Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1 MULTI-INTERFACE MEMORY CARD AND ADAPTER MODULE
2 FOR THE SAME
3 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
4 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mufti-interface memory card and an
6 adapter module; more particularly, the present invention relates to a
7 memory card with multiple kinds of interfaces to communicate with an
8 electronic product and a computer, respectively, for convenient data access,
9 and an adapter module for such a mufti-interface memory card.
2. Description of Related Art
11 Digital devices, such as electronic dictionaries, electronic translators,
12 digital cameras, etc., are in widespread use today. The use of these
digital
13 devices requires storing of data in storage media, and generally memory
14 cards are provided for such a purpose. As well known to those skilled in
the
art, various kinds of memory cards, such as the STONE card, Smart Media
16 card, MMC card, Memory Stick card and Compact Flash card, have been
17 provided with the advantages of compactness and large storage capacity,
18 typically, more than several mega-bytes. The use of such memory cards
19 enables the miniaturization of digital products. However, they do not have
standard interfaces for communicating with a computer. Therefore, it is
21 inconvenient to use a computer to read data from the memory card. Some
22 of the existing methods to transfer data between a computer and a memory
23 card are as follows:
24 1. Using a card reader: A card reader is provided to connect to an
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I interface port of a computer such that the computer is able to read data
2 from a memory card that is inserted in the card reader. As different memory
3 cards have different interfaces, a dedicated card reader must be provided
4 for a specific memory card.
2. Using a transform disk: A transform disk that has the same
6 physical specification as the 3.5-inch disk is provided with a slot for
7 receiving a memory card, such that a computer can write data to or read
8 data from the memory card when the transform disk is inserted into the
9 disk drive of the computer.
There are several problems encountered in using the aforementioned
1 I methods. For example, most of the card readers can not write data to the
12 memory cards, and the data access speed is slow when the transform disk
13 and disk drive are used for transferring data between a memory card and a
14 computer. Furthermore, the use of a transform disk and disk drive to read
or write data is likely to result in mechanical disorders because data is
16 accessed by physical contact.
17 Moreover, the interface port provided for a computer generally
18 depends on the requirement of the computer, and may vary according to the
19 development of the computer industry. For example, the USB port and
IEEE 1394 interfaces have been introduced recently to provide high speed
21 and large capacity interfacing capabilities. Clearly, if a memory card is
to
22 be used with computers with respective different interfaces, different
kinds
23 of card readers or transform devices are required, and thus it is obvious
that
24 the use of the memory card is inconvenient.
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To solve the aforemenfroned problems, a memory card is provided in US
Patent 6,385,677, entitled "Dual interface memory card and adapter module for
the
same". Although this patent may effectively eliminate the drawbacks in using
the card
reader or transform disk, it is deemed unsatisfactory as the memory card only
has one
kind of interface, e.g, the USB port, to communicate with the computer.
Therefore, a
novel memory card that can mitigate and/or obviate the problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVI=NTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a mufti-intertace memory
card
and an adapter module for the memory card to conveniently transfer data
between the
memory card and a computer without the risk of mechanical disorder.
According to the invention, there is provided a mufti-intertace memory card
(50)
in combination with an adapter module (60), wherein the mufti-interface memory
card
(50) comprises:
a micro controller (10);
a memory unit (20) connected to the micro controller (10) to store data;
multiple connection interfaces (31, 32) connected to the memory unit (20) via
the micro controller (10) for data access in the memory unit (20); and
a product tntertace (40) for connection with a digital product;
wherein the adapter module (60) comprises;
a housing alternatively and slidably receiving the mufti-interface memory card
(50) therein;
multiple interface connectors (64, 65) formed on the housing and adapted for
connection to interface ports of a computer; and
a terminal seat (63) formed in the housing, the terminal seat (63) being
composed of a plurality of connection terminals (631 ), wherein each
connection
terminal (631 ) has a first end and a second end, the first end to
electrically connect to
the connection interfaces (31 )(32) and the product interface (40) of the
memory card
(50), and the second end is connected to the multiple interface connectors
(64, 65) of
the adapter module (60);
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whereby when the multi-interface memory card (50) is installed in the digital
product via the product interface (40), data output from the digital product
is
transferred to the memory cans (50) through the product interface (40) and
processed
by the micro controller (10) to be stored in the memory unit (20);
after the multi-interface memory card (50) is combined with the adapter module
(60), the adapter module (60) Is adapted to plug Into the Interface port of
the computer
via one of the multiple interface connectors (ti4, 65) so that the computer is
able to
read data stored in the memory card.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a multi-interface
memory card is provided, which includes: a micro controller; a memory unit
connected
to the miuo controller, such that external computers or electronic products
can read
data from or write data to said memory unit under the control of the micro
controller;
multiple connection interfaces connected to the mert~ory unit via the micro
controller
for controlling data access, the connection interfaces conforming to different
interface
specifications; and a product interface for connecting to a digital product to
read or
write data.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an adapter module
is provided for a multi-interface memory card having a front end
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1 formed thereon with an interface port for providing multiple connection
2 interfaces and a product interface. The adapter module includes: a housing
3 defining a slot for receiving the memory card; multiple interface
4 connectors held in the housing and adapted for connecting to
corresponding interface ports of a computer; and a terminal seat held in the
6 housing, the terminal seat having a plurality of connection terminals, each
7 having one end for facing to the interface port of the memory card, and
8 another end connected to the multiple interface connectors.
