side end portions (hereinafter referred to as one end portion) on the back surface of the housing 5. Each of the belt-like grooves G (G1, G2,..., G10) is a belt-like groove that is extended in the direction from the one end portion to the other end portion (the direction of arrow A) on the back surface. Are arranged side by side with an interval of. Further, in each of the belt-like grooves G (G1, G2,..., G10), card side belt-like terminals CT (CT1, CT2,..., CT10) for connection to the electronic device 2 are embedded.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3 (A), the belt-like groove G10 is extended in the direction of arrow A by a predetermined length longer than the other belt-like grooves G1 to G9, and the groove portion extended by this predetermined length ( Hereinafter, this is also referred to as an extension groove portion). G10e is provided with a slide pin 8 that slides in and out of the housing 5 along the extension groove portion G10e.

  The slide pin 8 slides in conjunction with the slide operation of the slide switch 7, and the slide switch 7 is connected to the other end of the slide groove 6 (indicated by the arrow A) as shown in FIG. Slid toward the other end of the strip groove G10 (in the direction of arrow A), and is housed in the housing 5 so as to expose the extended groove portion G10e of the strip groove G10. The

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the slide switch 7 is slid to one end side of the slide groove 6 (opposite direction of the arrow A), the slide pin 8 is directed to one end side of the belt-like groove G10 (arrow). And slides in the opposite direction of A) and protrudes from the housing 5 so as to fill the extended groove portion G10e of the belt-like groove G10.

  That is, when the slide switch 7 slides to the other end side of the slide groove 6 and the memory card 4 is in the parallel communication mode (FIG. 3A), the slide pin 8 extends the extension groove portion G10e of the belt-like groove G10. When the memory card 4 is in the serial communication mode (FIG. 3B) when the slide switch 7 is slid to one end side of the slide groove 6, the slide switch 7 is slid so as to fill the extended groove portion G10e of the belt-like groove G10. Move.

  Incidentally, the housing 5 of the memory card 4 is formed by adding a slide groove 6, a slide switch 7 that slides in the slide groove 6, an extension groove portion G10e of the belt-like groove G10, The shape is such that a sliding pin 8 that slides in the extension groove portion G10e is newly provided, and there is no portion that protrudes as compared with an existing housing.

  On the other hand, the card slot 3 of the electronic device 2 is formed to a size that can accommodate the housing 5 of the memory card 4 as shown in FIG. 2, and the inner surface thereof (in this case, the inserted memory card 4). , On the side facing the back surface of the device, the device side band terminals IT (IT1, IT2,...,...) Are in contact with the card side band terminals CT (CT1, CT2,. IT10) is installed side by side.

  These device-side belt-like terminals IT (IT1, IT2,..., IT10) are connected to the circuit board inside the electronic device 2 at one end portion of the memory card 4 to which each other end portion is inserted. The card-side belt-like terminals CT (CT1, CT2,..., CT10) are brought into contact with each other. As a result, the electronic device 2 can be electrically connected to the inserted memory card 4 via the device-side strip terminals IT (IT1, IT2,..., IT10).

  Further, on the inner surface of the card slot 3, a groove detecting switch for detecting the extended groove portion G10e at a position substantially opposite to the extended groove portion G10e of the belt-like groove G10 provided on the back surface of the inserted memory card 4. 9 is attached.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the groove detection switch 9 has a flat rectangular housing 10, and one surface of the housing 10 (hereinafter referred to as an upper surface) An attachment portion 11 for attaching the housing 10 is provided on the inner surface of the card slot 3. Accordingly, the upper surface of the housing 10 is attached to the inner surface of the card slot 3, and at this time, the lower surface faces the back surface of the memory card 4 inserted in the card slot 3.

  In addition, one end of a push lever 12 that is substantially rod-shaped and has a width narrower than the width of the belt-like groove G10 of the memory card 4 is pivotally supported on one side surface of the housing 10 so as to be rotatable up and down. ing. Further, the push lever 12 is biased downward by a biasing member (not shown) in the housing 10.

