KR20030088733A - Universal Memory Card Adapter and The Interfacing Method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A device for adapting a universal memory card and an interfacing method thereof are provided to freely interface a memory card by recognizing a sort of the memory card inserted into a digital device such as a digital camera or an MP3(MPEG layer 3) player and automatically executing an access logic used for the recognized memory card. CONSTITUTION: A digital device connector(410) connects with the digital device. A controller(460) controls a process for transferring the digital data applied from the digital device connector to the memory card and transmitting the digital data read from the memory card to the digital device connector, and transmits a control signal setting an operation method of a memory card adaptor. A card connection logic part(420) selects and sets up the operation method of the memory card adaptor according to the control signal from the controller. A card connector(430) recognizes the insertion and the sort of the memory card by installing a card slot accepting the memory card. A card detector(440) transmits an insertion detect signal and a card recognition signal to the controller.

Description

Universal memory card adapter device and its interface method

The present invention relates to a memory card adapter device and an interface method thereof, and more particularly, to identify a type of a memory card inserted in a digital device such as a digital camera or an MP3 player, and to identify connection logic used for the identified memory card. The present invention relates to a memory card adapter device and a method for interfacing the memory card which can be automatically executed to freely interface the inserted memory card.

Portable digital devices include digital cameras, MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer-3) players, voice recorders, and electronic books. There are also various data recording media used in such portable digital devices. Such a data recording medium has been developed to read and record a larger amount of data more easily and quickly, and to be superior in safety and handling. As a representative example of such a recording medium, a memory card using a flash memory has recently been developed. Is in the limelight.

In general, a memory card is a rectangular plastic card having a structure that includes only a semiconductor memory, not a microprocessor, and stores various digital data such as music digital data and image data, and also has advantages of portability and portability. Means a card that is used for the storage of various information. On the other hand, a smart card refers to a card having a microprocessor and a memory configured to store and process information. Such a memory card and a smart card are collectively referred to as an "IC card", but in the present invention, a card having such a semiconductor memory will be referred to as a "memory card".

Typical examples of the memory cards include so-called multimedia cards, secure digital cards, and compact flash cards.

1 is a perspective view schematically showing a connection between a digital camera and a notebook computer as a portable digital device using a conventional memory card.

The digital camera 110 captures the motion of the subject as a still image and stores the digital data. The memory card 120 is a storage medium for storing captured image data. The memory card interface device 130 includes a memory card slot unit 132 including a plurality of slots provided for various memory card standards to mount various types of memory cards, respectively. In FIG. 1, three slots are provided in the memory card slot unit 132 according to three memory card standards. The memory card interface device 130 is provided with a USB connector 142 as a connection terminal to a universal serial bus (USB) cable 140 having a predetermined length for connecting to the notebook computer 150 at the rear side. The memory card interface device 130 is connected to the USB port 152 of the notebook computer 150 by the USB connector 142 to exchange data with the notebook computer 150 at high speed, and also the USB port 152. By receiving power from the notebook computer 150, there is no need for a power source, such as its own battery or a separate power connection cord.

2 is a block diagram showing an internal circuit configuration of the memory card interface device 130. In FIG. 2, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as in FIG. 1, and description thereof will be omitted.

The memory card interface device 130 is largely comprised of a memory card slot 132, a microprocessor 134, and a USB interface 136.

The memory card slot 132 is provided with various card slots 211, 213, and 215 to accommodate memory cards of various standards. The microprocessor 134, which is a control unit that controls the operation of the memory card interface device 130 collectively, includes a driving program 232, 234, and 236 corresponding to each of memory cards of various standards, and includes a memory card slot unit 132. The program is driven according to the type of memory card installed in the memory card, and the data of the mounted memory card is read and transmitted to the laptop computer 150 through the USB interface unit 136 or the data transmitted from the laptop computer 150. Perform an operation to write to the memory card. The USB interface unit 136 is provided with a USB connector and is connected to the USB port 152 of the notebook computer 150 to interface control data and user data transmitted and received.

