US20060265538A1 - Integrated PC Card Host Controller for the Detection and Operation of a Plurality of Expansion Cards - Google Patents

Integrated PC Card Host Controller for the Detection and Operation of a Plurality of Expansion Cards Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20060265538A1
US20060265538A1 US11/456,694 US45669406A US2006265538A1 US 20060265538 A1 US20060265538 A1 US 20060265538A1 US 45669406 A US45669406 A US 45669406A US 2006265538 A1 US2006265538 A1 US 2006265538A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
card
logic
expansion
expansion card
smart card
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US11/456,694
Inventor
Hyang-Kyun Oh
Yishao Huang
Richard Brayden
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
O2Micro International Ltd
Original Assignee
O2Micro International Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by O2Micro International Ltd filed Critical O2Micro International Ltd
Priority to US11/456,694 priority Critical patent/US20060265538A1/en
Publication of US20060265538A1 publication Critical patent/US20060265538A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06FELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F13/00Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units
    • G06F13/38Information transfer, e.g. on bus
    • G06F13/40Bus structure
    • G06F13/4063Device-to-bus coupling
    • G06F13/4068Electrical coupling
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06FELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F13/00Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units
    • G06F13/38Information transfer, e.g. on bus
    • G06F13/40Bus structure
    • G06F13/4063Device-to-bus coupling
    • G06F13/4068Electrical coupling
    • G06F13/4081Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10STECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S439/00Electrical connectors
    • Y10S439/945Adapter for pcb or cartridge