  The groove detection switch 9 is turned on when the other end of the push lever 12 is pushed down to a position below the lower surface of the housing 10 by the urging member (FIG. 3A). Then, the switching operation is performed so as to be turned off when the other end of the push lever 12 is pushed up to a position substantially parallel to the lower surface by an external force or the like (FIG. 3B).

  Here, the positional relationship between the groove detection switch 9 and the memory card 4 inserted in the card slot 3 will be described in more detail.

  As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the housing 10 of the groove detection switch 9 includes the longitudinal direction of the push lever 12 and the longitudinal direction of the belt-like groove G <b> 10 provided on the back surface of the inserted memory card 4. It is attached to the inner surface of the card slot 3 so that the direction coincides and the extended groove portion G10e of the belt-like groove G10 is positioned directly below the push lever 12.

  As a result, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 6A, when the sliding pin 8 of the memory card 4 is housed in the housing 5 and the extension groove portion G10e is exposed, the groove detection switch 9 is turned on when the other end of the push lever 12 is pushed down into the extended groove portion G10e until the other end of the push lever 12 is below the lower surface of the housing 10.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 5B and 6B, when the sliding pin 8 of the memory card 4 protrudes from the housing 5 and fills the extended groove portion G10e, the groove detecting switch 9 is The push lever 12 is turned off when the other end of the push lever 12 is pushed up by the slide pin 8 to a position substantially parallel to the lower surface of the housing 10.

  That is, the groove detecting switch 9 is extended when the extended groove portion G10e of the belt-like groove G10 provided on the back surface of the inserted memory card 4 is exposed (that is, when the memory card 4 is in the parallel communication mode). When the groove portion G10e is detected and turned on, and when the extended groove portion G10e is filled (that is, when the memory card 4 is in the serial communication mode), the extended groove portion G10e cannot be detected and switched to be turned off. Operate.

(1-3) Circuit Configuration of Electronic Device and Memory Card Next, the circuit configuration of the electronic device 2 and the memory card 4 will be described. First, a circuit configuration of the electronic device 2 is shown in FIG. The electronic device 2 includes a control unit 20 having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory) configuration, a storage unit 22 including a hard disk connected via a bus 21, an OS, and the like. The control program is read out, and the overall control is performed according to the read control program.

  In addition, the bus 21 has an operation unit 23 including operation buttons for a user to input various commands, a data communication with the memory card 4 inserted in the card slot 3 by a serial communication method or a parallel communication method. An interface unit 24, a serial / parallel recognition unit 25 that recognizes the communication mode of the inserted memory card 4, and an output unit 26 that outputs video and audio based on data read from the memory card 4 are connected.

  Here, the serial / parallel recognition unit 25 recognizes the communication mode of the inserted memory card 4 based on the switching operation of the groove detection switch 9 described above, and the groove detection switch 9 is turned on. Sometimes, the communication mode of the memory card 4 is recognized as parallel, and when it is off, the communication mode of the memory card 4 is recognized as serial.

  That is, when the memory card 4 is inserted into the card slot 3, the control unit 20 recognizes the communication mode of the memory card 4 with the serial / parallel recognition unit 25, and the communication of the interface unit 24 according to the recognized communication mode. A communication mode is set by switching the method, and data communication is performed with the memory card 4 in the set communication mode.

  Next, a circuit configuration of the memory card 4 is shown in FIG. In the memory card 4, the interface control unit 30 is written in a predetermined portion of the register 30A provided in the interface control unit 30 according to the slide position of the slide switch 7 (FIG. 2) provided in the housing 5. By rewriting the communication mode setting value, the communication mode is set to serial or parallel, and data communication with the electronic device 2 is performed in the set communication mode.

  That is, the interface control unit 30 sets the communication mode to serial when the slide switch 7 is located on one end side of the slide groove 6, and sets it in parallel when the slide switch 7 is located on the other end side of the slide groove 6. Has been made.