Each of the card slots 211, 213, and 215 of the memory card slot 132 is provided with detectors 222, 224, and 226 that detect whether the memory card is mounted. The detectors 222, 224, and 226 detect the presence or absence of a connection of a memory card mounted in each slot in a circuit connection with each slot. The signals sensed by the respective detectors 222, 224, and 226 are transmitted to the microprocessor 134 to drive a program according to the memory card in which the microprocessor 134 is mounted. In this way, the microprocessor 134 is operated at the same time as the memory card is mounted in a plug and play manner.

However, the memory card 120 performs the same purpose of storing digital data, but due to the difference in specifications, card connectors of different standards are used between similar portable digital devices, and thus there is no compatibility between the memory cards. Therefore, a user of a portable digital device has a problem in that a separate memory card is provided for each portable digital device.

Meanwhile, in addition to the memory card 120 described above, a compact flash card connected to the compact flash connector 310 is used as shown in FIG. 3. The compact flash adapter device has a compact flash connector 310 on one side so that a card other than the compact flash can be connected to the compact flash connector 310, and a card on which the other side can insert a memory card other than the compact flash. Connector 330 is provided. And a compact flash conversion logic 320 connecting the two connectors. The compact flash conversion logic 320 performs an electrical conversion to provide the same environment as using a compact flash memory card, and performs a hierarchical processing function to read or write the contents of each memory card. However, this method requires the conversion of heterogeneous memory cards other than compact flash to a signal that conforms to the Compact Flash standard. Therefore, the transfer speed may decrease due to signal conversion, and the speed of reading or writing data from the card may be increased. The disadvantage is slow.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention identifies a type of a memory card inserted in a digital device such as a digital camera or an MP3 player, and automatically executes the connection logic used for the identified memory card to insert the inserted memory card. It is an object of the present invention to provide a memory card adapter device and a method of interfacing the same.

1 is a perspective view schematically showing a connection between a digital camera and a notebook computer as a portable digital device using a conventional memory card;

2 is a block diagram showing the internal circuit configuration of the memory card interface device 130;

3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional memory card adapter device;

4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a memory card adapter device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a diagram showing an internal circuit configuration of a card connection logic section;

6 is a flowchart illustrating an interface method of a memory card adapter device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

110: digital camera 120: memory card

130: memory card interface device 132: memory card slot

134: microprocessor 136: USB interface unit

140: USB cable 142: USB connector

150: notebook computer 152: USB port

211 ~ 215: Card slot 222 ~ 226: Detection part

232 ~ 236: Drive program 310: Compact flash connector

320: compact flash conversion logic 330: card connector

410: digital device connection unit 420: card connection logic unit

430: card connector portion 440: card type detection portion

450: card connection program storage unit 460: control unit

510: control unit interface unit 520: data buffering unit

530: card interface unit

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a memory card for storing digital data, a digital device for storing, reading, modifying, or editing digital data in the memory card, and a digital device exchanged between the memory card and the digital device. A memory card adapter device for interfacing data, said memory card adapter device comprising: a digital device connection unit for connecting to said digital device, transferring digital data applied from said digital device connection unit to said memory card, and reading digital data from said memory card; A control unit for controlling a process of transmitting the signal to the digital device connection unit, and transmitting a control signal for setting an operation method of the memory card adapter device, and a method of operating the memory card adapter device according to the control signal applied from the control unit. Select A card connector portion configured to set a card connection logic portion, a card slot into which the memory card can be inserted, and a card connector portion for discriminating whether the memory card is inserted and a type of the inserted memory card, and a circuit with the card slot of the card connector portion And a card detection unit for transmitting an insertion detection signal for determining whether the memory card is inserted and a card identification signal for distinguishing the type of the memory card according to the memory card when the memory card is inserted into the controller. A memory card adapter device is provided.

