KR20060125054A - Memory card and adapter using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A memory card and an adaptor using the same are provided to have a USB(Universal Serial Bus) storage function and a smart card function by embedding a USB controller and a chip for a smart card. A USB interface terminal is electrically connected to a USB port of a computer. A USB controller(23) stores data of the computer in a flash memory(25) through a USB interface terminal, or transmits the data of the flash memory(25) to the computer through the USB interface terminal. A chip(27) for a smart card has a smart card function. An external connection terminal electrically connects the flash memory(25) and the chip(27) for the smart card to a digital device.

Description

Memory card and adapter using the same

1A and 1B are schematic plan and bottom perspective views showing a typical sequire digital (SD) card.

2A and 2B are schematic plan cutaway perspective views and bottom perspective views showing a memory card according to the present invention;

3A and 3B are schematic planar cutaway and bottom perspective views showing an adapter using a memory card according to the present invention;

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of the adapter of FIG. 3A;

The present invention relates to a memory card, and more particularly, to be equipped with a universal serial bus (USB) storage function, a USB storage function and a smart card function, and to make it compatible with a sequire digital (SD) card or the like. It relates to a memory card and an adapter using the same.

Recently, various portable digital devices such as digital cameras, mobile communication terminals, MP3 (MPEG Audio layer-3) players, voice recorders, e-books, personal digital assistants (PDAs), etc. have been widely used. It is used. In such portable digital devices, a memory card using an integrated circuit (IC) chip such as a flash memory is used as a storage medium for storing data.

There are many types of memory cards depending on the use and manufacturer of the memory card. Currently used memory cards include memory sticks, smart media cards (SMC), multimedia cards (MMC), SD (SD) cards, compact flash (CF) cards, and XD (XD). Picture cards). These memory cards are available in 8M, 16M, 32M, 64M, 128M, 256M, 512M, 1G, and 2G, depending on their storage capacity.

Portable digital devices equipped with such a conventional memory card, for example, additional devices such as a USB cable in order to transfer data via a USB terminal, such as a personal computer (PC) required additional. . In addition, the conventional memory card may require an additional device such as a memory card reader, for example, to transmit data through a USB terminal such as a personal computer (PC). In addition, since the type of the memory card reader varies depending on the type and manufacturer of the memory card, the memory card reader and the memory card are not compatible.

In order to solve this inconvenience, the present applicant has developed a memory card such as an XD picture card having a USB interface terminal, a USB controller and a flash memory, and has applied for a patent. The memory card is capable of ultra-fast data transfer between its own flash memory and a personal computer using its USB controller without using the USB cable or memory card reader, and can be used as an MP3 player, personal information terminal, digital camera, By using a built-in controller of a portable digital device such as a mobile communication terminal, the data of the flash memory can be reproduced with low power in the portable digital device.

However, the memory card is very different in appearance and size compared to SD cards which occupy the largest portion of the global memory card market, despite the advantages of additionally equipped with a USB interface terminal and a USB controller. It was bad. That is, the SD card 10 is as shown in Figs. 1A and 1B, while the NAND-type flash memory 13 and the SD controller 15 on the printed circuit board 11 are sealed by the sealing resin 19. The conductive external connection terminal 14 of the flash memory 13 is exposed to the outside. In the drawing, various components are built in the SD card 20, but these components are omitted for convenience of description because they have little relationship with the gist of the present invention. The SD card 10 has a size of 24mm x 32mm x 2.1mm.

As such, the memory card not only has a much smaller size than the SD card 10 but also its external structure is different from that of the SD card 10 and thus is not compatible with the SD card 10.

In addition, since the memory card is not equipped with a smart card chip, a portable digital device equipped with the memory card could not utilize smart card inherent functions such as traffic card or mobile banking.

