Memory Card Reader to Provide Access to Multiple Memory Card Types

Abstract

A memory card reader is disclosed. In one embodiment, the memory card reader comprises a first slot to receive a first memory card of a first format; a second slot to receive a second memory card of a second format having fewer interface pins than the first format; an Integrated Device Electronics (IDE) interface for transferring data to a system; and a single IDE converter, coupled to the IDE interface and the first and second slot, to interface with a memory card of the first format inserted in the first slot or a memory card of the second format inserted in the second slot, to convert signals from the first or second memory card into a format for the IDE interface, and the converter to detect a card inserted in the first or second slot by detecting a voltage change in the first or second slot. In a second embodiment, the memory card reader comprises a single-slot configured to receive one of first memory card type without an adapter and a second memory card type via an adapter; an Integrated Device Electronics (IDE) interface for transferring data to a system; and an IDE converter coupled to the IDE interface and the single slot, the converter to interface with one of the first or second memory card type inserted in the single slot and to convert signals from an inserted memory card to a format for the IDE interface, the converter to detect an inserted card by reading one or more pins of a first set of pins of the single slot, and to identify a type of card inserted based on reading one or more pins of a second set of pins of the single slot.

1 . A memory card reader comprising:
 a first slot to receive a first memory card of a first format;   a second slot to receive a second memory card of a second format having fewer interface pins than the first format;   an Integrated Device Electronics (IDE) interface for transferring data to a system; and   a single IDE converter, coupled to the IDE interface and the first and second slot, to interface with a memory card of the first format inserted in the first slot or a memory card of the second format inserted in the second slot, to convert signals from the first or second memory card into a format for the IDE interface, and the converter to detect a card inserted in the first or second slot by detecting a voltage change in the first or second slot.   
   
   
       2 . The memory card reader of  claim 1 , wherein the first format comprises a COMPACTFLASH card and the second format comprises a memory card having fewer interface pins than COMPACTFLASH. 
   
   
       3 . The memory card reader of  claim 1  wherein the first slot includes a COMPACTFLASH connector, coupled to the IDE converter, to receive a COMPACTFLASH card and to make electrical connection with the COMPACTFLASH card. 
   
   
       4 . The memory card reader of  claim 1 , wherein the second format comprises one of a MultiMediaCard, a Secure Digital card, or a MEMORY STICK card. 
   
   
       5 . The memory card reader of  claim 1 , wherein the IDE converter further comprises a serial-to-parallel converter to receive serial data from a memory card inserted in the first or second slot and to convert the serial data to a parallel data format for transfer to the system via the IDE interface. 
   
   
       6 . The memory card reader of  claim 1 , wherein the IDE interface and the IDE converter use one of AT Attachment Interface (ATA) protocol and AT Attachment Packet Interface (ATAPI) protocol. 
   
   
       7 . The memory card reader of  claim 1 , further comprising a device port coupled to the IDE converter to receive one or more non-IDE devices and connect a non-IDE device as an IDE device to the IDE converter. 
   
   
       8 . The memory card reader of  claim 7 , wherein the device port includes at least one of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, a USB On The Go port, a FireWire (IEEE 1394) port, and a Serial AT Attachment Interface (ATA) port. 
   
   
       9 . The memory card reader of  claim 7 , wherein the device port includes a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port configurable as a USB Host or a USB Device. 
   
   
       10 . The memory card reader of  claim 1 , wherein the second format comprises one of a MEMORY STICK Duo card, a miniSD card, a TriFlash card, and a Reduced Size MultiMediaCard (RS MMC). 
   
   
       11 . The memory card reader of  claim 1 , wherein the first slot exchanges data with the IDE converter via a parallel data transfer and the second slot exchanges data with the IDE converter via a parallel data transfer. 
   
   
       12 . The memory card reader of  claim 1 , wherein the reader comprises a third slot to receive a disc, and the third slot is coupled to the IDE converter to exchange data between at least one of a disc inserted in the third slot and the system, and a disc inserted in the third slot and a memory card inserted in one of the first and second slot. 
   
   
       13 . A controller comprising:
 a first interface to interface with a first slot to receive a first memory card of a first format;   a second interface to interface with a second slot to receive a second memory card of a second format having fewer interface pins than the first format;   an Integrated Device Electronics (IDE) interface for transferring data to a system; and   a single IDE converter, coupled to the IDE interface and the first and second interface, to interface with a memory card of the first format inserted in the first slot or a memory card of the second format inserted in the second slot, to convert signals from the first or second memory card into a format for the IDE interface, the converter to detect a card inserted in the first or second slot by detecting a voltage change in the first or second slot.   
   