In addition, the present invention for achieving the above object is (a) determining whether an insertion detection signal for recognizing the insertion of the memory card is received from the card detection unit, (b) from the card detection unit of the memory card Receiving a card identification signal that can distinguish the type, (c) Recognizing the memory card based on the card identification signal and transmitting a control signal for setting the corresponding interface method to the card connection logic unit, ( d) setting an interface scheme by the card connection logic unit according to the control signal, and (e) converting and transmitting digital data into a set interface scheme to provide an interface method of the memory card adapter device. do.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a memory card adapter device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, a memory card inserted into the memory card adapter device 400 according to the present invention will be described in more detail.

Memory cards serve a common purpose of storing digital data, but there are several types of memory cards, depending on the portable digital device, mainly multimedia cards, secure digital cards, and compact flash cards. Flash Card) and the like have already been described above. Here, the serial interface type multimedia card has seven connection terminals at a thickness of 1.4 mm, and then a secure digital card having nine connection terminals at a thickness of 2.1 mm has been developed. Secure digital cards have been developed in such a way that they can be maintained at a high level of compatibility with multimedia cards. The micro flash card has 18 connection terminals with a thickness of 1.12 mm, and unlike the multimedia card and the secure digital card, the positions of the electrical connection terminals are opposite in direction and have a different appearance.

In the present invention, the types of memory cards are largely divided into a serial interface method and a parallel interface method. Memory cards that operate in a serial interface method include memory stick cards, secure digital (SD) cards, multimedia cards, and the like. Compact Flash cards and Smart Media cards.

Next, the memory card adapter device 400 according to the present invention, which inserts the memory card and reads the digital data stored in the memory card and transfers the digital data to the digital device or stores the digital data in the memory card, will be described.

The memory card adapter device 400 of the present invention includes a digital device connection unit 410, a card connection logic unit 420, a card connector unit 430, a card type detection unit 440, a card connection program storage unit 450, The control unit 460 is included.

The digital device connection unit 410 connects to digital devices such as a notebook computer, a desktop computer, a digital camera, an MP3 player, or the like. It is mainly composed of a USB connector and connects to a digital device by using a USB cable. For example, when connected to the notebook computer 150, by checking the USB packet data received from the USB port 152 of the notebook computer 150, the USB control code portion is removed from the USB packet, and only the data portion is extracted to control it. Provided at 460. On the other hand, when transmitting data to the computer side, the control unit 460 converts the data transmitted to the USB packet form and outputs it to the USB port of the computer.

The card connection logic unit 420 is a circuit for switching the operation method of the memory card adapter device 400 to a serial interface method or a parallel interface method according to a control signal applied from the controller 460. The internal structure and operation thereof will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

The card connector 430 includes a card slot (not shown) into which a memory card can be inserted. In order to connect a memory card different from the provided card slot, a heterogeneous memory connector is provided, and an adapter for physical connection of a connector for connecting a provided card connector is provided. In addition, a card type detection unit 440 for outputting a card identification signal for identifying an adapter or a basically provided memory card is incorporated. That is, it has a card slot for inserting a memory card, such as a memory card used for a digital camera, a memory card used for an MP3 player, an SD card, etc., which is connected to the card type detector 440 in a circuit. It is.

The card type detector 440 is circuit-connected to the card slot of the card connector 430, and a detection line for transmitting a card identification signal is connected to the controller 460. When a memory card or a heterogeneous memory card is inserted into the card slot, the card type signal Crd is transmitted to the controller 460 after identifying the type of the inserted card by a specific electrical signal. Regardless of the type of memory card, once the memory card is inserted into the card slot, the card type detector 440 sends an insertion detection signal Ins indicating that the memory card is inserted to the controller 460. For example, when a multimedia card having seven connection terminals is inserted, the insertion detection signal Ins is first sent to the controller 460, and the ear card identification signal Crd, for example, a "0000 0111" signal is sent to the controller 460. Send it out. Similarly, when a secure digital card having nine connection terminals is inserted, a card identification signal, for example, "0000 1001" is sent together with an insertion detection signal, and even when a micro flash card having 18 connection terminals is inserted, the insertion detection signal is output. Together with the signal " 0001 0010 "