  For example, when the actual data is received from the electronic device 2 in the set communication mode, the interface control unit 30 sends the actual data to the buffer memory 31.

  The buffer memory 31 temporarily stores actual data supplied from the interface control unit 30. The actual data temporarily stored in the buffer memory 31 is read out at a predetermined timing by the memory control unit 32 and written into the flash memory 33.

  The memory control unit 32 reads actual data from the flash memory 33 and sends it to the buffer memory 31. The buffer memory 31 temporarily stores actual data supplied from the memory control unit 32. The actual data temporarily stored in the buffer memory 32 is read out at a predetermined timing by the interface control unit 30 and transmitted to the electronic device 2 in the set communication mode.

  In this way, the memory card 4 operates in a communication mode corresponding to the slide position of the slide switch 7, writes the actual data received from the electronic device 2 to its own flash memory 33, and stores the actual data read from the flash memory 33. The data is transmitted to the electronic device 2.

(1-4) Data Communication Processing Here, the electronic device 2 of the communication system 1 recognizes the communication mode of the inserted memory card 4, and the memory card 4 in the communication mode corresponding to the recognized communication mode. The procedure of the data communication process for data communication with will be described with reference to the sequence chart of FIG.

  When the memory card 4 is inserted into the card slot 3 with the power turned on, the electronic device 2 confirms the insertion of the memory card 4 in step SP1. On the other hand, when the memory card 4 is inserted into the card slot 3 of the electronic device 2, the memory card 4 is activated by power supply from the electronic device 2 in step SP2, and the slide switch 7 is slid to one end side of the slide groove 6. If the communication mode is set to the parallel communication mode, the communication mode is set to the serial communication mode.

  In the following step SP3, the electronic device 2 confirms the state (on / off) of the groove detection switch 9, and proceeds to the next step SP4. In step SP4, the electronic device 2 determines whether or not the groove detection switch 9 is on.

  If an affirmative result is obtained here, this means that the groove detection switch 9 is on, that is, the memory card 4 is set to the parallel communication mode. At this time, the electronic device 2 performs the next step SP5. Move on.

  In step SP5, the electronic device 2 sets its own communication mode to the parallel communication mode, and proceeds to the next step SP7.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP4, this indicates that the groove detecting switch 9 is off, that is, the memory card 4 is set to the serial communication mode. Moves to the next step SP6.

  In step SP6, the electronic device 2 sets its own communication mode to the serial communication mode, and proceeds to the next step SP7.

  In step SP7, the electronic device 2 transmits actual data to the memory card 4 by the communication method (for example, parallel) set in step SP5 or step SP6.

  In step SP8, the memory card 4 receives the actual data sent from the electronic device 2 in the communication mode (for example, parallel) set in step SP2.

  In this way, the electronic device 2 recognizes the communication mode of the memory card 4 based on the state of the groove detection switch 9 in the card slot 3 when the memory card 4 is inserted, and the recognized communication mode. The actual data is transmitted to the memory card 4 in a communication mode corresponding to the above.

  Here, as an example, the processing procedure when the electronic device 2 transmits actual data to the memory card has been described, but the processing procedure when the electronic device 2 receives (reads) actual data from the memory card is also the same. It is.

(1-5) Operation and Effect in First Embodiment In the above configuration, the memory card 4 of the communication system 1 has the slide switch 7 provided on the back surface of the housing 5 slid to one end side of the slide groove 6. The communication mode is set to parallel, and the sliding pin 8 that slides in the extension groove portion G10e of the belt-like groove G10 provided on the back surface is accommodated in the housing 5, and the extension groove portion G10e is Expose.

  In addition, when the slide switch 7 is slid to the other end side of the slide groove 6, the memory card 4 sets the communication mode to serial and causes the slide pin 8 to protrude from the housing 5. To fill the extension groove G10e.

  As described above, when the memory card 4 is in the parallel communication mode, the extension groove portion G10e of the belt-like groove G10 provided in the housing 5 is exposed to show to the outside that its own communication mode is parallel. In the serial communication mode, the extension groove portion G10e is filled to indicate to the outside that its own communication mode is serial.