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an integrated controller for the detecting and operating one or more expansion cards. More specifically, the present invention relates to an integrated controller for detecting and controlling PC Cards (16-bit PCMCIA cards and 32 bit-CardBus cards), and smart cards. Particular utility of the present invention is to provide an integrated controller for mobile computing devices, e.g., laptop computers, etc, although other utilities are contemplated herein.
  • Smart cards are a key component of the public-key infrastructure that Microsoft is integrating into the Windows platform because smart cards enhance software-only solutions such as client authentication, logon, and secure e-mail. Smart cards are essentially a convergence point for public key certificates and associated keys because they provide tamper-resistant storage for protecting private keys and other forms of personal information; isolate security-critical computations involving authentication, digital signatures, and key exchange from other parts of the system that do not have a “need to know”; and enable portability of credentials and other private information between computers at work, home, or on the road.
  • the International Standards Organization developed the ISO 7816 standards for integrated circuit cards with contacts. These specifications focused on interoperability at the physical, electrical, and data-link protocol levels.
  • ISO International Standards Organization
  • EMV Europay, MasterCard, and VISA
  • GSM Global System for Mobile communications
  • the PC/SC (Personal Computer/Smart Card) Workgroup was formed in May 1996 in partnership with major PC and smart card companies: Groupe Bull, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Schlumberger, and Siemens Nixdorf. The main focus of the workgroup has been to develop specifications that solve the previously mentioned interoperability problems.
  • the PC/SC specifications are based on the ISO 7816 standards and are compatible with both the EMV and GSM industry-specific specifications.
  • New members include Gemplus, TBM, Sun Microsystems, Toshiba, and Verifone.
  • Device-independent APIs serves to insulate application developers from differences between current and future implementations. Device-independence also preserves software development costs by avoiding application obsolescence due to underlying hardware changes.
  • PCMCIA Type II smart card reader/writer The most popular method currently being used to interface a smart card with a notebook computer is to use a PCMCIA Type II smart card reader/writer ( FIG. 1 ).
  • PCMCIA smart card readers are currently available from companies such as Gemplus, SCM Microsystems and Tritheim Technologies, to name a few.
  • the end user cost for these smart card readers is typically around $150.
  • the cost of the reader is a major portion to the cost of the overall security solution.
  • the adapter card 104 in FIG. 1 depicts the major functional blocks of a conventional smart card reader.
  • the PCIC Host Interface block of the smart card reader provides the electrical interface to the PC Card connector ( 106 which in turn connects to the PC Card controller 102 . Additional logic is provided to control the interaction between the smart card and the software application.
  • this solution carries a significant per unit cost, and thus, is an unattractive alternative to large-scale migration to smart card compatibility.
  • one object of the present invention is to provide an integrated PC Card and Smart card controller suitable to replace conventional PC Card controllers for integration into current PC motherboard technology.
  • the present invention provides a method of detecting the presence of an expansion card using conventional PC Card specification signal lines, during the initial card detection sequence.
  • the method comprising the steps of determining the signal state of a first and second card detection signal lines; determining the signal state of a first and second voltage select signal lines; determining if said first and/or second card detection signal lines, or said first and/or second voltage select signal lines, comprise a signal state that is reserved by a PC Card signal specification; and determining the signal state of a predetermined unused PC Card signal line, relative to said reserved signal state.
  • the status change signal STSCHG is used to detect a smart card or a smart card adapter.
  • the STSCHG signal has the original uses based on the PC Card specification for signal defination. Also, in the preferred embodiment, this process determines the presence of a smart card or a Passive smart card adapter by determining whether said first card detection signal and said second voltage select signals are tied together.
  • the present invention provides a device to detect the presence of an expansion card using conventional PC Card specification signal lines, comprising a state machine including a lookup table and a plurality of logic sets, each said logic sets operable to interface with a certain predefined expansion card type, said state machine accepting as input signals a plurality of predetermined card detection and voltage selection signals, and an additional signal, and coupling an appropriate one of said logic sets to an appropriate one of said expansion cards based on a match between said input signals and said lookup table.
  • the present invention provides an integrated circuit for the detection and operation of a plurality of expansion cards, comprising, a first logic set for detecting and operating a plurality of expansion card types, said first logic set having predetermined signal lines and a pinout arrangement defined by PC Card specifications, and a second logic set for detecting and operating a smart card, wherein said first and second logic being incorporated into a single controller without requiring additional pinouts.
  • the second logic set is adapted to reassign certain ones of said predetermined signal lines to detect and operate said smart card, so that additional pins are not required.
  • FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of a conventional solution to incorporate smart card operability for PC applications
  • FIG. 2 is a system-level block diagram of the integrated smart card reader of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagram of the integrated Smart card reader of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a state machine block diagram of the integrated Smart card reader of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a table of conventional PC Card detection and voltage sensing pin arrangements, and an example of the use of a pin arrangement for smart card detection employed by the controller of the present invention
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an exemplary smart card and passive smart card adapter detection scheme of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 7A and 7B depict tables showing conventional PCMCIA assigned functional pins and their use for Smart Card interface and detection, respectively.
  • FIG. 2 depicts a system-level block diagram of how the passive smart card adapter and a smart card interface with a host controller.
  • the controller 10 is integrated into a PC platform, for example, laptop PC.
  • the PC may be configured as shown, with the controller 10 operating to detect and control one or more expansion device cards that are inserted into Socket A 12 and/or Socket B 14 .
  • the controller 10 of present invention is adapted with the appropriate logic to drive PC Cards as well as smart cards.
  • the PC system typically includes a processor 26 and a data bus 20 .
  • “North Bridge” logic 24 provides communication between the processor 26 and the bus 20 .
  • the controller 10 of the present invention is likewise adapted to communicate with the bus 20 .
  • the bus 20 is a PCI bus, however, any bus technology can be incorporated into the controller's logic.
  • South Bridge logic is provided for external bus communications, for example, legacy devices (ISA bus architecture), etc. South Bridge and North Bridge logic are well known in the art.
  • Power IC chip 28 supplies the correct voltages (as determined by the card type inserted into Socket A or B) to the pins of the PC Card connector. Once the type of card is detected (based on the PC Card definitional table of FIG. 5 , discussed below), chip 28 supplies the appropriate voltage for that card type.
  • the present invention provides a passive smartcard adapter 18 which is configured to be inserted into either Socket A 12 or Socket B 14 , which are in turn configured as either PC Card type I/II/III-type socket interface.
  • the passive adapter 18 of this embodiment includes appropriate connector 84 and passive circuit 86 .
  • the smart card 16 inserted into the passive smart card adapter 18 also includes physical contacts 88 to interface with the physical connector 84 of the adapter. Pinout arrangements 84 and 88 of the adapter and smart card are dictated by the smart card specification, for example PC/SC compliant Smart card specification that meets ISO 7816 electrical specifications and T-0, T-1 protocols.
  • an adapter 18 permits smart card readability and operability without retooling the PC case to include a specific smart card socket.
  • the PC can include a smart card slot 14 ′ as shown in FIG. 2 .
  • the logic 86 and connector 84 are, of course, provided internally within socket 14 .
  • the controller 10 includes smart card sensing logic 30 A and 30 B, Smart card multiplexer (MUX) logic 32 A and 32 B, Smart card reader logic 34 A and 34 B and interface logic 36 A and 36 B.
  • smart card sensing logic 30 A and 30 B Smart card multiplexer (MUX) logic 32 A and 32 B
  • Smart card reader logic 34 A and 34 B Smart card reader logic 34 A and 34 B
  • interface logic 36 A and 36 B Smart card sensing logic
  • controller 10 includes additional logic (not shown) to permit detection and operation of conventional PC Card's.
  • Conventional PC Card controllers detect the type of card inserted into a slot using a set of card detection pins, CD 1 and CD 2 , and a set of voltage sense pins VS 1 and V 52 .
  • the coupling combinations between these pins indicate to the appropriate logic which type of card has been inserted into the socket. For example, as shown in the table of FIG.
  • the coupling combination of CD 1 , CD 2 , VS 1 and V 52 determine whether the PC Card inserted is a 16-bit PCMCIA card or a 32-bit CardBus card. Moreover, a sis shown in the table, this combination also determines the driving voltage for the particular type of card. For example, 3.3 V, 5 V, X.X V and Y.Y V. In the last two rows of the table of FIG. 5 , it is to be noted that the listed combinations of CD 1 , CD 2 , VS 1 and V 52 are reserved in the PC Card specification.
  • the present invention utilizes one of these reserved combinations of CD 1 , CD 2 , VS 1 and VS 2 , and additionally uses a status change signal, STSCHG, to indicate whether a smart card has been inserted into the slot (either directly, or via an adapter).
  • the status change signal is preferably used in the present invention since this signal is not utilized during the detection process for conventional PC Card cards, and is only used once the card type is known.
  • the smart card sensing logic 30 A shown in FIG. 3 can be viewed as a state machine that determines the type of card inserted into a socket.
  • FIG. 4 a state machine representation of the card sensing logic 30 A of FIG. 3 is depicted.
  • the card sensing logic 30 A accepts as inputs CD 1 , CD 2 , VS 1 , V 52 and status change (labeled 40 , 42 , 44 , 46 and 48 , respectively).
  • CD 1 , CD 2 , VS 1 , V 52 As shown, the card sensing logic 30 A accepts as inputs CD 1 , CD 2 , VS 1 , V 52 and status change (labeled 40 , 42 , 44 , 46 and 48 , respectively).
  • CD 1 , CD 2 , VS 1 , V 52 In accordance with the reserved arrangement of CD 1 , CD 2 , VS 1 , V 52 as shown in FIG.
  • the state machine 30 A determines the appropriate logic 32 A for communicating with the 4 given type of card. For example, certain combinations of CD 1 , CD 2 , VS 1 , V 52 (as indicated in FIG. 5 ) will dictate that the card inserted into the socket is either a 16-bit PC card or a 32-bit CardBus PC card. Accordingly, the state machine 30 A will activate the appropriate logic 50 or 52 for the given card type. It should also be noted that the particular voltage of the inserted card is also determined using the combination of these four pins.
  • the present invention also monitors the 575 CHG pin to determine if a smart card or a passive smart card adapter has been inserted into the socket, and likewise activates the appropriate logic 54 to communicate with the smart card, for example, logic 32 A as shown in FIG. 3 .
  • the card sensing logic 30 A can produce, for example, a pulse train signal on selected ones of these pinouts, and by monitoring the signal on one or more of the other pins (with respect to ground), it can then be determined the card type inserted into the socket.
  • the smart card sensing logic 30 A and 30 B operate to detect both a smart card or a passive smart card adapter and PC Cards, based on the Table in FIG. 5 .
  • the pin assignments shown in FIG. 5 are designated by the PC Card specification, and are conventional pin assignments for these signal lines.
  • the identity of the card is determined by the values of the voltages of columns 1-4, i.e., CD 2 , CD 1 , V 52 and VS 1 .
  • Both smart card and passive smart card adapter detection operates by utilizing the reserved combinations of these pins, plus the use of an additional pin, for example, STSCHG signal line.
  • the concept is summarized in the Table of FIG. 7B . This table shows the pins used to detect PC Cards, smart cards and Passive smart card adapter cards.
  • the signal column for a smart card or passive smart card adapter detection includes one of the reserved areas for CD 1 , CD 2 , VS 1 and V 52 , as shown in the last two rows of Table of FIG. 5 .
  • the present invention generally, could use any pin in the PC Card specification that is unused during the card detection sequence. In other words, from a timing perspective, certain signal lines in the PC Card specification remain unused during the card detection process.
  • the present invention utilizes one (or more) of these signal lines, in conjunction with the reserved combination of CD 1 , CD 2 , VS 1 , and V 52 , to effectuate smart card or passive smart card adapter detection.
  • the figures represent only one of many examples for the use of an additional signal pin that could be used for smart card detection.
  • a flow chart 60 of the card-type detection process is depicted in FIG. 6 .
  • the detection logic seeks the presence of CD 1 , CD 2 , VS 1 , V 52 , and STSCHG 62 . If not present, or otherwise unavailable, it is assumed the no card has been inserted into a socket, and thus the card detection signals (CD 1 and CD 2 ) are blocked 64 . Once a card is inserted, the detection logic monitors the falling edge of CD 1 or CD 2 66 . This is dictated by the PC Card specification for determining the presence of a card.
  • the detection logic of the present invention toggles CD 1 , CD 2 , VS 1 , V 52 , and STSCHG to determine the type of card inserted 68 .
  • Toggling can be in the form of a pulse train signal, or other toggling signal.
  • the detection logic proceeds by polling CD 1 , CD 2 , VS 1 , V 52 , and STSCHG in the following manner.
  • the logic determines if VS 1 and CD 2 are tied to ground 70 . If not, it is known that a 16-Bit PCMCIA Card or 32-bit CardBus card is inserted 72 , as indicated by the table of FIG. 5 . If yes, the logic determines if V 52 and CD 1 are tied together 74 .
  • Another feature of the present invention is to provide an integrated controller circuit 10 , which can be directly integrated with current PC Card controller logic.
  • Conventional PC Card controller logic is an IC package that is mounted directly on the motherboard, which has 208 pins, and each of these pins is assigned by the PC Card specification.
  • Another feature is to provide a controller 10 that can directly replace conventional controllers, without having to reconfigure pin assignments, add additional pin configurations, alter the motherboard, or change the tooling required.
  • the controller 10 of present invention includes both conventional, legacy interface card signals and smart card signals. As is shown in this table, the same pins (leftmost column) used to interface with conventional 16 and 32 cards are likewise used to interface with the smart card. Thus, no additional pins are required.
  • logic 30 A or 30 B communicates with and enables logic 34 A or 34 B, to enable smart card readability.
  • Logic 34 A and 34 B enable the socket MUX logic 32 A or 32 B, so that the socket (A or B) can communicate with the cardbus/PCI controller logic 36 A or 36 B, which communicate with the PCI bus 20 (via PCI interface 38 ).
  • the smart card logic 30 A, 30 B, 34 A and 34 B of the present invention directly interfaces with the MUX logic 32 A and 32 B and communicates with bus interface controllers 36 A and 36 B using conventional PC Card 2 communication protocols.
  • a conventional card is inserted into a socket (socket A or B)
  • conventional logic incorporated into the controller 10 activates MUX 32 A and 32 B and communicates with bus interface controllers 36 A and 36 B using conventional PC Card communication protocols.
  • the present invention controls a predetermined number of pre-assigned pins to effectuate smart card communication.
  • pins 17 , 51 , 58 , 47 , 32 , GND, 18 , 16 and 40 are utilized by the present invention to operate both smart cards and PC cards. Therefore, no extra pins are required by the controller 10 to effectuate Smart card operability.
  • logic 34 A or 34 B reassigns the operability of the PC Card pins noted in FIG. 7A to effectuate Smart card readability.
  • the signal assignments, set forth under the smart card Signal column of FIG. 7A are the required signals to read smart Cards.
  • the table and FIG. 7A is included as a lookup table in the controller 10 of the present invention to operate PC Cards.
  • the tables of FIG. 5 and FIG. 7B are included as lookup tables in the controller 10 for the detection of PC Cards and smart Cards.
  • the state machine compares the input signals to the lookup tables of FIGS. 5 and 7 B to couple the appropriate logic to the card.
  • CD 1 , CD 2 , VS 1 and V 52 comprise card detect and voltage select signals, respectively, as specified by the conventional PC Card signal specification.
  • the nomenclature used for these signal lines includes, for example, CD 1 #, CD 2 #, VS 1 #, V 52 #, etc., which are the formal names for these conventional signal lines.
  • CD 1 , CD 2 , VS 1 and V 52 are shorthand versions of these formal names, and may be used interchangeably.
  • the smart card detection process may alternatively include the step of determining if an enable bit is enabled, and if CD 1 and STSCHG are tied together 84 . If this is not the case, the smart card the logic will not detect the presence of a smart card.
  • This feature of the present invention permits, for example, manufacturers to offer smart card compatibility as an upgrade option, while still integrating the core logic of the controller 10 .