In view of this point, the present applicant can improve the structure of the memory card and have a smart card function together with the USB storage function, and also the demand for an adapter compatible with the SD card 10 is required. there was.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a memory card having a USS storage function and a smart card function by incorporating a USS controller and a chip for a smart card.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a memory card and adapter using the same, which is compatible with SD card, memory stick, MMC (MMC) while having a USB storage function.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a memory card and an adapter using the same, which are compatible with SD cards, memory sticks, MCs, etc., while having a USB interface function and a smart card function.

The memory card according to the present invention for achieving the above object,

A USB interface terminal for electrically connecting to a USB terminal of the computer; Flash memory; A USB controller configured to store data of the computer in the flash memory through the USB interface terminal or transmit data of the flash memory to the computer through the USB interface terminal; A smart card chip having the function of a smart card; And an external connection terminal for electrically connecting the flash memory and the smart card chip to the digital device, respectively.

Preferably, the flash memory, the USB controller, and the smart card chip are mounted on one surface of the printed circuit board, and the USB interface terminal and the external connection terminal are formed on the other surface of the printed circuit board. In addition, the USB controller, the smart card chip, and the printed circuit board may be sealed by the encapsulation resin while the USB interface terminal and the external connection terminal may be exposed to the outside.

In addition, the adapter using the memory card according to the present invention for achieving the above object,

Printed circuit board; A connection socket part mounted on a connection socket area of one surface of the printed circuit board and electrically connected to an external connection terminal of the memory card of claim 2; An SD card controller for an SD card mounted on an SD controller area of one surface of the printed circuit board; An external connection terminal electrically connected to the connection socket part and formed on the other surface of the printed circuit board to electrically connect to an external digital device; And a sealing resin for sealing the printed circuit board, the SD controller, and the connection socket and exposing the external connection terminal, wherein the sealing resin is formed to correspond to the shape and size of the SD card, and the inside of the sealing resin And an inner groove for inserting the memory card so as to correspond to the connection terminal of the connection socket portion so as to correspond to the external connection terminal of the memory card.

Preferably, a cutout may be formed to cut the sealing resin on the insertion hole of the inner groove into a predetermined shape in order to easily withdraw the memory card inserted into the inner groove. In addition, the cutout may be formed of any one of a semi-circular, semi-elliptic curved, or a polygon such as a triangle, a square, a pentagon, and a hexagon.

Preferably, a wireless communication antenna for the smart card function is installed on the printed circuit board, the antenna may be electrically connected corresponding to the connection terminal of the connection socket portion.

Preferably, the memory card may be applied to any one of the memory stick and the MC instead of the SD card.

In addition, the memory card according to the present invention for achieving the above object,

A USB interface terminal for electrically connecting to a USB terminal of the computer; Flash memory; A USB controller configured to store data of the computer in the flash memory through the USB interface terminal or transmit data of the flash memory to the computer through the USB interface terminal; And an external connection terminal for electrically connecting the flash memory to the digital device, wherein the flash memory and the USB controller are mounted on one surface of the printed circuit board, and the USB interface on the other surface of the printed circuit board. A terminal and an external connection terminal are formed, and the flash memory, the USB controller, and the printed circuit board are sealed by an encapsulating resin, while the USB interface terminal and the external connection terminal are exposed to the outside.

In addition, the adapter using the memory card according to the present invention for achieving the above object,

Printed circuit board; A connection socket part mounted on a connection socket area of one surface of the printed circuit board and electrically connected to an external connection terminal of the memory card of claim 8; An SD card controller for an SD card mounted on an SD controller area of one surface of the printed circuit board; An external connection terminal electrically connected to the connection socket part and formed on the other surface of the printed circuit board to electrically connect to an external digital device; And a sealing resin for sealing the printed circuit board, the SD controller, and the connection socket and exposing the external connection terminal, wherein the sealing resin is formed to correspond to the shape and size of the SD card, and the inside of the sealing resin And an inner groove for inserting the memory card so as to correspond to the connection terminal of the connection socket portion so as to correspond to the external connection terminal of the memory card.

Preferably, the memory card may be applied to any one of the memory stick and the MC instead of the SD card.