The card access program storage unit 450 stores a recognition program for recognizing each memory card according to a memory card standard. Thus, the user can update with a better recognition program for reading the memory card. The recognition program stored in the card access program storage unit 450 recognizes the card inserted in the card slot as a multimedia card when the signal applied from the card type detection unit 440 is "0000 0111," and when it is "0000 1001". It is recognized as a secure digital card, and in the case of "0001 0010", it is recognized as a compact flash card.

The controller 460 controls the process of transferring the digital data applied from the digital device connector 410 to the memory card inserted into the card slot of the card connector 430. The controller 460 also controls the digital data from the memory card inserted into the card slot. Read and control the process of transmitting to the digital device connection unit 410.

The controller 460 identifies the type of the inserted memory card by using the card identification signal Crd applied from the card type detector 440 of the card connector 430. In addition, the card connection logic unit 420 informs the type of the inserted memory card. The control unit 460 is divided into a serial interface method and a parallel interface method according to the type of the inserted memory card, and according to the result of the division, the interface method of the card connection logic unit 420 is switched to read and write the inserted memory card. And so on.

The card connection logic unit 420 prepares logic that can correspond to all accessible memory cards, receives a card identification signal from the controller 460, and switches to a logic corresponding thereto to provide connection logic suitable for the inserted memory card type. do.

In addition, the card connection logic unit 420 reads the program contents prepared from the card connection program storage unit 450 according to the type of the memory card in which the controller 460 that recognizes the type of the inserted memory card reads the program logic. Programming unit 420 may be provided to provide the conversion logic.

5 is a diagram illustrating an internal functional block of the card connection logic unit 420.

First, the card connection logic unit 420 includes a controller interface unit 510, a data buffering unit 520, and a card interface unit 530.

The card connection logic unit 420 has logic corresponding thereto according to all kinds of memory cards, and a circuit function capable of recognizing the inserted memory card according to the type of the memory card inserted into the card connector unit 430. Switch to. That is, in the memory card adapter device of the present invention, the card connection logic unit 420 automatically performs an interface scheme for performing a write and read operation of the memory card according to the memory card inserted into the card slot of the card connector unit 430. Set to.

The controller interface 510 determines logic corresponding to the card detection signal transmitted from the controller 460 according to the type of the inserted memory card. That is, the controller interface 510 determines the corresponding logic of the data buffering unit 520 and the card interface unit 530 according to the card detection signal applied from the controller 460.

The data buffering unit 520 compensates for the difference in data transfer rate in data transmission and reception between the digital device connection unit 410 and the card interface unit 530.

When the card interface unit 440 uses a serial interface type memory card, the card interface unit 440 is in charge of the serial interface of the memory card. The card interface unit 440 may parallel-serial the parallel signal transmitted from the data buffering unit 520. -to-serial) to pass to the memory card. In addition, the serial signal transmitted from the memory card is serial-to-parallel converted and transferred to the data buffering unit 520.

Next, the operation of the memory card adapter device configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

6 is a flowchart illustrating an interface method of a memory card adapter device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The user connects the memory card adapter device 400 according to the present invention to a digital device such as a digital camera by the digital device connection unit 410. Of course, the memory card adapter device 400 according to the present invention may be configured inside a digital device or the like which is frequently used, rather than being an independent device.

Whether the memory card adapter device 400 is configured inside the digital device or as an independent device, when the memory card adapter device 400 is connected to the digital device, the memory card adapter device 400 may receive power from the digital device to operate the entire device. The standby state is reached (S602). In the standby state, a mode that can generally correspond to the input of the most commonly used memory card, such as an SD card, is set.