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Credit Cards Or The Like (AREA)
  • Debugging And Monitoring (AREA)
  • Power Sources (AREA)
  • Communication Control (AREA)
  • Telephone Function (AREA)
  • Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
  • Storage Device Security (AREA)
  • Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)
  • Inspection Of Paper Currency And Valuable Securities (AREA)
  • Burglar Alarm Systems (AREA)

Abstract

An integrated controller for the detection and operation of both PC Cards, smart cards and passive smart card adapter cards. In one aspect, the invention detects the presence of standard expansion cards or passive smart card adapters by utilizing the reserved detection and voltage selection signal area defined by the PC Card specification. In another aspect, the invention provides an integrated controller that includes logic to operate either a standard expansion card or a passive smart card adapter by reassigning certain PC Card signal lines to operate a standard expansion card or a passive smart card adapter, thereby eliminating the need to provide pins in addition to those defined by the PC Card specification.

Description

  • This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/724,446, filed on Nov. 28, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,076,589, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/173,245, filed on Jun. 17, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,807,597, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/536,578, filed Mar. 28, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,284, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. Nos. 60/147,544, filed Aug. 5, 1999, 60/161,249, filed Oct. 25, 1999, and 60/174,948, filed Jan. 7, 2000, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
  • FIELD OF THE INVENTION
  • The present invention relates to an integrated controller for the detecting and operating one or more expansion cards. More specifically, the present invention relates to an integrated controller for detecting and controlling PC Cards (16-bit PCMCIA cards and 32 bit-CardBus cards), and smart cards. Particular utility of the present invention is to provide an integrated controller for mobile computing devices, e.g., laptop computers, etc, although other utilities are contemplated herein.
  • DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
  • The need for security and enhanced privacy is increasing as electronic forms of identification replace face-to-face and paper-based ones. The emergence of the global Internet, and the expansion of the corporate network to include access by customers and suppliers from outside the firewall, have accelerated the demand for solutions based on public-key technology. A few examples of the kinds of services that public key technologies enable are secure channel communications over a public network, digital signatures to ensure image integrity and confidentiality, and authentication of a client to a server (and visa-versa).
  • Smart cards are a key component of the public-key infrastructure that Microsoft is integrating into the Windows platform because smart cards enhance software-only solutions such as client authentication, logon, and secure e-mail. Smart cards are essentially a convergence point for public key certificates and associated keys because they provide tamper-resistant storage for protecting private keys and other forms of personal information; isolate security-critical computations involving authentication, digital signatures, and key exchange from other parts of the system that do not have a “need to know”; and enable portability of credentials and other private information between computers at work, home, or on the road.
  • It is estimated that the smart card will become an integral part of the Windows platform because smart cards will enable new breeds of applications in the same manner that the mouse and CD-ROM did when they were first integrated with the Personal Computer (PC). Incompatibility among applications, cards, and readers has been a major reason for the slow adoption of smart cards outside of Europe. Interoperability among different vendors' products is a necessary requirement to enable broad consumer acceptance of smart cards, and for corporations to deploy smart cards for use within the enterprise.
  • ISO 7816, EMV and GSM
  • In order to promote interoperability among smart cards and readers, the International Standards Organization (ISO) developed the ISO 7816 standards for integrated circuit cards with contacts. These specifications focused on interoperability at the physical, electrical, and data-link protocol levels. In 1996, Europay, MasterCard, and VISA (EMV) defined an industry-specific smart card specification that adopted the ISO 7816 standards and defined some additional data types and encoding rules for use by the financial services industry. The European telecommunications industry also embraced the ISO 7816 standards for their Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) smart card specification to enable identification and authentication of mobile phone users.
  • While all of these specifications (ISO 7816, EMV, and GSM) were a step in the right direction, each was either too low-level or application-specific to gain broad industry support. Application interoperability issues such as device-independent APIs, developer tools, and resource sharing were not addressed by any of these specifications.
  • PC/SC Workgroup
  • The PC/SC (Personal Computer/Smart Card) Workgroup was formed in May 1996 in partnership with major PC and smart card companies: Groupe Bull, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Schlumberger, and Siemens Nixdorf. The main focus of the workgroup has been to develop specifications that solve the previously mentioned interoperability problems. The PC/SC specifications are based on the ISO 7816 standards and are compatible with both the EMV and GSM industry-specific specifications. By virtue of the companies involved in the PC/SC Workgroup, there is broad industry support for the specifications and a strong desire to move them onto an independent-standards tract in the future.
  • Since its founding and initial publication of the specifications, additional members have joined the PC/SC Workgroup. New members include Gemplus, TBM, Sun Microsystems, Toshiba, and Verifone.
  • Microsoft's Approach
  • Microsoft's approach consists of the following:
    • A standard model for interfacing smart card readers and cards with PCs
    • Device-independent APIs for enabling smart card-aware applications
    • Familiar tools for software development
    • Integration with Windows and Windows NT platforms
  • Having a standard model for how readers and cards interface with the PC enforces interoperability among cards and readers from different manufacturers. Device-independent APIs serves to insulate application developers from differences between current and future implementations. Device-independence also preserves software development costs by avoiding application obsolescence due to underlying hardware changes.
  • The most popular method currently being used to interface a smart card with a notebook computer is to use a PCMCIA Type II smart card reader/writer (FIG. 1). PCMCIA smart card readers are currently available from companies such as Gemplus, SCM Microsystems and Tritheim Technologies, to name a few. The end user cost for these smart card readers is typically around $150. The cost of the reader is a major portion to the cost of the overall security solution. The adapter card 104 in FIG. 1 depicts the major functional blocks of a conventional smart card reader. The PCIC Host Interface block of the smart card reader provides the electrical interface to the PC Card connector (106 which in turn connects to the PC Card controller 102. Additional logic is provided to control the interaction between the smart card and the software application. However, as noted above, this solution carries a significant per unit cost, and thus, is an unattractive alternative to large-scale migration to smart card compatibility.
  • Thus, there exists a need to provide an integrated host controller that provides PC Card, smart card, and Passive smart card adapter operability. Moreover, there exists a need to provide an integrated controller that can replace existing motherboard-mounted PC Card host controllers, without having to retool or redesign the motherboard.
  • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide an integrated PC Card and Smart card controller suitable to replace conventional PC Card controllers for integration into current PC motherboard technology.
  • It is another object to provide a controller as above that is simultaneously fully compatible with PC Card specifications.
  • It is still another object to provide a Smart card controller, as above, that has an identical pinout arrangement as existing PC Card controllers, thereby permitting the controller to be directly integrated onto a PC motherboard without redesigning and/or retooling costs.
  • It is another object of the present invention to provide logic and methodology to detect the presence of a smart card or a Passive smart card adapter utilizing existing PC Card specified signals.
  • In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of detecting the presence of an expansion card using conventional PC Card specification signal lines, during the initial card detection sequence. The method comprising the steps of determining the signal state of a first and second card detection signal lines; determining the signal state of a first and second voltage select signal lines; determining if said first and/or second card detection signal lines, or said first and/or second voltage select signal lines, comprise a signal state that is reserved by a PC Card signal specification; and determining the signal state of a predetermined unused PC Card signal line, relative to said reserved signal state. During the card detection sequence the status change signal (STSCHG) is used to detect a smart card or a smart card adapter. After the detection sequence is completed the STSCHG signal has the original uses based on the PC Card specification for signal defination. Also, in the preferred embodiment, this process determines the presence of a smart card or a Passive smart card adapter by determining whether said first card detection signal and said second voltage select signals are tied together.
  • In logic form, the present invention provides a device to detect the presence of an expansion card using conventional PC Card specification signal lines, comprising a state machine including a lookup table and a plurality of logic sets, each said logic sets operable to interface with a certain predefined expansion card type, said state machine accepting as input signals a plurality of predetermined card detection and voltage selection signals, and an additional signal, and coupling an appropriate one of said logic sets to an appropriate one of said expansion cards based on a match between said input signals and said lookup table.
  • In another aspect, the present invention provides an integrated circuit for the detection and operation of a plurality of expansion cards, comprising, a first logic set for detecting and operating a plurality of expansion card types, said first logic set having predetermined signal lines and a pinout arrangement defined by PC Card specifications, and a second logic set for detecting and operating a smart card, wherein said first and second logic being incorporated into a single controller without requiring additional pinouts. In the preferred embodiment, the second logic set is adapted to reassign certain ones of said predetermined signal lines to detect and operate said smart card, so that additional pins are not required.
  • It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although the following Detailed Description will proceed with reference being made to preferred embodiments and methods of use, the present invention is not intended to be limited to these preferred embodiments and methods of use. Rather, the present invention is of broad scope and is intended to be limited as only set forth in the accompanying claims.
  • Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following Detailed Description proceeds, and upon reference to the Drawings, wherein like numerals depict like parts, and wherein:
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of a conventional solution to incorporate smart card operability for PC applications;
  • FIG. 2 is a system-level block diagram of the integrated smart card reader of the present invention;
  • FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagram of the integrated Smart card reader of the present invention;
  • FIG. 4 is a state machine block diagram of the integrated Smart card reader of the present invention;
  • FIG. 5 is a table of conventional PC Card detection and voltage sensing pin arrangements, and an example of the use of a pin arrangement for smart card detection employed by the controller of the present invention;
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an exemplary smart card and passive smart card adapter detection scheme of the present invention; and
  • FIGS. 7A and 7B depict tables showing conventional PCMCIA assigned functional pins and their use for Smart Card interface and detection, respectively.
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