  On the other hand, when the memory card 4 is inserted into the card slot 3, the electronic device 2 confirms the state of the groove detection switch 9 attached to the card slot 3. Here, when the extension groove portion G10e of the strip-like groove G10 provided on the back surface of the memory card 4 is exposed, the groove detection switch 9 detects the extension groove portion G10e and is turned on. When the groove part G10e is filled, the extended groove part G10e cannot be detected and the signal is turned off.

  Therefore, the electronic device 2 can recognize that the communication mode of the memory card 4 is parallel when the groove detection switch 9 is on, and that the communication mode of the memory card 4 is serial when it is off. Can be recognized. Then, the electronic device 2 starts transmission / reception of actual data in a communication mode corresponding to the recognized communication mode of the memory card 4.

  Thus, when the memory card 4 whose communication mode is switched to parallel, for example, by the slide switch 7 is inserted into the card slot 3, the electronic device 2 has the belt-like groove G <b> 10 exposed to the housing 5 of the memory card 4 at this time. By detecting the extended groove portion G10e with the groove detection switch 9, it is possible to recognize that the communication mode of the memory card 4 is parallel (that is, that the communication mode is compatible with the parallel communication method). It is possible to immediately start transmission / reception of actual data using the parallel communication method without performing a process of recognizing the communication method corresponding to the memory card 4 by performing data communication with the memory card 4 using a simple serial communication method.

  Further, the housing 5 of the memory card 4 has a slide groove 6, a slide switch 7 that slides inside the slide groove 6, an extension groove portion G10e of the belt-like groove G10, and this extension groove. The shape is merely a new provision of the sliding pin 8 that slides in the portion G10e, and no portion that protrudes compared to the existing housing is provided. That is, the housing 5 of the memory card 4 is formed to have the same size (outer dimensions) as the existing housing, so that the card slot 3 of the electronic device 2 can be made the same size as the existing card slot. it can.

  As a result, an existing memory card can be inserted into the card slot 3 of the electronic device 2, and a memory card 4 can be inserted into the card slot of the existing electronic device.

  Actually, for example, when a memory card corresponding only to an existing serial communication system is inserted into the card slot 3 of the electronic device 2, the electronic device 2 is provided with an extension groove of the belt-like groove G10 on the rear surface of the housing of the memory card. Since the portion G10e is not provided, the groove detection switch 9 is turned off. As a result, it can be recognized that the memory card is in the serial communication mode, and data communication with the memory card can be performed by the serial communication method.

  For example, when the memory card 4 of the present embodiment is inserted into a card slot of an electronic device that supports only the existing serial communication system, the communication mode of the memory card 4 is switched to the serial communication mode with the slide switch 7. The memory card 4 can perform data communication with the electronic device by a serial communication method.

  As described above, the electronic device 2 and the memory card 4 are also compatible with existing electronic devices and memory cards.

  According to the above configuration, in the communication system 1, the extended groove portion G10e indicating that the electronic device 2 is in the parallel communication mode exposed to the housing 5A of the inserted memory card 4 is detected by the groove. By detecting with the switch 9, it can be recognized that the memory card 4 is compatible with the parallel communication system. As a result, the electronic device 2 performs data communication with the memory card 4 by the serial communication system. Since it is possible to immediately start transmission / reception of actual data by the parallel communication method without performing processing for recognizing the corresponding communication method, data communication can be performed at a higher speed.

(2) Second Embodiment In this second embodiment, the extended groove portion of the belt-like groove G10 from the memory card 4 (4A in this embodiment) of the communication system 1 (1A in this embodiment). Except for the point that the G10e and the sliding pin 8 are omitted and the mounting position of the groove detection switch 9 in the card slot 3 of the electronic device 2 (2A in the present embodiment) is different, the first embodiment described above is used. It is the same as that of the form, and the description of the same part is omitted.