In this case, the controller 460 determines whether an insertion detection signal Ins is received from the card type detector 440 associated with the card slot of the card connector 430 (S604). When the memory card is not inserted into the card slot, for example, a high level signal is applied, and when the memory card is inserted, a low level signal is applied to the controller 460.

When the user inserts, for example, a secure digital card called an SD card into the card slot of the card connector 430 (S606), the card connector 430 sends a low level insertion detection signal (Ins) to the controller 460. ) Is sent, and a card identification signal Crd of "0000 1001" is sent to the card detection line.

The controller 460 recognizes the insertion of the memory card according to the insertion detection signal Ins applied from the card connector 430, and then determines the type of the memory card based on the card identification signal Crd (S608). .

Subsequent operations differ in the role of the controller 460 depending on whether the card connection logic unit 420 is prepared for each type of memory card to be inserted or whether it is programmable logic. The controller 460 recognizing the type of memory card sets the data buffering unit 520 and the card interface unit 530 to be suitable for data transmission and reception of the memory card (S610).

If the card connection logic unit 420 prepares logic corresponding to all the memory cards to be inserted in advance, the control unit 460 transmits a control signal to the card connection logic unit 430 by the card identification signal, and then, among the various logics prepared. The data buffering unit 520 and the card interface unit 530 are set as logic suitable for the inserted memory card method.

On the other hand, if the card connection logic unit 420 is programmable logic, the controller 460 prepares all the logic programs corresponding to the memory card in the card connection program storage unit 450, so that the card can be selectively selected according to the card identification signal. The content stored in the connection program storage unit 450 is read to program the card connection logic unit 420.

When the function of the card connection logic unit 420 is set according to the type of the memory card inserted into the card connector unit 430, the data buffering unit 520 and the card interface unit 530 from the digital device connection unit 410 are set. Through the card connector 430, or from the card connector 430 to the digital device connecting unit 410 via the card interface unit 530 and the data buffering unit 520 is performed (S512).

For example, when the card identification signal Crd applied from the card connector 430 is "0000 1001", the controller 460 operates the SD card that operates the memory card inserted into the card slot by the recognition program in a serial interface method. To be recognized.

Next, when digital data is input from the digital device via the digital device connection unit 410, the SD memory inserted into the card slot of the card connector unit 430 via the data buffering unit 520 and the card interface unit 530. It is delivered to the card and stored. For example, when the digital device is a digital camera, image data photographed by the digital camera is stored in a memory card inserted into a card slot.

On the other hand, when the user withdraws the memory card from the card slot of the card connector 430, and wants to edit the image data stored in the memory card in an image editing apparatus such as a computer, the memory card adapter device 400 Connect to a computer, etc. Then, the memory card is inserted into the card slot of the card connector 430. The card connection logic unit 420 of the memory card adapter device 400 is switched in such a manner that the memory card inserted into the card slot operates.

Then, when the user inputs a command to read the data stored in the memory card in the computer device, the data read command signal is transmitted from the computer device to the digital device connection 410 of the memory card adapter device 400, the memory The controller 460 of the card adapter device 400 transmits a data read command signal to the control bus line Control. The data read command signal transmitted from the controller 460 is transferred to the card connection logic unit 330 via a control bus line Control. In the card access logic unit 420, the data read command signal is transmitted to the card connector unit 430 through the data buffering unit 520 and the card interface unit 530 via the control unit interface unit 510. Image data information is transmitted from the memory card inserted into the card slot of the card connector 430 to the card connection logic unit 420 by the data read command signal. The card connection logic unit 420 transfers the image data information to the digital device connection unit 410 via the card interface unit 530 and the data buffering unit 520. The image data information is transmitted from the digital device connection unit 410 to the computer device.

That is, according to the above embodiment, the type of memory card inserted in a digital device such as a digital camera or an MP3 player is identified, and the card connection logic used for the identified memory card is automatically executed to freely interface the inserted memory card. The memory card adapter device and the interface method thereof can be realized.

