Flash toaster for reading several types of flash memory cards with or without a PC

Abstract

A flash-memory-card reader reads and writes multiple types of flash-memory cards, including CompactFlash, and the smaller SmartMedia, MultiMediaCard, Secure Digital, and Memory Stick. A converter chip converts the different card signals for transfer to a host personal computer (PC). Serial-to-parallel data conversion is performed for the smaller card formats with serial data interfaces, but not for CompactFlash with a parallel-data interface. A single slot has a 50-pin connector for CompactFlash cards or passive adapters. The passive adapters have the CompactFlash form factor and a smaller connector fitting smaller flash cards. Passive adapters have no components but simply wire the smaller connector to the CompactFlash connector. A pin mapping allows card-type detection by sensing the LSB address pins of the CompactFlash interface. A larger CompactFlash reader has multiple slots for each card type. The reader is connected to the PC by a cable, or located within the PC chassis in a drive bay. A stand-alone reader copies images from the flash-memory card to a removable disk media. Pressing a button initiates image transfer.

1 . A memory card reader, comprising: 
 A first memory card slot configured to receive a memory card of a first format;    A second memory card slot configured to receive a memory card of a second format different from the first format;    A first connector coupling the first memory card slot to a converter; and    A second connector coupling the second memory card slot to the converter, wherein the converter is to detect a memory card having been inserted into the first or second memory card slot and to read data from the inserted card.    
     
     
         2 . The memory card reader of  claim 1 , wherein the converter is to read data from the inserted card using a pin interface corresponding to the respective format of the inserted card.  
     
     
         3 . The memory card reader of  claim 1 , wherein the second format comprises a smaller pin count relative to the first format.  
     
     
         4 . The memory card reader of  claim 3 , wherein data is to be transferred from the first memory card slot to the converter via a serial transfer, and data is to be transferred from the second memory card slot to the converter via a parallel transfer.  
     
     
         5 . The memory card reader of  claim 2 , wherein the memory card reader is external to the computer system.  
     
     
         6 . The memory card reader of  claim 2 , wherein the memory card reader is integrated in a computer system.  
     
     
         7 . The memory card reader of  claim 1 , wherein each memory card slot of the memory card reader corresponds to a separate format from a group comprising of at least a CompactFlash (CF) format; a MultiMediaCard or Secure Digital Card (MMC/SD) format; a SmartMedia format; and a Memory Stick format.  
     
     
         8 . The memory card reader of  claim 3 , further comprising a third memory card slot to receive a memory card of a third format; and 
 a third connector coupling the third memory card slot to the converter.    
     
     
         9 . The memory card reader of  claim 7 , further comprising a fourth memory card slot to receive a memory card of a fourth format; and 
 a fourth connector coupling the fourth memory card slot to the converter, wherein each memory.    
     
     
         10 . The memory card reader of  claim 1 , wherein the converter is to transfer data from a memory card inserted in the first memory card slot to a memory card inserted in the second memory card slot.  
     
     
         11 . The memory card reader of  claim 1 , wherein each separate memory card slot is identified as a separate media drive by an operating system of a computer system coupled to the memory card reader.  
     
     
         12 . The memory card reader of  claim 1 , wherein the memory card reader is configured to be inserted in a device bay of a computer system, the device bay is one of a group comprising of at least a floppy disk drive bay, a CD-ROM drive device bay, a DVD device bay, and a tape drive device bay.  
     
     
         13 . The memory card reader of  claim 2 , further comprising a removable storage device to receive a storage media having a storage capacity greater than the first or second format, and the converter to transfer data from a memory card inserted in the first or second memory slot to the storage media inserted in the removable storage device.