Hereinafter, a memory card and an adapter using the same according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2A and 2B are planar cutaway perspective views and bottom perspective views schematically showing a memory card according to the present invention.

2A and 2B, in the memory card 20 of the present invention, a USB controller 23 and a flash memory 25 are mounted on a substrate, for example, a printed circuit board 21, and optionally, a smart A card chip 27 may be additionally mounted on the printed circuit board 21. In addition, the printed circuit board 21, the USB controller 23, and the flash memory 25 (and the smart card chip 27) are sealed by a resin, for example, a sealing resin 29, while the conductive USB interface The terminal 24 and the conductive external connection terminal 26 of the flash memory 25 (and the smart card chip 27) are exposed to the outside on one surface, for example, the bottom surface of the sealing resin 29. Formed. The USB controller 23 preferably communicates with USB 2.0 or higher.

Here, the USB interface terminal 24 is disposed in the first portion 21a of the printed circuit board 21, and the external connection terminal 26 is the second portion 21b of the printed circuit board 21. Is placed on. The width of the first portion 21a is narrower than the width of the second portion 21b and is determined in consideration of the width of the USB port of the portable digital device.

The number of the external connection terminals 26 may vary depending on whether the smart card chip 27 is mounted or not, based on the case where the flash memory 25 and the smart card chip 27 are mounted together. It is preferable to determine. As shown in the drawing, the USB interface terminal 24 and the external connection terminal 26 may be formed in a straight line pattern or may be formed in various other patterns. The memory card 20 has a size of 20mm x 15mm x 1.4mm, the size can be varied according to various applications.

On the other hand, the memory card 20 may be embedded with parts not related to the gist of the present invention, these parts are obvious to omit, in order to facilitate the understanding of the present invention. In addition, the USB controller 23 and the USB interface terminal 24 are electrically connected to each other by a conductive wiring (not shown) of the printed circuit board 21, and the USB controller 23 and the flash memory 25 are connected to each other. Is electrically interconnected by conductive wires (not shown) of the printed circuit board 21, and the flash memory 25 is connected to the external connection terminal by conductive wires (not shown) of the printed circuit board 21. The electronic card chip 27 is electrically connected to the external connection terminal for the flash memory, and the external connection terminal 26 is connected by the conductive wiring (not shown) of the printed circuit board 21. It is obvious that the terminals are electrically connected to the external connection terminals for the smart card chip.

The smart card chip 27 is equipped with data such as, for example, various authentication information, information on the credit card for payment, bankbook information, etc., the function of the smart card, such as traffic card, mobile banking, etc. Has The smart card chip 27 may be any one of a semiconductor memory chip such as a flash memory, a DRAM, an SRAM, an SDRAM, or the like.

The operation of the memory card 20 configured as described above will be described in the case where the memory card 20 is connected to a personal computer (not shown).

First, after the USB interface terminal 24 of the memory card 20 is electrically connected to the USB terminal of a personal computer (not shown), the USB interface terminal 24 of the memory card 20 is disconnected from the personal computer. Power is supplied to the USB controller 23 through. Thereafter, the USB controller 23 transmits data of the personal computer to the flash memory 25 at high speed through the USB interface terminal 24 according to a command of the personal computer, or the flash memory 25. Data is transmitted to the personal computer at high speed through the USB interface terminal 24. The flash memory 25 stores data input through the USB interface terminal 24 under the control of the USB controller 23 or stores data stored therein through the USB interface terminal 24. It is responsible for printing.

Next, the operation of the memory card 20 will be described based on the case where the memory card 20 is connected to a portable mobile communication terminal (not shown).

First, the memory card 20 is connected in a conventional manner to the smart card chip connection socket of the mobile communication terminal. Of course, the connection terminal of the connection socket should be arranged so as to be connected to the external connection terminal 26 of the memory card 20 in correspondence.

Thereafter, the mobile communication terminal reads the data of the flash memory 25 through the external connection terminal 26 according to a command of a controller of the mobile communication terminal, or from the mobile communication terminal. Data is stored in the flash memory 25 through an external connection terminal 26.