In addition, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the technical scope of the present invention. .

As described above, according to the present invention, a digital device using a memory card, such as a portable digital device, is not provided with all kinds of card connectors used in the market, and has one type of connector for connection of other types of memory cards. By providing an adapter, other types of memory card users can also use digital devices. Therefore, the digital device does not have to have many types of connectors, thereby reducing the size of the product.

In addition, a particular memory card user can also be freely connected to various digital devices without being limited to the type of memory card since the device according to the present invention provides an adapter suitable for the type of memory card.

In addition, a single memory card can be used to access and use all the digital devices without the necessity of having various types of memory cards used in each portable digital device, thereby greatly improving the convenience of users using digital devices and memory cards. It works.

In addition, while speed reduction occurs by performing signal conversion so that an existing adapter card is recognized as a specific type of memory card, the present invention selectively applies logic corresponding to various memory cards to read and read data. Can increase the speed of writing.

Claims (5)

A memory card for storing digital data, a digital device for storing, reading, modifying or editing digital data in the memory card, and a memory card adapter device for interfacing digital data exchanged between the memory card and the digital device. A digital device connection unit for connecting with the digital device, Controlling the process of transferring the digital data applied from the digital device connection unit to the memory card, the process of reading the digital data from the memory card and transmitting the digital data to the digital device connection unit and setting an operation method of the memory card adapter device; A control unit for transmitting a control signal to A card connection logic unit for selecting and setting an operation method of the memory card adapter device according to the control signal applied from the control unit; A card connector unit having a card slot into which the memory card can be inserted and distinguishing whether the memory card is inserted and a type of the inserted memory card; When the memory card is inserted into the card connector of the card connector unit and the memory card is inserted, the insertion detection signal to know whether the memory card is inserted and the card identification signal to distinguish the type of the memory card according to the memory card Card detection unit for transmitting a to the control unit Memory card adapter device comprising a. The method of claim 1, And the control unit includes a recognition program for recognizing each of the memory cards in accordance with the card identification signal and the insertion detection signal applied from the card detection unit. The method of claim 1, Further comprising a card access program unit for storing a recognition program for recognizing each memory card in accordance with the specifications of the memory card, And the control unit reads the recognition program of the card connection program unit and programs the card connection logic unit according to the card identification signal. The method of claim 1, The card connection logic unit controls the interface corresponding to the card detection signal transmitted from the control unit according to the type of memory card inserted, and the card for converting the digital data transmitted and received into serial or parallel data to execute the interface And a data buffering unit configured to compensate for a difference in data transfer rate in data transmission and reception between the digital device connection unit and the card interface unit. A memory card for storing digital data, a digital device for storing, reading, modifying or editing the digital data in the memory card, a digital device connecting portion for connecting with the digital device, and digital data applied from the digital device connecting portion. A control unit for controlling a process of transferring the data to a memory card, reading the digital data from the memory card, and transmitting the digital data to the digital device connection unit, and transmitting a control signal for setting an operation method of the memory card adapter device. A card connection logic unit configured to select and set an operation method of the memory card adapter device according to the control signal applied, and a card slot into which the memory card can be inserted; Card to classify When the memory card is inserted into the connector unit and the card slot unit, the type of the memory card can be distinguished according to the memory card and an insertion detection signal for determining whether the memory card is inserted. In the interface method of the memory card adapter device having a card detection unit for sending a card identification signal to the control unit, (a) determining whether an insertion detection signal for recognizing the insertion of the memory card is received from the card detection unit; (b) receiving a card identification signal for identifying the type of the memory card from the card detection unit; (c) transmitting a control signal for recognizing the memory card and setting an interface scheme corresponding thereto based on the card identification signal to the card connection logic unit; (d) setting, by the card connection logic unit, an interface scheme according to the control signal; (e) converting digital data into a set interface method and transmitting and receiving Interface method of a memory card adapter device comprising a.