9 In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a multi-
interface memory card is provided, which includes: a micro controller; a
11 memory unit connected to the micro controller, such that external
12 computers or electronic products can read data from or write data to said
13 memory unit under the control of the micro controller; a connection
14 interface connected to the memory unit via the micro controller for
controlling data access, the connection interface conforming to an IEEE
16 1394 interface specification; and a product interface for connecting to a
17 digital product to read or write data.
18 , In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, an
19 adapter module is provided for a mufti-interface memory card having a
front end formed thereon with an interface port for providing an IEEE 1394
21 interface and a host interface. The adapter module includes: a housing
22 defining a slot for receiving the memory card; an IEEE 1394 interface
23 connector held in the housing and adapted for connecting to a
24 corresponding interface port of a computer; and a terminal seat held in the
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1 housing, the terminal seat having a plurality of connection terminals, each
2 having one end for facing to the interface port of the memory card, and
3 another end connected to the IEEE 1394 interface connector.
4 Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will
become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken
6 in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
7 B 1EF D .S . TPTION OF T F D AW1NC'T~
8 FIG. 1 is the circuit diagram of a mufti-interface memory card in
9 accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the micro controller shown in FIG. 1;
I1 FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the memory card and an adapter
12 module in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present
13 invention;
14 FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the adapter module being inserted
with the mufti-interface memory card in accordance with the first preferred
16 embodiment of the present invention;
17 FIG. 5 is a plane view of the adapter module being inserted with the
18 mufti-interface memory card in accordance with the first preferred
19 embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is the circuit diagram of a mufti-interface memory card in
21 accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;
22 FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the micro controller shown in FIG. 6; and
23 FIG. 8 is a plane view of the adapter module being inserted with the
24 mufti-interface memory card in accordance with the second preferred
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1 embodiment of the present invention.
2 D TAI . .D D .~ 1PTION OF T . P FF . RRI~ RMR(~I~TMFNT
3 FIG. 1 shows a circuit structure of a mufti-interface memory card in
4 accordance with the present invention, which includes a micro controller
(10), a memory unit (20), one or more connection interfaces (31, 32), and a
6 product interface (40). The memory unit (20) is connected to the micro
7 controller ( 10) via an address bus and a data bus, such that external
8 computers or electronic products can read data from or write data to the
9 memory unit (20) under the control of the micro controller ( 10). The
connection interfaces (31, 32) are provided to connect to the memory unit
11 (20) via the micro controller ( 10) for data access. The product interface
(40)
12 is provided to connect to a digital product, such as a digital camera, to
read
13 or write data. The micro controller ( 10) executes software to perform a
data
14 conversion operation to convert data read from an external product and
store the converted data in desired memory locations in the memory unit
16 (20). Furthermore, when the memory card is connected to a computer, the
17 micro controller ( 10) can read data from the memory (20) and convert the
18 data for transfer to the computer via a corresponding interface.
19 FIG. 2 shows the structure of the micro controller ( 10), which includes
a microprocessor ( 13), a memory interface ( 15), multiple connection
21 interface controllers ( 1 l, 12), and a host interface controller ( 14).
The
22 connection interface controllers ( 11, 12) are connected to the
23 microprocessor (13) and the external connection interfaces (31, 32). The
24 host interface controller ( 14) is connected to the microprocessor ( 13)
and
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1 the external product interface (40). The memory interface ( 12) is
2 connected to the microprocessor ( 13 ), the connection interface controllers
3 ( 11, 12), and the host interface controller ( 14).
4 In this preferred embodiment, the micro controller ( 10) is provided
with two connection interface controllers (11, 12); one is a USB interface
6 controller and the other one is an IEEE 1394 interface controller.
7 The host interface controller ( 14) is preferred to conform to the
8 specification of a STONE card for connecting to the external product
9 interface (40).
With reference to FIG. 1, the memory unit (20) is composed of flash
11 memory, random access memory or read only memory chips. In this
12 preferred embodiment, the memory unit (20) is composed of four flash
13 memory chips (2124) connected together via the bus and also connected
14 to the micro controller ( 10).
1 S In this preferred embodiment, there are two connection interfaces (31,
16 32); one is a USB interface and the other is an IEEE1394 interface for
17 connecting to the two connection interface controllers (11, 12),
18 respectively.