   
       14 . A memory card reader comprising:
 a single-slot configured to receive one of first memory card type without an adapter and a second memory card type via an adapter;   an Integrated Device Electronics (IDE) interface for transferring data to a system; and   an IDE converter coupled to the IDE interface and the single slot, the converter to interface with one of the first or second memory card type inserted in the single slot and to convert signals from an inserted memory card to a format for the IDE interface, the converter to detect an inserted card by reading one or more pins of a first set of pins of the single slot, and to identify a type of card inserted based on reading one or more pins of a second set of pins of the single slot.   
   
   
       15 . The memory card reader of  claim 14 , wherein the second memory card type comprises fewer interface pins than the first memory card type. 
   
   
       16 . The memory card reader of  claim 14 , wherein the single-slot is configured to receive the second memory card type via a passive adapter. 
   
   
       17 . The memory card reader of  claim 14 , wherein the first set of pins comprises of card select pins. 
   
   
       18 . The memory card reader of  claim 14 , wherein the second set of pins comprises of enable pins. 
   
   
       19 . The memory card reader of  claim 14 , wherein the first memory card type is COMPACTFLASH. 
   
   
       20 . The memory card reader of  claim 14 , wherein the adapter has a physical shape to be removably inserted into the single slot. 
   
   
       21 . The memory card reader of  claim 20 , wherein the adapter includes a first mating connector to couple with an interface of the single slot, and a second connector for fitting to memory cards having interfaces smaller than the first memory card type. 
   
   
       22 . The memory card reader of  claim 18 , wherein the enable pins of the single slot comprise CE 1  and CE 2  pins of a COMPACTFLASH interface. 
   
   
       23 . The memory card reader of  claim 21 , wherein the adapter is to couple card select signals from the second connector to card select signals of the interface of the single slot. 
   
   
       24 . The memory card reader of  claim 19 , wherein the second memory card types having fewer interface pins than COMPACT FLASH comprise one of a group comprising of: MultiMediaCard, a Secure Digital card, and a MEMORY STICK card. 
   
   
       25 . The memory card reader of  claim 14 , wherein the IDE converter further comprises a serial-to-parallel converter to receive serial data from a memory card inserted in the single slot and to convert the serial data to a parallel data format for transfer to the system via the IDE interface. 
   
   
       26 . The memory card reader of  claim 14 , wherein the IDE interface and the IDE converter use one of AT Attachment Interface (ATA) protocol and AT Attachment Packet Interface (ATAPI) protocol. 
   
   
       27 . The memory card reader of  claim 14 , further comprising a device port coupled to the IDE converter to receive one or more non-IDE devices and connect a non-IDE device as an IDE device to the IDE converter. 
   
   
       28 . The memory card reader of  claim 27 , wherein the device port includes at least one of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, a USB On The Go port, a FireWire (IEEE 1394) port, and a Serial AT Attachment Interface (ATA) port. 
   
   
       29 . The memory card reader of  claim 27 , wherein the device port includes a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port configurable as a USB Host or a USB Device. 
   
   
       30 . The memory card reader of  claim 19 , wherein the second memory card type having fewer interface pins than COMPACTFLASH comprise one of a MEMORY STICK Duo, a miniSD, a TriFlash, and a Reduced Size MultiMediaCard (RS MMC). 
   
   
       31 . A controller comprising:
 a first interface to a single-slot configured to receive one of a first memory card type without an adapter and a second memory card type via an adapter;   an Integrated Device Electronics (IDE) interface for transferring data to a system; and   an IDE converter coupled to the IDE interface and the single slot, the converter to interface with one of the first or second memory card type inserted in the single slot and to convert signals from an inserted memory card to a format for the IDE interface, the converter to detect an inserted card by reading one or more pins of a first set of pins of the single slot, and to identify a type of card inserted based on reading one or more pins of a second set of pins of the single slot.   
   
   
       32 . The controller of  claim 31 , wherein the second memory card type comprises fewer interface pins than the first memory card type. 
   
   
       33 . The controller of  claim 31 , wherein the single-slot is configured to receive the second memory card type via a passive adapter. 
   
   
       34 . The controller of  claim 31 , wherein the first set of pins comprise of card select pins. 
   
   
       35 . The controller of  claim 31 , wherein the second set of pins comprise of enable pins.