(2-1) Configuration of Memory Card and Card Slot The memory card 4A of the communication system 1A is shown in FIG. 10 in which the same reference numerals are assigned to the corresponding parts in FIG. 2, and the corresponding parts in FIGS. 3 (A) and 3 (B). As shown in FIGS. 11 (A) and 11 (B), the casing 5A is formed in a horizontally long flat rectangular shape. The housing 5A has a shape in which the extended groove portion G10e of the belt-like groove G10 and the sliding pin 8 are omitted from the housing 5 of the memory card 4 described in the first embodiment.

  That is, the housing 5A is provided with a slide groove 6 and a slide switch 7 at the center of the back surface, and a plurality of belt-like grooves G (G1, G2,. .., G10) are formed, and the card-side band terminals CT (CT1, CT2,..., CT10) are embedded in each of the belt-like grooves G (G1, G2,..., G10).

  In the memory card 4A, when the slide switch 7 is slid to one end side of the slide groove 6, one end portion 6A of the slide groove 6 is filled with the slide switch 7, and the mode is changed to the serial communication mode. When slid, the one end portion 6A of the slide groove 6 is exposed and the mode is changed to the parallel communication mode.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, the card slot 3 of the electronic device 2A is formed to a size that can accommodate the housing 5A of the memory card 4A, and the device side belt-like terminal IT (IT1, IT2,..., IT10) are juxtaposed.

  Further, a groove detection switch 9 is attached to the inner surface of the card slot 3 at a position substantially opposite to one end portion 6A of the slide groove 6 provided on the back surface of the inserted memory card 4A. The groove detection switch 9 in this case is for detecting one end portion 6A of the slide groove 6.

  Here, the positional relationship between the groove detection switch 9 and the memory card 4A inserted in the card slot 3 will be described in more detail.

  As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B in which the same reference numerals are given to the corresponding parts to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the housing 10 of the groove detection switch 9 has a longitudinal direction of the push lever 12. The card slot 3 is arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the slide groove 6 provided on the back surface of the inserted memory card 4A coincides with the one end portion 6A of the slide groove 6 directly below the push lever 12. It is attached to the inner surface.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 12A, when the slide switch 7 of the memory card 4A slides to the other end side of the slide groove 6 and the one end portion 6A of the slide groove 6 is exposed, the groove detection switch 9 Is turned on when the other end of the push lever 12 is pushed down into the one end portion 6A of the slide groove 6 to a position below the lower surface of the housing 10.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12B, when the slide switch 7 of the memory card 4A slides to one end side of the slide groove 6 to fill the one end portion 6A of the slide groove 6, the groove detection switch 9 is The push switch 12 is turned off when the other end of the push lever 12 is pushed up by the slide switch 7 to a position substantially parallel to the lower surface of the housing 10.

  That is, the groove detecting switch 9 has one end portion when the one end portion 6A of the slide groove 6 provided on the back surface of the inserted memory card 4 is exposed (that is, when the memory card 4A is in the parallel communication mode). When 6A is detected and turned on and the one end portion 6A is filled (that is, in the serial communication mode of the memory card 4A), the switching operation is performed so that the one end portion 6A cannot be detected and is turned off.

(2-2) Operation and effect according to the second embodiment In the above configuration, the memory card 4A is configured such that the slide switch 7 provided on the back surface of the housing 5A is slid to one end side of the slide groove 6. When one end portion 6A of the slide groove 6 is exposed by the slide switch 7, the communication mode is set to parallel, and the slide switch 7 is slid to the other end side of the slide groove 6 to thereby end the one end portion of the slide groove 6. When 6A is filled, the communication mode is set to serial.

  On the other hand, when the memory card 4A is inserted into the card slot 3, the electronic device 2A checks the state of the groove detection switch 9 attached to the card slot 3. Here, when one end portion 6A of the slide groove 6 provided on the back surface of the memory card 4A is exposed, the groove detecting switch 9 detects the one end portion 6A and is turned on, and the one end portion 6A. Is embedded, the one end portion 6A cannot be detected, and is turned off.