  • FIG. 2 depicts a system-level block diagram of how the passive smart card adapter and a smart card interface with a host controller. The controller 10 is integrated into a PC platform, for example, laptop PC. As an example, the PC may be configured as shown, with the controller 10 operating to detect and control one or more expansion device cards that are inserted into Socket A 12 and/or Socket B 14. It will be understood that the controller 10 of present invention is adapted with the appropriate logic to drive PC Cards as well as smart cards. The PC system typically includes a processor 26 and a data bus 20. “North Bridge” logic 24 provides communication between the processor 26 and the bus 20. The controller 10, of the present invention is likewise adapted to communicate with the bus 20. In this example, the bus 20 is a PCI bus, however, any bus technology can be incorporated into the controller's logic. To complete the picture, “South Bridge” logic is provided for external bus communications, for example, legacy devices (ISA bus architecture), etc. South Bridge and North Bridge logic are well known in the art. Power IC chip 28 supplies the correct voltages (as determined by the card type inserted into Socket A or B) to the pins of the PC Card connector. Once the type of card is detected (based on the PC Card definitional table of FIG. 5, discussed below), chip 28 supplies the appropriate voltage for that card type.
  • In one embodiment, the present invention provides a passive smartcard adapter 18 which is configured to be inserted into either Socket A 12 or Socket B 14, which are in turn configured as either PC Card type I/II/III-type socket interface. The passive adapter 18 of this embodiment includes appropriate connector 84 and passive circuit 86. The smart card 16 inserted into the passive smart card adapter 18 also includes physical contacts 88 to interface with the physical connector 84 of the adapter. Pinout arrangements 84 and 88 of the adapter and smart card are dictated by the smart card specification, for example PC/SC compliant Smart card specification that meets ISO 7816 electrical specifications and T-0, T-1 protocols. In this embodiment the use of an adapter 18 permits smart card readability and operability without retooling the PC case to include a specific smart card socket. Alternatively, the PC can include a smart card slot 14′ as shown in FIG. 2. In this alternative embodiment, the logic 86 and connector 84 are, of course, provided internally within socket 14.
  • Referring now to FIG. 3, a more detailed block diagram of the integrated controller 10 is depicted, showing those logic portions directed to smart card detection and operability. In this example, the controller 10 includes smart card sensing logic 30A and 30B, Smart card multiplexer (MUX) logic 32A and 32B, Smart card reader logic 34A and 34B and interface logic 36A and 36B.
  • It should be noted at the outset that FIG. 3 depicts only the logic associated with smartcard and Passive smart card adapter detection and operability, and it should be understood that controller 10 includes additional logic (not shown) to permit detection and operation of conventional PC Card's. Conventional PC Card controllers detect the type of card inserted into a slot using a set of card detection pins, CD1 and CD2, and a set of voltage sense pins VS1 and V52. The coupling combinations between these pins (with reference to ground) indicate to the appropriate logic which type of card has been inserted into the socket. For example, as shown in the table of FIG. 5, the coupling combination of CD1, CD2, VS1 and V52 determine whether the PC Card inserted is a 16-bit PCMCIA card or a 32-bit CardBus card. Moreover, a sis shown in the table, this combination also determines the driving voltage for the particular type of card. For example, 3.3 V, 5 V, X.X V and Y.Y V. In the last two rows of the table of FIG. 5, it is to be noted that the listed combinations of CD1, CD2, VS1 and V52 are reserved in the PC Card specification. The present invention utilizes one of these reserved combinations of CD 1, CD2, VS1 and VS2, and additionally uses a status change signal, STSCHG, to indicate whether a smart card has been inserted into the slot (either directly, or via an adapter). The status change signal is preferably used in the present invention since this signal is not utilized during the detection process for conventional PC Card cards, and is only used once the card type is known.
  • Thus, in one sense, the smart card sensing logic 30A shown in FIG. 3 can be viewed as a state machine that determines the type of card inserted into a socket. To that end, and referring to FIG. 4, a state machine representation of the card sensing logic 30A of FIG. 3 is depicted. As is shown, the card sensing logic 30A accepts as inputs CD1, CD2, VS1, V52 and status change (labeled 40, 42, 44, 46 and 48, respectively). In accordance with the reserved arrangement of CD1, CD2, VS1, V52 as shown in FIG. 5, and the addition of the status change signal, the state machine 30A determines the appropriate logic 32 A for communicating with the 4 given type of card. For example, certain combinations of CD 1, CD2, VS 1, V52 (as indicated in FIG. 5) will dictate that the card inserted into the socket is either a 16-bit PC card or a 32-bit CardBus PC card. Accordingly, the state machine 30A will activate the appropriate logic 50 or 52 for the given card type. It should also be noted that the particular voltage of the inserted card is also determined using the combination of these four pins. Extending the capabilities of conventional PC Card controllers, the present invention also monitors the 575 CHG pin to determine if a smart card or a passive smart card adapter has been inserted into the socket, and likewise activates the appropriate logic 54 to communicate with the smart card, for example, logic 32A as shown in FIG. 3. To determine the states of CD1, CD2, VS1, V52 and STSCHG, the card sensing logic 30A can produce, for example, a pulse train signal on selected ones of these pinouts, and by monitoring the signal on one or more of the other pins (with respect to ground), it can then be determined the card type inserted into the socket.
  • The smart card sensing logic 30A and 30B operate to detect both a smart card or a passive smart card adapter and PC Cards, based on the Table in FIG. 5. The pin assignments shown in FIG. 5 are designated by the PC Card specification, and are conventional pin assignments for these signal lines. The identity of the card is determined by the values of the voltages of columns 1-4, i.e., CD2, CD1, V52 and VS1. Both smart card and passive smart card adapter detection operates by utilizing the reserved combinations of these pins, plus the use of an additional pin, for example, STSCHG signal line. The concept is summarized in the Table of FIG. 7B. This table shows the pins used to detect PC Cards, smart cards and Passive smart card adapter cards. The signal column for a smart card or passive smart card adapter detection includes one of the reserved areas for CD1, CD2, VS1 and V52, as shown in the last two rows of Table of FIG. 5. It should be noted that although the figures depict the use of signal line STSCHG (which is provided by the conventional PC Card specification), the present invention, generally, could use any pin in the PC Card specification that is unused during the card detection sequence. In other words, from a timing perspective, certain signal lines in the PC Card specification remain unused during the card detection process. The present invention utilizes one (or more) of these signal lines, in conjunction with the reserved combination of CD1, CD2, VS1, and V52, to effectuate smart card or passive smart card adapter detection. Thus, the figures represent only one of many examples for the use of an additional signal pin that could be used for smart card detection.
  • A flow chart 60 of the card-type detection process is depicted in FIG. 6. For clarity, the corresponding reference numerals of the logic to detect and operate PC Card, smart card and passive smart card adapter cards (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) are omitted. Initially, the detection logic seeks the presence of CD1, CD2, VS1, V52, and STSCHG 62. If not present, or otherwise unavailable, it is assumed the no card has been inserted into a socket, and thus the card detection signals (CD1 and CD2) are blocked 64. Once a card is inserted, the detection logic monitors the falling edge of CD1 or CD2 66. This is dictated by the PC Card specification for determining the presence of a card. Once a card is detected, the detection logic of the present invention toggles CD1, CD2, VS1, V52, and STSCHG to determine the type of card inserted 68. Toggling, as cited above, can be in the form of a pulse train signal, or other toggling signal. The detection logic proceeds by polling CD1, CD2, VS1, V52, and STSCHG in the following manner. First, the logic determines if VS1 and CD2 are tied to ground 70. If not, it is known that a 16-Bit PCMCIA Card or 32-bit CardBus card is inserted 72, as indicated by the table of FIG. 5. If yes, the logic determines if V52 and CD1 are tied together 74. If this is not the case, again it is known that a 16-Bit Card or 32-bit CardBus card is inserted 76, as indicated by the table of FIG. 5. If it is determined that CD1 and STSCHG are tied together 78, then it is determined that a smart card or a passive smart card adapter is present. Either the passive smart card adapter is inserted into the socket, or a smart card is inserted directly into a smart card socket 82.
  • Another feature of the present invention is to provide an integrated controller circuit 10, which can be directly integrated with current PC Card controller logic. Conventional PC Card controller logic is an IC package that is mounted directly on the motherboard, which has 208 pins, and each of these pins is assigned by the PC Card specification. Another feature is to provide a controller 10 that can directly replace conventional controllers, without having to reconfigure pin assignments, add additional pin configurations, alter the motherboard, or change the tooling required. To that end, and referring to the table of FIG. 7A, the controller 10 of present invention includes both conventional, legacy interface card signals and smart card signals. As is shown in this table, the same pins (leftmost column) used to interface with conventional 16 and 32 cards are likewise used to interface with the smart card. Thus, no additional pins are required. Referring again to FIG. 3, if a smart card is detected into a socket, logic 30A or 30B communicates with and enables logic 34A or 34B, to enable smart card readability. Logic 34A and 34B enable the socket MUX logic 32A or 32B, so that the socket (A or B) can communicate with the cardbus/ PCI controller logic 36A or 36B, which communicate with the PCI bus 20 (via PCI interface 38). As should be understood, the smart card logic 30A, 30B, 34A and 34B of the present invention directly interfaces with the MUX logic 32A and 32B and communicates with bus interface controllers 36A and 36B using conventional PC Card 2 communication protocols. If a conventional card is inserted into a socket (socket A or B), then conventional logic (not shown) incorporated into the controller 10 activates MUX 32A and 32B and communicates with bus interface controllers 36A and 36B using conventional PC Card communication protocols.
  • To facilitate direct integration with conventional PC Card logic sets, the present invention controls a predetermined number of pre-assigned pins to effectuate smart card communication. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, pins 17, 51, 58, 47, 32, GND, 18, 16 and 40, as specified by the PC Card standard, are utilized by the present invention to operate both smart cards and PC cards. Therefore, no extra pins are required by the controller 10 to effectuate Smart card operability. In operation, once the smart card has been detected (as described above with reference to FIGS. 3-6), logic 34A or 34B reassigns the operability of the PC Card pins noted in FIG. 7A to effectuate Smart card readability. The signal assignments, set forth under the smart card Signal column of FIG. 7A, are the required signals to read smart Cards.
  • The table and FIG. 7A is included as a lookup table in the controller 10 of the present invention to operate PC Cards. Likewise, the tables of FIG. 5 and FIG. 7B are included as lookup tables in the controller 10 for the detection of PC Cards and smart Cards. To this end, and view the logic sets 30A and 30B as a state machine (shown in FIG. 4), the state machine compares the input signals to the lookup tables of FIGS. 5 and 7B to couple the appropriate logic to the card.
  • Those skilled in the art will recognize that CD1, CD2, VS1 and V52 comprise card detect and voltage select signals, respectively, as specified by the conventional PC Card signal specification. In the tables of FIGS. 5, 7A and 7B, and the flowchart of FIG. 6, the nomenclature used for these signal lines includes, for example, CD1#, CD2#, VS1#, V52#, etc., which are the formal names for these conventional signal lines. However, it should be apparent that the use of CD1, CD2, VS1 and V52 are shorthand versions of these formal names, and may be used interchangeably.
  • Thus, it is evident that there has been provided an integrated Smart card controller and Smart card detection process that satisfies the aims and objectives stated herein. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications are possible. For example, although the present invention has been described with reference to detection and operation of smart Cards, the present invention is equally adapted for the detection and operation of any type of expansion cards, in addition to conventional PC Cards. Other modifications are possible. For example, it may be desirable to include a software lock on the operability of the smart card logic shown herein. Accordingly, the logic depicted in FIG. 3 can include an enable bit, which selectively turns on and off smart card detectability and operability. To that end, and referring to FIG. 6, the smart card detection process may alternatively include the step of determining if an enable bit is enabled, and if CD1 and STSCHG are tied together 84. If this is not the case, the smart card the logic will not detect the presence of a smart card. This feature of the present invention permits, for example, manufacturers to offer smart card compatibility as an upgrade option, while still integrating the core logic of the controller 10. Those skilled in the art will recognize additional modifications, and all such modifications are deemed within the scope of the present invention, only as limited by the appended claims.

