Ic card and an adapter for the same

Abstract

An IC card and card adapters are designed so that the IC card of a specific standard (e.g., MMC standard) is compatible with IC cards and terminals of other standards (e.g., MS card standard and USB terminal standard). In the IC card (MMC), a controller IC, which is connected to a flash memory, includes a voltage pull-down detector, a mode controller, a USB-mode interface controller, a MS-mode interface controller, and an MMC/SD-mode interface controller. The card adapters suffice to have component parts which are easy in formation and low in cost such as wiring lines and resistors. The voltage pull-down detector of the IC card detects the voltage pull-down caused by the resistors, and the mode controller selects the USB-mode interface controller, MS-mode interface controller or MMC/SD-mode interface controller so that the IC card becomes compatible with the corresponding IC card standard.

1 - 28 . (canceled)  
   
   
       29 . An IC card comprising: 
 a substrate having a front surface and a rear surface opposite to said front surface;    a first flash memory chip mounted over said front surface of said substrate;    a controller chip for said first flash memory chip mounted over said front surface of said substrate;    a plurality of external terminals arranged on said rear surface of said substrate; and    a sealing resin covering said first flash memory chip and said controller chip;    wherein said controller chip has a detection unit that detects a level of potential at a predetermined one of said plurality of external terminals;    wherein said controller chip has a function for a first mode interface corresponding to a first standard, a function for a second mode interface corresponding to a second standard, and a third mode interface corresponding to a third standard; and    wherein said controller chip has a function for selecting said first mode, said second mode, or said third mode based on the detected level of potential.    
   
   
       30 . An IC card according to  claim 29 , 
 wherein said first standard is a USB standard;    wherein said second standard is a memory stick standard; and    wherein said third standard is an SD card standard.    
   
   
       31 . An IC card according to  claim 30 , 
 wherein said IC card is capable of being coupled to an adapter;    wherein a shape of said adapter is defined by said first, said second, or said third standard; and    wherein when said IC card is coupled to said adapter, said first mode, said second mode, or said third mode corresponding to said first standard, said second standard, or said third standard, respectively, is selected.    
   
   
       32 . An IC card according to  claim 29 , 
 wherein said first standard is a USB standard;    wherein said second standard is a memory stick standard; and    wherein said third standard is a multimedia card standard.    
   
   
       33 . An IC card according to  claim 32 , 
 wherein said IC card is capable of being coupled to an adapter;    wherein a shape of said adapter is defined by said first standard, said second standard, or said third standard; and    wherein when said IC card is coupled to said adapter, said first mode, said second mode, or said third mode corresponding to said first standard, said second standard, or said third standard, respectively, is selected.    
   
   
       34 . An IC card according to  claim 29 , 
 wherein said first standard is a USB standard;    wherein said second standard is an SD card standard; and    wherein said third standard is a multimedia card standard.    
   
   
       35 . An IC card according to  claim 34 , 
 wherein said IC card is capable of being coupled to an adapter;    wherein a shape of said adapter is defined by said first standard, said second standard, or said third standard; and    wherein when said IC card is coupled to said adapter, said first mode, said second mode, or said third mode corresponding to said first standard, said second standard, or said third standard, respectively, is selected.    
   
   
       36 . An IC card according to  claim 29 , 
 wherein said first standard is a memory stick standard;    wherein said second standard is an SD card standard; and    wherein said third standard is a multimedia card standard.    
   
   
       37 . An IC card according to  claim 36 , 
 wherein said IC card is capable of being coupled to an adapter;    wherein a shape of said adapter is defined by said first standard, said second standard, or said third standard; and    wherein when said IC card is coupled to said adapter, said first mode, said second mode, or said third mode corresponding to said first standard, said second standard, or said third standard, respectively, is selected.    
   
   
       38 . An IC card according to  claim 29 , 
 wherein said detection unit is a pull-down detection unit.    
   
   
       39 . An IC card according to  claim 29 , 
 wherein said detection unit is a pull-up detection unit.