  Therefore, the electronic device 2A can recognize that the communication mode of the memory card 4A is parallel when the groove detection switch 9 is on, and that the communication mode of the memory card 4A is serial when it is off. Can be recognized. Then, electronic device 2A starts transmission / reception of actual data in a communication mode corresponding to the recognized communication mode of memory card 4A.

  Thus, in the electronic device 2A, when the memory card 4A whose communication mode is switched to parallel by the slide switch 7, for example, is inserted into the card slot 3, the slide groove 6 exposed to the housing 5A of the memory card 4A at this time By detecting the one end portion 6A with the groove detection switch 9, it is possible to recognize that the communication mode of the memory card 4A is parallel, and as a result, data communication with the memory card 4A is performed by a conventional serial communication method. It is possible to immediately start transmission / reception of actual data by the parallel communication method without performing processing for recognizing the communication method corresponding to the memory card.

  The housing 5A of the memory card 4A has a shape in which the extended groove portion G10e of the belt-like groove G10 and the sliding pin 8 are omitted from the housing 5 of the memory card 4 described in the first embodiment. The slide groove 6 and the slide switch 7 also serve as the extended groove portion G10e and the slide pin 8 of the belt-like groove G10. As a result, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be realized with a simpler configuration.

  According to the above configuration, in the communication system 1A, the electronic device 2A has the one end portion 6A of the slide groove 6 indicating that the electronic device 2A is in the parallel communication mode exposed to the housing 5A of the inserted memory card 4A. By detecting with the groove detection switch 9, it can be recognized that the memory card 4A is compatible with the parallel communication system, and as a result, the electronic device 2A performs data communication with the memory card 4A with the serial communication system to Since it is possible to immediately start transmission / reception of actual data by the parallel communication method without performing processing for recognizing the communication method corresponding to the card 4A, it is possible to perform data communication at a higher speed.

(3) Other Embodiments In the above-described first embodiment, as a recess indicating that the memory card 4 is compatible with the parallel communication system on one end of the back surface of the housing 5 of the memory card 4, An extension groove portion G10e of the belt-like groove G10 is provided, and in the second embodiment, one end portion of the slide groove 6 is provided as a recess indicating the same in the center of the back surface of the housing 5A of the memory card 4A. Although the case where 6A is provided has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and such recesses may be provided in other portions of the casings 5 and 5A.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the communication systems 1 and 1A are systems that support the parallel communication system as the first communication system and the serial communication system as the second communication system. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a system corresponding to a communication method other than the serial communication method and the parallel communication method may be used.

  Further, in the first and second embodiments described above, the memory cards 4 and 4A rewrite the communication mode setting value written in the predetermined portion of the register 30A according to the slide position of the slide switch 7. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, depending on the slide position of the slide switch 7, a serial communication system circuit and a parallel communication system circuit are provided. The communication mode may be set by physical switching, or the communication mode may be set by various other methods.

  Further, in the first and second embodiments described above, the case where the electronic devices 2 and 2A and the memory cards 4 and 4A are used as the communication devices constituting the communication systems 1 and 1A has been described. However, the communication systems 1 and 1A may be configured by various other communication devices as long as the communication devices communicate with each other in a connected communication method in a connected state.

  Further, in the first embodiment described above, the extension groove portion G10e is formed as a groove by sliding the slide pin 8 as the state changing means to expose the extension groove portion G10e of the belt-like groove G10 as the recess. The detection switch 9 can be detected, and the sliding pin 8 is slid to fill the extended groove portion G10e so that the extended groove portion G10e cannot be detected by the groove detection switch 9. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various other states can be used as long as the extended groove portion G10e can be detected by the groove detection switch 9 and cannot be detected. Changing means may be used.