The stored data of the flash memory 25 is separated from the memory card 20 from the mobile communication terminal, and then connected to a USB port of a personal computer (not shown), for example, such as a separate USB cable or card reader. Can be transmitted to the personal computer without the inconvenience of using unnecessary accessory equipment.

 In addition, the mobile communication terminal reads data of the smart card chip 27 through the external connection terminal 26 according to a command of the controller of the mobile communication terminal, or from the mobile communication terminal. The smart card chip 27 is stored through the external connection terminal 26. Therefore, smart card unique functions, such as traffic cards, mobile banking, etc. can be utilized.

Meanwhile, the present invention may be equally applicable to an MP3 player, a voice recorder, an electronic book, a digital camera, a personal digital assistant (PDA), etc. in addition to a portable mobile communication terminal. Omit.

3A and 3B are schematic plan cutaway perspective views and bottom perspective views showing an adapter using a memory card according to the present invention.

3A and 3B, the adapter 30 of the present invention is designed to make the memory card 20 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B compatible with the SD card 10 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. In addition, the memory card 20 can be inserted therein and has an external structure and size corresponding to the SD card 10.

That is, in the adapter 30, a connection socket 33 for electrically connecting with the memory card 20 is mounted on a connection socket area of a substrate, for example, a printed circuit board 31, and the printing is performed. On the SD controller region of the circuit board 31, the same SD controller 35 as the SD controller 15 shown in FIG. The same peripheral element (not shown) is mounted, and an antenna for wireless communication of the smart card chip 27 of FIG. 2A, for example, along a portion of the printed circuit board 31, for example, an edge portion thereof. The (RF) communication antenna 37 may be further arranged in the form of a coil, for example.

In addition, the printed circuit board 31, the connection socket portion 33, the SD controller 35, the antenna 37, peripheral elements and the like are sealed by the sealing resin 39, while in the sealing resin 39 In order to electrically connect the memory card 30 to the connection socket 33, an internal groove of a shape suitable for inserting the memory card 30 and stably placing the memory card 30 on the connection socket 33 is provided. 38) is formed. The inner groove 38 may extend in a straight direction from one side of the sealing resin 39 toward the connection socket portion 33. In order to easily withdraw the memory card 20 which has been completely inserted into the inner groove 38, a cutout portion 38a is formed in which the sealing resin 39 on the insertion hole of the inner groove 38 is cut into a predetermined shape. Can be. For example, the cutout 38a is illustrated in a semi-circular shape in the drawing. For example, the cutout 38a may be formed in a curved shape such as a semi-elliptic shape or a polygon such as a triangle, a square, a pentagon, or the like.

The flash memory connection terminal among the conductive connection terminals 34 of the connection socket portion 33 is disposed to correspond to the external connection terminal for the flash memory 25 among the external connection terminals 26 of the memory card 20. The smart card connection terminal among the connection terminals 34 of the connection socket part 33 corresponds to the external connection terminal of the smart card chip 27 among the external connection terminals 26 of the memory card 20. Is placed.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the connection socket 33 has an insulating main body 33a having a substantially flat plate, and the through holes 33b are spaced apart at regular intervals in the center of the upper surface of the main body 33a. And arranged in two rows, and the connection terminals 34 are positioned one by one on the through hole 33b. Here, one side end of the connection terminal 34 is fixed to the upper surface of the main body 33a adjacent to the outer edge of the through hole 33b, so that most of the connection terminal 34 is elastic and the through hole 33b. May be located on the A portion of the connection terminal 34 located on the through hole 33b faces the external connection terminal 26 to maintain connection with the external connection terminal 26 of the memory card 20 shown in FIG. 2B. Is bent upward in the direction.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 3B, the external connection terminal 36 is disposed on the lower surface of the adapter 30 while being exposed to the outside of the sealing resin 39. The external connection terminal 36 is preferably formed to correspond to the spacing, shape and size of the external connection terminal 14 of the SD card 10 shown in Figure 1b.

