Removable memory cards including USB and other controllers, connectors, and methods of operating same

Abstract

A removable memory card can include a plurality of connector contacts including a Universal Serial Bus (USB) controller module power contact and a separate controller module power contact configured to provide separate mutually exclusively applied voltage to the removable memory card.

1 . A memory card comprising: 
 a controller which controls communication with external hosts through connection pins, wherein the controller comprises first and second controller modules that are configured to be powered by respective separate source voltages applied thereto at different times.    
   
   
       2 . A memory card according to  claim 1  wherein the memory card further comprises: 
 a Multi-Media Card (MMC)/Secure Digital (SD) form-factor compliant memory card connector interface including a plurality of first contacts configured to interface to an MMC/SD form-factor compliant memory card via the first controller module; and    a standard Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector interface including a plurality of second contacts coupled to the plurality of first contacts and configured to interface to a USB compliant host device via the second controller module.    
   
   
       3 . A memory card according to  claim 1  wherein the second controller module consumes substantially no current while a source voltage is applied to the first controller module.  
   
   
       4 . A memory card according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second controller modules use the same recognition protocol.  
   
   
       5 . A memory card according to  claim 1  wherein the memory card comprises a Multi-Media Card (MMC)/Secure Digital (SD) form-factor compliant memory card.  
   
   
       6 . A memory card, comprising: 
 a first controller module; and    a second controller module,    wherein the first controller module consumes substantially no current while the second controller module operates.    
   
   
       7 . A memory card according to  claim 6  wherein the second controller module consumes substantially no current while the first controller module operates.  
   
   
       8 . A memory card according to  claim 6  wherein the first and second controller modules are divided by individually applying a source voltage.  
   
   
       9 . A memory card according to  claim 8  wherein the first and second controller modules are not separated by a recognition protocol.  
   
   
       10 . A memory card according to  claim 6  wherein the memory card comprises a Multi-Media Card (MMC)/Secure Digital (SD) form-factor compliant memory card.  
   
   
       11 . A method of operating a Multi-Media Card (MMC)/Secure Digital (SD) form-factor compliant memory card, the method comprising: 
 applying a first source voltage to a first controller module, in the MMC/SD form-factor compliant memory card, responsive to a command to operate the first controller module; and    blocking a second source voltage to a second controller module, responsive to the command to operate the first controller module.    
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 11  further comprising: 
 applying the second source voltage to the second controller module, responsive to the command to operate the second controller module; and    blocking the first source voltage to the first controller module, responsive to the command to operate the second controller module.    
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the first controller module consume substantially no current when the first source voltage is blocked and the second controller module consumes substantially no current when the second source voltage is blocked.