Claims (20)

1. A method for detecting and operating an expansion card comprising:
identifying an expansion card type as complying with a PC Card specification or not complying with said PC Card specification using conventional PC Card signal lines;
communicating between said expansion card and a bus controller using conventional PC Card communication protocols.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein identifying an expansion card type comprises determining a signal state of a first and second card detection signal lines, determining the signal state of a first and second voltage select signal lines, and determining a signal state of a PC Card signal line that is unused during the detection of a PC Card.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein communicating between said expansion card and said bus controller comprises enabling MUX logic to provide communication between said expansion card and said bus controller.
4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising interfacing said expansion card to a bus using said bus controller to provide communication between said expansion card and said bus.
5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said expansion card type not complying with said PC Card specification comprises a Smart Card.
6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said expansion card type complying with said PC Card specification comprises a CardBus card.
7. A system for detecting and operating an expansion card comprising:
a socket for receiving said expansion card;
an integrated controller comprising a first logic set for operating an expansion card that complies with a PC Card specification and a second logic set for operating an expansion card that does not comply with said PC Card specification, and interface logic for communication between said expansion card not complying with said PC Card specification and a bus using PC Card communication protocols.
8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said integrated controller further comprises detection logic to determine if said expansion card complies with said PC Card specification.
9. A system according to claim 8, wherein said detection logic determines if said expansion card complies with said PC Card specification using conventional PC Card signal lines.
10. A system according to claim 7, wherein said bus comprises a PCI bus.
11. A system according to claim 7, wherein an expansion card that complies with said PC Card specification comprises a CardBus card.
12. A system according to claim 7, wherein an expansion card that does not comply with said PC Card specification comprises a Smart Card.
13. An apparatus comprising:
an integrated circuit having a first logic set for operating an expansion card that complies with a PC Card specification and a second logic set for operating an expansion card that does not comply with said PC Card specification, said integrated circuit further comprising interface logic for communication between said expansion card not complying with said PC Card specification and a bus using PC Card communication protocols.
14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said integrated circuit further comprises detection logic to determine if said expansion card complies with said PC Card specification.
15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said detection logic determines if said expansion card complies with said PC Card specification using conventional PC Card signal lines.
16. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said bus comprises a PCI bus.
17. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said expansion card that complies with said PC Card specification comprises a CardBus card.
18. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said expansion card that does not comply with said PC Card specification comprises a Smart Card.
19. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said integrated circuit comprises a bus controller for communication between said expansion card and said interface logic.
20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said integrated circuit comprises MUX logic to provide communication between said expansion card and said bus controller using PC Card communication protocols.
US11/456,694 1999-08-05 2006-07-11 Integrated PC Card Host Controller for the Detection and Operation of a Plurality of Expansion Cards Abandoned US20060265538A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/456,694 US20060265538A1 (en) 1999-08-05 2006-07-11 Integrated PC Card Host Controller for the Detection and Operation of a Plurality of Expansion Cards

Applications Claiming Priority (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US14754499P 1999-08-05 1999-08-05
US16124999P 1999-10-25 1999-10-25
US17494800P 2000-01-07 2000-01-07
US09/536,578 US6470284B1 (en) 1999-08-05 2000-03-28 Integrated PC card host controller for the detection and operation of a plurality of expansion cards
US10/173,245 US6807597B2 (en) 1999-08-05 2002-06-17 Integrated PC Card host controller for the detection and operation of a plurality of expansion cards
US10/724,446 US7076589B2 (en) 1999-08-05 2003-11-28 Integrated PC card host controller for the detection and operation of a plurality of expansion cards
US11/456,694 US20060265538A1 (en) 1999-08-05 2006-07-11 Integrated PC Card Host Controller for the Detection and Operation of a Plurality of Expansion Cards