Meanwhile, the memory card connection terminal among the connection terminals 34 of the connection socket part 33 is not only electrically connected to the SD controller 35 by conductive wiring (not shown) of the printed circuit board 31. In addition, the external connection terminal 36 is electrically connected to the connection terminal for the memory card. Among the connection terminals 34 of the connection socket portion 33, the smart card connection terminals are electrically connected to the antennas 37 as shown in the drawing.

The operation of the adapter 30 according to the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

First, the user (not shown) may face the external connection terminal 26 of the memory card 20 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B so as to face the connection terminal 34 of the connection socket portion 33 of the adapter 30. In one state, the memory card 20 is sufficiently inserted into the inner groove 38 through the insertion hole of the inner groove 38.

As a result, the external connection terminal 26 of the memory card 20 is electrically connected to the connection terminal 34 of the connection socket portion 33 of the adapter 30. At this time, since the connection terminal 34 of the connection socket portion 33 is pressed by the external connection terminal 26, the connection terminal 34 has elasticity. As a result, the connection state between the connection terminal 34 and the external connection terminal 26 can be maintained. In order to facilitate insertion or withdrawal of the memory card 20 as well as to maintain a good connection state between the connection terminal 34 and the external connection terminal 26, the external shape of the memory card 20 It is preferable to determine the cross-sectional shape and size of the inner groove 38 in consideration of the size.

Subsequently, the adapter is installed in a portable digital device (not shown) to which the conventional SD card 10 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is applied, for example, a digital camera, an MP3 player, a mobile communication terminal, a PDA, and the like. Install (30). At this time, the adapter 30 is correctly mounted to the SD card mounting portion of the portable digital device, because the adapter 30 is manufactured in the same size and shape as the SD card.

After the adapter 30 into which the memory card 20 is inserted is mounted on a portable digital device using an existing SD card, the SD controller 35 of the adapter 30 may be configured according to a command of the portable digital device. Data in the flash memory 25 of the memory card 20 is transmitted to the portable digital device via the connection terminal 34 and the external connection terminal 36 of the adapter 30, or the data of the portable digital device is externally transmitted. The data is transferred to and stored in the flash memory 25 of the memory card 20 via the connection terminal 36 and the connection terminal 34.

Data transmitted and stored from the portable digital device to the memory card 20 is drawn out to the outside through the internal groove 38 of the adapter 30 after the memory card 20, as described above, the memory card ( 20 may be transmitted to the personal computer by directly connecting the USB interface terminal 24 of 20), for example, to a USB port of a personal computer (not shown).

Therefore, the adapter 30 of the present invention makes the memory card 20 with the USB storage function compatible with the existing SD card. In addition, when the smart card chip 27 is embedded in the memory card 20, the adapter 30 is connected to the existing SD card and the memory card 20 having a smart card function together with the USB storage function. Make it compatible. In addition, since the smart card chip 27 can be executed by wireless communication with, for example, a traffic card reader (not shown) via the RF communication antenna 37 of the adapter 30, the mobile communication terminal and the like When the portable digital device to which the SD card is applied is brought into operation, the smart card can be used within a predetermined distance to utilize smart card unique functions such as a traffic card.

In the present invention, the adapter 30 has been described with respect to the SD card. However, the adapter 30 may be similarly applied to a memory stick or an MMC by simply modifying or changing the adapter 30. For convenience of description, descriptions thereof will be omitted to avoid duplication of description.

As described above, according to the present invention, a memory card includes a USB interface terminal, a USB controller, and a flash memory (and a chip for a smart card), and has a difference in external structure and size from a conventional SD card. The adapter using the memory has an SD controller, and has a connection socket for connecting the external connection terminal of the memory card to the bottom of the inner groove for inserting the memory card, and to the external connection terminal of the SD card. It has a corresponding exposed external connection terminal and also has an antenna for wireless communication.