  Furthermore, in the second embodiment described above, the slide switch 7 as the state change means is slid to expose the one end portion 6A of the slide groove 6 as the recess, so that the one end portion 6A is moved by the groove detection switch 9. Although the case where the one end portion 6A cannot be detected by the groove detection switch 9 by sliding the slide switch 7 and filling the one end portion 6A has been described, The invention is not limited to this, and various other state changing means may be used as long as the one end portion 6A can be detected by the groove detection switch 9 and can be detected.

  Further, in the first and second embodiments described above, the groove detection switch 9 that performs switching operation by raising and lowering the push lever 12 is provided with recesses (extension groove portions G10e and G10e of the belt-like groove G10) and the casings 5 and 5A. Although the case where the one end portion 6A) of the slide groove 6 is used as the detection means has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a switch having a mechanism different from that of the groove detection switch 9 may be used as the detection means. In addition, various other detection means may be used as long as the recess can be detected.

  Further, in the first embodiment described above, the interface control unit 30 as the communication means (first communication means), the slide pin 8 as the state change means, the slide groove 6 and the slide switch as the switching means. 7 describes the case where the memory card 4 as a communication device (first communication device) is configured. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the memory card 4 may be configured in various other configurations. Good.

  Furthermore, in the above-described second embodiment, the communication device (first communication unit) includes the interface control unit 30 as communication means (first communication means), the slide groove 6 and the slide switch 7 as state change means and switching means. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the memory card 4A may be configured in various other configurations.

  Further, in the first and second embodiments described above, the interface unit 24 as a communication unit (second communication unit), the groove detection switch 9 as a detection unit, the control unit 20 as a control unit, and the serial unit. Although the case where the electronic devices 2 and 2A as the communication device (second communication device) are configured by the / parallel recognition unit 25 has been described, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the electronic device 2 and the various other configurations You may make it comprise 2A.

  The present invention can be widely used in a system for data communication between a semiconductor memory device and an electronic device.

It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of the communication system in 1st Embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of a card slot and a memory card. It is a basic diagram which shows the external appearance structure (1) of a memory card. It is a basic diagram which shows the external appearance structure of a groove | channel detection switch. It is a basic diagram which shows the positional relationship (1) of the inserted memory card and a groove | channel detection switch. It is a basic diagram which shows the switching operation | movement of a groove | channel detection switch. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of an electronic device. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of a memory card. It is a sequence chart which shows a data communication processing procedure. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of the card slot and memory card in 2nd Embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows the external appearance structure (2) of a memory card. It is a basic diagram which shows the positional relationship (2) of the inserted memory card and a groove | channel detection switch. It is a sequence chart which shows the conventional communication mode switching process procedure.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A ... Communication system 2, 2A ... Electronic device, 3 ... Card slot 4, 4A ... Memory card 5, 5A, 10 ... Housing, 6 ... Slide groove, 6A ... One end Part 6A, 7 ... Slide switch, 8 ... Slide pin 8, 9 ... Groove detection switch, 11 ... Mounting part, 12 ... Push lever, 20 ... Control part, 24 ... Interface part, 25 ... Serial / parallel recognition , 30... Interface control unit, 33... Flash memory, CT1 to CT10... Strip terminal, G1 to G10... Strip groove, G10e.

Claims (18)

