USB system having card-type USB interface connector

Abstract

A universal serial bus (USB) system having a card-type USB interface connector includes a host platform, a storage layer, and an electrical interface. The host platform includes a USB host controller for controlling data transfer, and a first card-type connector at which data is transferred. The storage device includes a non-volatile memory device for storing data, a memory controller for controlling the non-volatile memory device, and a second card-type connector at which data is transferred with the first card-type connector. A plurality of electrical lines interconnecting the first and second connectors are disposed in the electrical interface. A USB control module converts transferred data into USB packets, and converts USB packets into data for transfer. The card-type USB interface connector of the USB system is used as a USB interface connector by means of a card-type plug. Thus, the card-type USB interface connector is readily installed in card-type connector interfaces.

1 . A universal serial bus (USB) system comprising: 
 a host platform including a USB host controller for controlling data transfer including initialization of such data transfer, exclusively according to USB protocol, and a first card-type connector through which data is transferred;    a storage device including:    a non-volatile memory device for storing the data; 
 a memory controller for controlling the non-volatile memory device;  
 a second card-type connector at which data is transferred with the first card-type connector; and  
 a USB control module for controlling the data transfer to and from the host platform through the second card-type connector; and  
   an electrical interface including a plurality of electrical signal lines interconnecting the first and second card-type connectors, the plurality of electrical signal lines of the electrical interface exclusively consisting of USB protocol signal lines.    
   
   
       2 . The USB system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrical lines interconnecting the first and second card-type connectors are disposed in the electrical interface.  
   
   
       3 . The USB system of  claim 1 , wherein the USB control module converts a transferred data signal into a USB packet and converts a USB packet into a data signal to be transferred.  
   
   
       4 . The USB system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second card-type connectors includes a plurality of pins and is a card-type plug.  
   
   
       5 . The USB system of  claim 4 , wherein at least one pin of the plurality of pins is used as a power supply signal, at least one pin is used as a ground signal, at least one pin is used as a D+data signal, and at least one pin is used as a D− data signal.  
   
   
       6 . The USB system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second connectors includes a plurality of pins and is a card-type plug which is compatible with at least one of a security digital (SD) card, a multi-media card (MMC), and a memory stick (MS).  
   
   
       7 . The USB system of  claim 6 , wherein of the plurality of pins, at least one pin is used as a power supply signal, at least one pin is used as a ground signal, at least one pin is used as a D+data signal, and at least one pin is used as a D− data signal.  
   
   
       8 . A universal serial bus (USB) storage device comprising: 
 a non-volatile memory device for storing and retrieving data;    a memory controller for controlling the non-volatile memory device;    a card-type connector at which data is transferred with a USB host platform;    a USB control module for controlling data transfer to and from the USB host platform and for initializing such data transfer, exclusively according to USB protocol through the card-type connector; and    an electrical interface including a plurality of electrical signal lines connected to the card-type connector, the plurality of electrical signal lines of the electrical interface exclusively consisting of USB protocol signal lines.    
   
   
       9 . The USB system of  claim 8 , wherein the USB control module converts the transferred data into a USB packet and converts USB packets into data to be transferred.  
   
   
       10 . The USB system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of electrical lines connected to the card-type connector is disposed in the electrical interface.  
   
   
       11 . The USB system of  claim 8 , wherein the connector includes a plurality of pins and is a card-type plug.  
   
   
       12 . The USB system of  claim 11 , wherein of the plurality of pins, at least one pin is used as a power supply signal, at least one pin is used as a ground signal, at least one pin is used as a D+data signal, and at least one pin is used as a D− data signal.  
   
   
       13 . The USB system of  claim 8 , wherein the connector includes a plurality of pins and is a card-type plug which is compatible with at least one of a security digital (SD) card, a multi-media card (MMC), and a memory stick (MS).  
   
   
       14 . The USB system of  claim 13 , wherein of the plurality of pins, at least one pin is used as a power supply signal, at least one pin is used as a ground signal, at least one pin is used as a D+data signal, and at least one pin is used as a D− data signal.