Therefore, the memory card may have a USB storage function and a smart card function. In addition, when the memory card is inserted into the adapter and is compatible with the SD card, and furthermore, when mounted in a portable digital device to which the SD card is applied, the memory card may be connected to a smart card such as a traffic card. You can use the function.

On the other hand, the present invention has been described by showing a specific embodiment, it is obvious that the present invention may be variously modified and implemented by those skilled in the art. Such modified embodiments should not be understood individually from the technical spirit or point of view of the present invention and these modified embodiments should fall within the scope of the appended claims of the present invention.

Claims (10)

A USB interface terminal for electrically connecting to a USB terminal of the computer; Flash memory; A USB controller configured to store data of the computer in the flash memory through the USB interface terminal or transmit data of the flash memory to the computer through the USB interface terminal; A smart card chip having the function of a smart card; And And an external connection terminal for electrically connecting the flash memory and the smart card chip to the digital device, respectively. According to claim 1, wherein the flash memory, the USB controller, the smart card chip is mounted on one surface of the printed circuit board, respectively, the USB interface terminal and the external connection terminal is formed on the other surface of the printed circuit board, A flash card, a USB controller, a chip for a smart card, and a printed circuit board are sealed by an encapsulating resin, while the USB terminal and an external connection terminal are exposed to the outside. Printed circuit board; A connection socket part mounted on a connection socket area of one surface of the printed circuit board and electrically connected to an external connection terminal of the memory card of claim 2; An SD card controller for an SD card mounted on an SD controller area of one surface of the printed circuit board; An external connection terminal electrically connected to the connection socket part and formed on the other surface of the printed circuit board to electrically connect to an external digital device; And It includes a sealing resin for sealing the printed circuit board, SD controller, connecting socket portion and exposing the external connection terminal, The sealing resin is formed so as to correspond to the shape and size of the SD card, and an inner groove for inserting the memory card to connect the external connection terminal of the memory card to a connection terminal of the connection socket portion in the sealing resin. Memory card adapter, characterized in that formed. 4. The memory card adapter according to claim 3, wherein a cutout portion formed by cutting a sealing resin on a slot of the inner groove into a predetermined shape is formed in order to easily withdraw the memory card inserted into the inner groove. The memory card adapter of claim 4, wherein the cutout is formed of any one of a curved shape and a polygon. The memory card adapter of claim 3, wherein a wireless communication antenna for the smart card function is installed on the printed circuit board, and the antenna is electrically connected to a connection terminal of the connection socket part. 4. The memory card adapter of claim 3, wherein the memory card is applied to any one of a memory stick and an MC in place of the SD card. A USB interface terminal for electrically connecting to a USB terminal of the computer; Flash memory; A USB controller configured to store data of the computer in the flash memory through the USB interface terminal or transmit data of the flash memory to the computer through the USB interface terminal; And An external connection terminal for electrically connecting the flash memory to the digital device, The flash memory and the USB controller are mounted on one surface of the printed circuit board, and the USB interface terminal and the external connection terminal are formed on the other surface of the printed circuit board, and the flash memory, the USB controller and the printed circuit board are encapsulated. A memory card, characterized by being sealed with a resin, while exposing the USB interface terminal and the external connection terminal to the outside. Printed circuit board; A connection socket part mounted on a connection socket area of one surface of the printed circuit board and electrically connected to an external connection terminal of the memory card of claim 8; An SD card controller for an SD card mounted on an SD controller area of one surface of the printed circuit board; An external connection terminal electrically connected to the connection socket part and formed on the other surface of the printed circuit board to electrically connect to an external digital device; And It includes a sealing resin for sealing the printed circuit board, SD controller, connecting socket portion and exposing the external connection terminal, The sealing resin is formed so as to correspond to the shape and size of the SD card, and an inner groove for inserting the memory card to connect the external connection terminal of the memory card to a connection terminal of the connection socket portion in the sealing resin. Memory card adapter, characterized in that formed. The memory card adapter of claim 9, wherein the memory card is applied to any one of a memory stick and an MC in place of the SD card.

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