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/724,446 Continuation US7076589B2 (en) 1999-08-05 2003-11-28 Integrated PC card host controller for the detection and operation of a plurality of expansion cards

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20060265538A1 true US20060265538A1 (en) 2006-11-23

Family

ID=27495767

Family Applications (5)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/536,578 Expired - Lifetime US6470284B1 (en) 1999-08-05 2000-03-28 Integrated PC card host controller for the detection and operation of a plurality of expansion cards
US10/173,245 Expired - Fee Related US6807597B2 (en) 1999-08-05 2002-06-17 Integrated PC Card host controller for the detection and operation of a plurality of expansion cards
US10/655,336 Expired - Fee Related US7191270B2 (en) 1999-08-05 2003-09-04 Integrated PC Card host controller for the detection and operation of a plurality of expansion cards
US10/724,446 Expired - Lifetime US7076589B2 (en) 1999-08-05 2003-11-28 Integrated PC card host controller for the detection and operation of a plurality of expansion cards
US11/456,694 Abandoned US20060265538A1 (en) 1999-08-05 2006-07-11 Integrated PC Card Host Controller for the Detection and Operation of a Plurality of Expansion Cards

Family Applications Before (4)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/536,578 Expired - Lifetime US6470284B1 (en) 1999-08-05 2000-03-28 Integrated PC card host controller for the detection and operation of a plurality of expansion cards
US10/173,245 Expired - Fee Related US6807597B2 (en) 1999-08-05 2002-06-17 Integrated PC Card host controller for the detection and operation of a plurality of expansion cards
US10/655,336 Expired - Fee Related US7191270B2 (en) 1999-08-05 2003-09-04 Integrated PC Card host controller for the detection and operation of a plurality of expansion cards
US10/724,446 Expired - Lifetime US7076589B2 (en) 1999-08-05 2003-11-28 Integrated PC card host controller for the detection and operation of a plurality of expansion cards

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (5) US6470284B1 (en)
EP (1) EP1074918B1 (en)
JP (1) JP3667199B2 (en)
CN (1) CN1220137C (en)
AT (1) ATE308781T1 (en)
CA (1) CA2313583C (en)
DE (1) DE60023608T2 (en)
TW (1) TW486623B (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110113162A1 (en) * 2009-11-11 2011-05-12 Seiko Epson Corporation Electronic device and control method thereof

Families Citing this family (65)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6470284B1 (en) * 1999-08-05 2002-10-22 02 Micro International Limited Integrated PC card host controller for the detection and operation of a plurality of expansion cards
US6574677B1 (en) * 2000-02-23 2003-06-03 Inventec Corporation Method for using smart card on HPC
US7252240B1 (en) * 2000-07-06 2007-08-07 Onspec Electronics, Inc. Memory module which includes a form factor connector
US6438638B1 (en) * 2000-07-06 2002-08-20 Onspec Electronic, Inc. Flashtoaster for reading several types of flash-memory cards with or without a PC
US20030084220A1 (en) * 2001-11-01 2003-05-01 Jones Larry Lawson Active adapter chip for use in a flash card reader
US7295443B2 (en) * 2000-07-06 2007-11-13 Onspec Electronic, Inc. Smartconnect universal flash media card adapters
US7278051B2 (en) * 2000-07-06 2007-10-02 Onspec Electronic, Inc. Field-operable, stand-alone apparatus for media recovery and regeneration
US7493437B1 (en) 2000-07-06 2009-02-17 Mcm Portfolio Llc Flashtoaster for reading several types of flash memory cards with or without a PC
JP2002197051A (en) * 2000-12-11 2002-07-12 Internatl Business Mach Corp <Ibm> Selection method for communication adapter for determining communication destination, setting method for communication adapter, computer system, portable information device, and storage medium
US6753758B2 (en) * 2001-01-03 2004-06-22 Gerald Adolph Colman System and method for switching voltage
DE10105737B4 (en) * 2001-02-08 2006-11-16 Grundig Multimedia B.V. Apparatus for transmitting image or sound signal data between a digital receiving and / or reproducing apparatus and a digital memory
US6684283B1 (en) * 2001-03-13 2004-01-27 Texas Instruments Incorporated Method for interfacing a cardbay card to the host system by indicating a 16-bit or cardbus PC card insertion to host software
US7302587B2 (en) * 2001-06-08 2007-11-27 Matra Transport International Secure computer system
US20030037196A1 (en) * 2001-08-15 2003-02-20 Chin-Hsiang Chung Data access device function mode automatic switching control arrangement
US20030088762A1 (en) * 2001-11-05 2003-05-08 Jenny Liang Storage media of operating system arranging at the expansion slot of motherboard
WO2003043002A2 (en) * 2001-11-16 2003-05-22 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Digital rights management
TW539998B (en) * 2001-12-27 2003-07-01 Winbond Electronics Corp Computer booting device using smart card interface and the method thereof
US6725291B2 (en) * 2002-01-18 2004-04-20 Key Technology Corporation Detection method used in adaptor capable of inserting various kinds of memory cards
TW542378U (en) * 2002-02-08 2003-07-11 C One Technology Corp Multi-functional electronic card capable of detecting a card insertion
JP3953832B2 (en) * 2002-02-22 2007-08-08 株式会社村田製作所 Interface card for media
US7043585B2 (en) * 2002-03-13 2006-05-09 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Flexible system architecture with common interface for multiple system functions
US6990539B2 (en) * 2002-04-15 2006-01-24 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Apparatus and method of implementing BREQ routing to allow functionality with 2 way or 4 way processors
KR100481511B1 (en) * 2002-08-26 2005-04-07 삼성전자주식회사 Set Top Box and controlling method thereof
JP4113750B2 (en) * 2002-09-17 2008-07-09 株式会社リコー PC card control device and computer system including this PC card control device
US7152127B1 (en) * 2002-10-07 2006-12-19 Flextronics Sales And Marketing (A-P) Ltd. Multi-purpose peripheral interface for computing systems
US7096298B2 (en) * 2003-02-11 2006-08-22 02Micro International Limited Reduced cardbus controller
US7409484B2 (en) * 2003-02-11 2008-08-05 O2Micro International Limited Integrated circuit having reduced pin count
US7365454B2 (en) * 2003-02-11 2008-04-29 O2Micro International Limited Enhanced power switch device enabling modular USB PC cards
US7363413B2 (en) * 2003-03-31 2008-04-22 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Method and apparatus for controlling connections of PC cards and a passive-card-adapting card used for connecting one of the PC cards to the apparatus
US7178724B2 (en) * 2003-04-21 2007-02-20 Stmicroelectronics, Inc. Smart card device and method used for transmitting and receiving secure e-mails
KR100618814B1 (en) * 2003-07-04 2006-08-31 삼성전자주식회사 Movable storage apparatus combined use of smart card capable of interfacing multi hosts and interfacing method of the same
TW200506733A (en) * 2003-08-15 2005-02-16 Via Tech Inc Apparatus and method for the co-simulation of CPU and DUT modules
US7289334B2 (en) * 2003-08-27 2007-10-30 Epicenter, Inc. Rack architecture and management system
US7383982B2 (en) 2003-08-27 2008-06-10 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Card recognition system for recognizing standard card and non-standard card
JP4502613B2 (en) * 2003-09-11 2010-07-14 株式会社リコー Non-compliant card recognition system and non-compliant card recognition method
JP4603980B2 (en) * 2003-09-19 2010-12-22 パナソニック株式会社 Digital television receiver module and digital television receiver including the same
US7386648B2 (en) * 2003-10-24 2008-06-10 02 Micro International Limited PC card controller with reduced number of terminals
CN100354845C (en) * 2003-10-24 2007-12-12 美国凹凸微系有限公司 PC card controller with reduced number of terminals
TWI226552B (en) * 2003-11-20 2005-01-11 Rdc Semiconductor Co Ltd Bus integrating system
DE102004049671B4 (en) * 2004-10-12 2007-08-02 Mühlbauer Ag Electronic module for the production, programming and testing of smart cards and associated method
TWI286692B (en) * 2005-02-28 2007-09-11 O2Micro Inc Apparatus, method and system for controlling at least one PC card
FR2884049B1 (en) * 2005-04-01 2007-06-22 3D Plus Sa Sa LOW THICK ELECTRONIC MODULE COMPRISING A STACK OF CONNECTING BIT ELECTRONIC BOXES
US20060265539A1 (en) * 2005-05-17 2006-11-23 Wistron Corporation Method and system for supplying electric power by PCMCIA socket
JP4433311B2 (en) * 2005-09-12 2010-03-17 ソニー株式会社 Semiconductor memory device, electronic device, and mode setting method
US20070067539A1 (en) * 2005-09-12 2007-03-22 Neil Morrow Enhanced CCID circuits and systems utilizing USB and PCI functions
TWI301574B (en) * 2005-12-05 2008-10-01 Via Tech Inc Memory card detect circuit
JP4724573B2 (en) * 2006-03-02 2011-07-13 株式会社リコー Transfer system switching circuit in interface circuit
US8152066B2 (en) 2006-08-17 2012-04-10 Research In Motion Limited Method and system for determining support for a memory card
US7480582B2 (en) * 2006-12-19 2009-01-20 Phison Electronics Corp. Flash memory card test device with multiple interfaces
TW200841531A (en) * 2007-04-02 2008-10-16 Asustek Comp Inc Slot device
TWI333149B (en) * 2007-05-11 2010-11-11 Asustek Comp Inc Driving device for extension card and driving method thereof and motherboard
US20090083486A1 (en) * 2007-09-20 2009-03-26 Inventec Corpration Testing device of card reading interface and testing method thereof
JPWO2010047059A1 (en) * 2008-10-24 2012-03-22 パナソニック株式会社 Card host LSI and set device having the same
US8723675B2 (en) * 2009-04-15 2014-05-13 Identity Stronghold, Llc Smartcard connector
US20110072168A1 (en) * 2009-09-24 2011-03-24 Hongxiao Zhao Data transfer system with different operating modes
US8527667B2 (en) * 2009-09-24 2013-09-03 Maishi Electronic (Shanghai) Ltd Apparatuses and methods for transferring data
US20110194858A1 (en) * 2010-02-11 2011-08-11 Mrv Communications, Inc. Hot-pluggable transceiver flash memory media reader/writer, systems, methods, apparatus, networks and devices
CN102567238B (en) * 2010-12-13 2015-12-16 联想(北京)有限公司 Interface switching control method, portable terminal device, portable mobile equipment and input equipment
US10489333B2 (en) 2012-02-21 2019-11-26 Zebra Technologies Corporation Electrically configurable option board interface
TWI454921B (en) * 2012-11-21 2014-10-01 Asrock Inc Method for transiting signals, system of transferring signals and expansion card
KR102118526B1 (en) 2013-06-03 2020-06-03 삼성전자주식회사 Circuit board comprising of extension pcmcia connector
US9561646B2 (en) 2015-03-27 2017-02-07 Zih Corp. High speed adaptive thermal printhead interface
JP7424294B2 (en) * 2018-09-04 2024-01-30 ソニーグループ株式会社 IC cards, processing methods, and information processing systems
CN111428526B (en) * 2018-12-24 2022-05-31 华为技术有限公司 Function card identification method and mobile device
US11412825B2 (en) 2020-11-04 2022-08-16 Identity Stronghold, Llc Shielding card holder system