19 The product interface (40) is preferred to conform to the specification
of the STONE card for connecting to the host interface controller ( 14).
21 When the memory card is installed in a product and electrically
22 connected to the product via the product interface (40), the data output of
23 the product is transferred to the memory card via the product interface
(40),
24 and processed by the micro controller ( 10) for being stored in the memory
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unit (20).
With such a design, the memory card can be placed in a product for recording
data and writing the stored data to a computer via different interfaces or
read data
from a computer.
A practical Implementation of the memory card in accordance with the present
invention is shown in FIG. 3 for illustrative purpose. It is shown that a
memory card
(50) is in use with an adapter module (60), wherein the memory card (50) has
the
aforementioned micro controller (10), memory unit (20), and multiple
interfaces.
Furthermore, a front end of the memory card (50) is provided with an intertace
port
(51 ) having a plurality of terminal holes. Four of the terminal holes are
provided as the
USB interface, while the others are provided as the IEEE 1394 interface and
the
product interface. In order to connect the memory card {50) to different
intertace ports
of a computer, the adapter module {60) fs employed, the internal structure of
which is
shown in FIG. 4.
With reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the adapter module (60) has an upper
shell (61 ) and a lower shell (62) for combining with the upper shell (61 ) to
form a
housing, in which a terminal seat (63) is provided at one end of the housing,
and a
USB connector (64) and an IEEE 1394 connector {65) are provided at an opposite
end of the housing.
The upper shell (61 ) and the lower shell (62) can be secured together by
screw
means or other appropriate securing means. Each of the upper shell (61 ) and
lower
shell (62) defines an opening at a first end thereof,
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1 thereby forming a slot (66) for receiving the memory card (50). A second
2 end of each of the upper shell (61 ) and lower shell (62) has a Y-shape and
3 defines two openings, thereby forming two slots for receiving the USB
4 connector (64) and IEEE 1394 connector (65).
The terminal seat (63) is substantially an H-shaped body which has
6 two parallel rims and a rib extending between the two rims. Each of the
7 rims defines a sliding slot (not shown) in an inner side thereof, such that
the
8 memory card (50) can smoothly slide into the terminal seat (63). A
9 plurality of connection terminals (631 ) is extended through the rib. Each
connection terminal (631 ) has one end for facing to the interface port (51 )
11 of the memory card (50), and another end connected to the USB connector
12 (64) and IEEE 1394 connector (65). Therefore, when the memory card (50)
13 is inserted into the adapter module (60), the interface port (51) of the
14 memory card (50) receives the connection terminals (631 ) of the terminal
seat (63 ), such that the interface port (51 ) is electrically connected to
the
16 USB connector (64) and the IEEE 1394 connector (65) via the plurality of
17 connection terminals (631 ).
18 After the memory card (50) is combined with the adapter module (60),
19 as shown in FIG. 5, it can be plugged to the interface port of a computer
via
the USB connector (64) or the IEEE 1394 connector (65). The memory
21 card (50) in the adapter module (60) is thus electrically connected to the
22 computer. Because the memory card (50) is directly connected to the
23 computer via a high speed interface, the data transfer between the memory
24 card (50) and the computer is fast. Accordingly, the computer can read data
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1 from or write data to the memory card (50) in a fast and convenient
2 manner.
3 In addition to directly inserting the adapter module (60) into the
4 interface port of a computer, the adapter module (60) can be inserted into
5 the slot of a hub that is further connected to the computer.
6 FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of another preferred embodiment in
7 accordance with the present. invention, which differs from the previous
8 embodiment in that the memory card is provided with only a connection
9 interface (30) and a product interface (40). The connection interface (30)
10 and product interface (40) are connected to the memory unit (20) via the
1 I micro controller ( 10).
12 FIG. 7 shows the structure of the micro controller (10), which includes
13 a microprocessor ( 13), a memory interface ( 15), an IEEE 1394 interface
14 controller ( 12), and a host interface controller ( 14). The IEEE 1394
interface controller (12) is connected to the connection interface (30). The
16 host interface controller ( 14) is connected to the product interface (40).
17 As a result, the memory card can be placed in a product for recording
18 data, or connected to the IEEE 1394 interface port of a computer via an
19 adapter module. As shown in FIG. 8, the adapter module (70) is the same
as that of the previous embodiment except that only one IEEE 1394
21 connector (71 ) is provided for connecting the memory card (50) in the
22 adapter module (70) to the IEEE 1394 interface port of the computer.
23 The above description depicts the multi-interface memory card and the
24 adapter module in accordance with the present invention. It is appreciated
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I that such a design can be applied to the existing STONE card, Smart Media
2 card, MMC card, Memory Stick card, Compact Flash card, and the like.
3 Consequently, it is convenient to use a computer to read data from or write
4 data to different kinds of memory cards.
Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its
6 preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible
7 modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit
8 and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