In a communication system in which a first communication device and a second communication device are connected and communicate with each other by a corresponding communication method,
The first communication device is
First communication means corresponding to the first communication method;
A housing formed with a recess indicating that it corresponds to the first communication method,
The second communication device is
A second communication means corresponding to the first communication method;
Detecting means for detecting the recess provided in the housing of the first communication device;
And a control means for controlling the second communication means so as to communicate with the first communication method when the detection means detects the recess. The first communication means includes
Corresponding to the first communication method and the second communication method,
The housing of the first communication device is
A state changing means for changing the concave portion into a state in which the detecting means can be detected and a state in which the detecting means cannot be detected;
The second communication means is
Corresponding to the first communication method and the second communication method,
The control means includes
When the concave portion is detected by the detecting means, the second communication means is controlled to communicate by the first communication method, and when the concave portion is not detected by the detecting means, the second communication is performed. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the second communication unit is controlled so as to communicate in a system. The housing of the first communication device is
A switching means for switching the first communication means to the first communication system or the second communication system;
The state changing means is
When the first communication means is switched to the first communication method by the switching means, the concave portion is changed to a state that can be detected by the detection means, and the first communication means is changed to the second communication method. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein when the communication method is switched, the concave portion is changed to a state in which the detection means cannot be detected. The switching means is
Also serving as the state changing means, switching the first communication means to the first communication method, changing the concave portion to a state that can be detected by the detecting means, and changing the first communication means to The communication system according to claim 3, wherein the communication system is switched to the second communication method, and the concave portion is changed to a state in which the detection means cannot be detected. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the first communication method is a parallel communication method, and the second communication method is a serial communication method. In the communication method in which the first communication device and the second communication device are connected and communicate with each other by a corresponding communication method.
Corresponding to the first communication method, a recess formed in the housing of the first communication device having the first communication means corresponding to the first communication method, corresponding to the first communication method. A detection step detected by a second communication device having second communication means for
And a control step for controlling the second communication means so that the second communication device communicates with the first communication method when the concave portion is detected in the detection step. . The first communication means corresponds to the first communication method and the second communication method,
The second communication means corresponds to the first communication method and the second communication method,
A state change step for changing the recess into a state that can be detected in the detection step and a state that cannot be detected in the detection step;
In the above control step,
When the concave portion is detected in the detection step, the second communication means is controlled to communicate by the first communication method, and when the concave portion is not detected in the detection step, the second communication is performed. The communication method according to claim 6, wherein the second communication unit is controlled to perform communication in a system. A switching step of switching the first communication means to the first communication method or the second communication method,
In the state change step, when the first communication means is switched to the first communication method in the switching step, the concave portion is changed to a state that can be detected in the detection step, and the switching step The communication method according to claim 7, wherein when the first communication unit is switched to the second communication method, the concave portion is changed to a state that cannot be detected in the detection step. In the state change step,
The concave portion is changed to a state that can be detected in the detection step, the first communication means is switched to the first communication method, and the concave portion is changed to a state that cannot be detected in the detection step. In addition, the communication method according to claim 7, wherein the first communication means is switched to the second communication method. The communication method according to claim 6, wherein the first communication method is a parallel communication method, and the second communication method is a serial communication method. Communication means corresponding to the first communication method;
A communication device comprising: a housing having a recess for indicating to a communication destination device that the communication device corresponds to the first communication method. The communication means is
Corresponding to the first communication method and the second communication method,
The housing is
The communication apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a state changing unit that changes the concave portion into a state that can be indicated by the communication destination device and a state that cannot be indicated by the detection unit. The housing is
Switching means for switching the communication means to the first communication system or the second communication system;
The state changing means is
When the communication means is switched to the first communication method by the switching means, the concave portion is changed to a state that can be shown to the communication destination device, and the communication means is switched to the second communication method. In the case, the communication device according to claim 12, wherein the concave portion is changed to a state that cannot be shown to the communication destination device. The switching means is
Also serving as the state changing means, switching the communication means to the first communication method, changing the recess to a state that can be shown to the communication destination device, and changing the communication means to the second communication method. The communication device according to claim 13, wherein the communication device is switched and the concave portion is changed to a state that cannot be shown to the communication destination device. The communication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the first communication method is a parallel communication method, and the second communication method is a serial communication method. Communication means corresponding to the first communication method;
Detecting means for detecting a recess indicating that the first communication method is provided in the housing of the communication destination device;
And a control unit that controls the communication unit to communicate with the first communication method when the detection unit detects the recess. The communication means is
Corresponding to the first communication method and the second communication method,
The control means includes
When the detection means detects the recess, the communication means is controlled to communicate with the first communication method. When the detection means does not detect the recess, the communication is performed with the second communication method. The communication device according to claim 16, wherein the communication means is controlled to do so. The communication apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the first communication method is a parallel communication method, and the second communication method is a serial communication method.

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