Citations (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5486687A (en) * 1992-01-14 1996-01-23 Gemplus Card International Memory card having a recessed portion with contacts connected to an access card
US5636347A (en) * 1994-09-27 1997-06-03 Intel Corporation Computer card insertion detection circuit
US5768147A (en) * 1995-03-23 1998-06-16 Intel Corporation Method and apparatus for determining the voltage requirements of a removable system resource
US5768615A (en) * 1995-11-30 1998-06-16 Compaq Computer Corp. Method and apparatus for functional expansion through predefined signal interfaces
US5889866A (en) * 1994-06-30 1999-03-30 Intel Corporation Method and apparatus for controlling access to detachably connectable computer devices using an encrypted password
US5901292A (en) * 1996-03-01 1999-05-04 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Computer system having expansion unit
US5918028A (en) * 1997-07-08 1999-06-29 Motorola, Inc. Apparatus and method for smart host bus adapter for personal computer cards
US6052742A (en) * 1997-10-16 2000-04-18 Fujitsu Limited Host machine interface for reading information stored in peripheral card prior to providing operational supply voltage to the card
US6148347A (en) * 1996-11-20 2000-11-14 Cisco Technology, Inc. Mode selectable memory controller for PCMCIA standard memory cards and non-standard memory cards
US6397285B1 (en) * 1996-11-22 2002-05-28 Nec Corporation Image input device employing a personal computercard/interface or generic interface
US6418501B1 (en) * 1998-07-29 2002-07-09 Fujitsu Limited Memory card
US20030217040A1 (en) * 1998-03-31 2003-11-20 Bmc Software, Inc. Method and apparatus for logically reconstructing incomplete records
US7076589B2 (en) * 1999-08-05 2006-07-11 O2Micro International Limited Integrated PC card host controller for the detection and operation of a plurality of expansion cards

Family Cites Families (52)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5274783A (en) * 1991-06-28 1993-12-28 Digital Equipment Corporation SCSI interface employing bus extender and auxiliary bus
WO1994011802A1 (en) * 1992-11-12 1994-05-26 New Media Corporation Reconfigureable interface between a computer and peripheral devices
US5991530A (en) * 1993-02-05 1999-11-23 Canon Denshi Kabushiki Kaisha Interface device receivable in card storage device slot of host computer
US5473499A (en) * 1993-06-30 1995-12-05 Harris Corporation Hot pluggable motherboard bus connection method
US5887145A (en) * 1993-09-01 1999-03-23 Sandisk Corporation Removable mother/daughter peripheral card
CA2138696C (en) * 1993-12-28 2001-02-27 Kenji Kataoka Ic card radio modem and communication system using the same
US5860157A (en) * 1994-01-26 1999-01-12 Intel Corporation Nonvolatile memory card controller with an optimized memory address mapping window scheme
FR2728709B1 (en) * 1994-07-13 1997-01-24 Schlumberger Ind Sa PORTABLE INTERFACE FOR ELECTRONIC CHIP CARD
US5555510A (en) 1994-08-02 1996-09-10 Intel Corporation Automatic computer card insertion and removal algorithm
US5613092A (en) 1994-09-01 1997-03-18 Motorola Inc. Peripheral card having an adaptive PCMCIA compliant interface
JPH0895687A (en) 1994-09-26 1996-04-12 Fujitsu Ltd I/o card, connecting cable to be connected with the i/o card and power saving method for i/o card
JPH08123583A (en) * 1994-10-27 1996-05-17 Oki Electric Ind Co Ltd Device for determining inner state
JPH10512067A (en) 1994-11-04 1998-11-17 インテル・コーポレーション PCMCIA automatic configuration PC card
JPH08185248A (en) 1994-12-15 1996-07-16 Internatl Business Mach Corp <Ibm> Mechanism and method for control of power supply as well as controller for input/output device
US5691926A (en) * 1994-12-20 1997-11-25 Ncr Corporation Integrated test tools for portable computer
US5781780A (en) 1994-12-22 1998-07-14 Texas Instruments Incorporated Power management supply interface circuitry, systems and methods
KR960032232A (en) * 1995-02-25 1996-09-17 김광호 Card read / write unit compatible with memory cards and smart cards
US5679945A (en) * 1995-03-31 1997-10-21 Cybermark, L.L.C. Intelligent card reader having emulation features
US5991158A (en) 1995-05-24 1999-11-23 Dell Usa, L.P. Slot for mechanically detecting the presence of a computer card
US5634132A (en) 1995-06-23 1997-05-27 Dell Usa Lp Operating system independent support for mixed voltage devices
US5758171A (en) 1995-07-05 1998-05-26 Cirrus Logic, Inc. Apparatus and method for reading back socket power status information
US5627416A (en) 1995-07-21 1997-05-06 Itt Corporation Multi-voltage IC card host
US6076124A (en) * 1995-10-10 2000-06-13 The Foxboro Company Distributed control system including a compact easily-extensible and serviceable field controller
TW299404B (en) * 1995-11-02 1997-03-01 Ibm Adapter card slot isolation for hot plugging
JP3607384B2 (en) 1995-11-08 2005-01-05 株式会社東芝 Computer system and PC card controller and PC card used in this system
US5794164A (en) * 1995-11-29 1998-08-11 Microsoft Corporation Vehicle computer system
US5671368A (en) 1996-02-22 1997-09-23 O2 Micro, Inc. PC card controller circuit to detect exchange of PC cards while in suspend mode
JPH09237166A (en) * 1996-02-29 1997-09-09 Toshiba Corp Computer system, card device controller used in the same and animation encoder card
US5928362A (en) 1996-04-30 1999-07-27 Cagent Technologies, Inc. Peripheral card security and configuration interface
US5752857A (en) * 1996-05-24 1998-05-19 Itt Corporation Smart card computer adaptor
US5943482A (en) 1996-06-05 1999-08-24 Compaq Computer Corporation Expansion card insertion and removal
JPH1097414A (en) * 1996-09-19 1998-04-14 Toshiba Corp Portable information equipment and program start control method
US5862393A (en) 1996-10-07 1999-01-19 Lxe, Inc. System for managing power of a computer with removable devices
FI104223B1 (en) * 1996-12-17 1999-11-30 Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd Method for transmitting a SIM card's control commands from an external device to a SIM card
US5920731A (en) 1997-02-21 1999-07-06 Vlsi Technology, Inc. Single-housing electrical device self-configurable to connect to PCMCIA compliant or non-PCMCIA compliant host interfaces
JPH11120120A (en) * 1997-10-13 1999-04-30 Fujitsu Ltd Interface circuit for card bus and pc card for card bus having it
US6183307B1 (en) * 1997-11-17 2001-02-06 Xircom, Inc. PC cards with integrated I/O communication receptacles
FI114839B (en) 1997-12-01 2004-12-31 Nokia Corp A method for providing power supply to an expansion card
DE29722142U1 (en) * 1997-12-16 1998-02-12 Stocko Metallwarenfabriken Henkels & Sohn GmbH & Co, 42327 Wuppertal Adapter for contacting chip cards
DE19838628A1 (en) * 1998-08-26 2000-03-02 Ibm Extended smart card communication architecture and method for communication between smart card application and data carrier
US6151647A (en) * 1998-03-26 2000-11-21 Gemplus Versatile interface smart card
US6483550B1 (en) * 1998-05-29 2002-11-19 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Video signal level converting device and video signal analog-to-digital converter
US6286060B1 (en) * 1998-06-26 2001-09-04 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Method and apparatus for providing modular I/O expansion of computing devices
US6062480A (en) 1998-07-20 2000-05-16 Vlsi Technologies, Inc. Hot docking system and methods for detecting and managing hot docking of bus cards
US6460772B1 (en) * 1998-09-01 2002-10-08 Intertex Data Ab PCMCIA smart card reader
US6438550B1 (en) * 1998-12-10 2002-08-20 International Business Machines Corporation Method and apparatus for client authentication and application configuration via smart cards
US6371376B1 (en) * 1999-04-16 2002-04-16 Ho J. Dan PCMCIA card with secure smart card reader
US6547150B1 (en) * 1999-05-11 2003-04-15 Microsoft Corporation Smart card application development system and method
DE29909222U1 (en) * 1999-05-28 1999-08-05 STOCKO Contact GmbH & Co. KG, 42327 Wuppertal PC card chip card reader
US6516373B1 (en) * 1999-06-18 2003-02-04 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Common motherboard interface for processor modules of multiple architectures
US6315205B1 (en) * 1999-07-06 2001-11-13 Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. Adaptor for smart card
US6718274B2 (en) * 1999-08-05 2004-04-06 2Micro International Limited Integrated PC Card host controller for the detection and operation of a plurality of expansion cards

Patent Citations (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5486687A (en) * 1992-01-14 1996-01-23 Gemplus Card International Memory card having a recessed portion with contacts connected to an access card
US5889866A (en) * 1994-06-30 1999-03-30 Intel Corporation Method and apparatus for controlling access to detachably connectable computer devices using an encrypted password
US5636347A (en) * 1994-09-27 1997-06-03 Intel Corporation Computer card insertion detection circuit
US5768147A (en) * 1995-03-23 1998-06-16 Intel Corporation Method and apparatus for determining the voltage requirements of a removable system resource
US5964850A (en) * 1995-11-30 1999-10-12 Compaq Computer Corporation System for increasing functionality through a predefined interface by use of an interconnection device to switch a non-standard echo cancellation processor onto the interface
US5768615A (en) * 1995-11-30 1998-06-16 Compaq Computer Corp. Method and apparatus for functional expansion through predefined signal interfaces
US5901292A (en) * 1996-03-01 1999-05-04 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Computer system having expansion unit
US6148347A (en) * 1996-11-20 2000-11-14 Cisco Technology, Inc. Mode selectable memory controller for PCMCIA standard memory cards and non-standard memory cards
US6397285B1 (en) * 1996-11-22 2002-05-28 Nec Corporation Image input device employing a personal computercard/interface or generic interface
US5918028A (en) * 1997-07-08 1999-06-29 Motorola, Inc. Apparatus and method for smart host bus adapter for personal computer cards
US6052742A (en) * 1997-10-16 2000-04-18 Fujitsu Limited Host machine interface for reading information stored in peripheral card prior to providing operational supply voltage to the card
US20030217040A1 (en) * 1998-03-31 2003-11-20 Bmc Software, Inc. Method and apparatus for logically reconstructing incomplete records
US6418501B1 (en) * 1998-07-29 2002-07-09 Fujitsu Limited Memory card
US7076589B2 (en) * 1999-08-05 2006-07-11 O2Micro International Limited Integrated PC card host controller for the detection and operation of a plurality of expansion cards
US7191270B2 (en) * 1999-08-05 2007-03-13 O2Micro International Limited Integrated PC Card host controller for the detection and operation of a plurality of expansion cards

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110113162A1 (en) * 2009-11-11 2011-05-12 Seiko Epson Corporation Electronic device and control method thereof
US8977782B2 (en) * 2009-11-11 2015-03-10 Seiko Epson Corporation Electronic device and control method thereof

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1074918A2 (en) 2001-02-07
JP3667199B2 (en) 2005-07-06
US20020152047A1 (en) 2002-10-17
EP1074918A3 (en) 2003-11-12
CN1220137C (en) 2005-09-21
TW486623B (en) 2002-05-11
EP1074918B1 (en) 2005-11-02
DE60023608D1 (en) 2005-12-08
US20040073736A1 (en) 2004-04-15
CA2313583A1 (en) 2001-02-05
ATE308781T1 (en) 2005-11-15
US6807597B2 (en) 2004-10-19
US7076589B2 (en) 2006-07-11
CN1283818A (en) 2001-02-14
US7191270B2 (en) 2007-03-13
CA2313583C (en) 2008-02-05
DE60023608T2 (en) 2006-08-03
JP2001075746A (en) 2001-03-23
US20040111240A1 (en) 2004-06-10
US6470284B1 (en) 2002-10-22

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7076589B2 (en) Integrated PC card host controller for the detection and operation of a plurality of expansion cards
US7292946B2 (en) Integrated PC card host controller for the detection and operation of a plurality of expansion cards
US6061746A (en) Device bay system without 1394 PHY/Link interface to device bay controller having a software intercepting a GUID query and returning a stored unique identifier
RU2267155C2 (en) Method for user-computer interaction for use by a set of flexibly connected computer systems, device, having block for connection to flexibly connected computer systems, a set of devices, having a block for connection to flexibly connected computer system, universal serial bus key, method for interaction with main computer via usb and data storage method (variants)
US6941405B2 (en) System and method capable of offloading converter/controller-specific tasks to a system microprocessor
US7412553B2 (en) Enhanced protocol conversion system capable of providing offloaded protocol instruction processing
US7703688B2 (en) Method of communication between a smart card and a host station
EP1473664B1 (en) Smart card device as mass storage device
US6684283B1 (en) Method for interfacing a cardbay card to the host system by indicating a 16-bit or cardbus PC card insertion to host software
US20030038177A1 (en) Passive flash media adapter system
JP2004362588A (en) Multimode smart card emulator and related method
US20030056098A1 (en) Electronic apparatus and wireless communication system
WO2001096990A2 (en) Usb-compliant personal key using a smartcard processor and a smartcard reader emulator
US20010024066A1 (en) Handheld device, smart card interface device (IFD) and data transmission method
US7044390B2 (en) Smart card emulator and related methods using buffering interface
US7028132B2 (en) Distributed peer-to-peer communication for interconnect busses of a computer system
US6970964B2 (en) Using PCMCIA/PCI drivers to control USB ports
US6826628B2 (en) PCI-PCMCIA smart card reader
US20060095626A1 (en) Multifunction adapter
TWI273428B (en) Integrated PC card host controller for the detection and operation of a plurality of expansion cards
US20030140182A1 (en) PCI-PCMCIA smart card reader
EP1679609A1 (en) Multifunction adapter
KR20040090332A (en) A Micro memory card

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION