INTERFACE FOR A REMOVABLE ELECTRICAL CARD

Abstract

A removable electrical interface device for transferring data to and from a host adapted to operate in one of a universal serial bus (USB) compatible mode, a Mu mode and a non-USB compatible mode includes a first row of contact pads capable of supporting at least one of USB Standard-A connection, Mu mode connection or non-USB compatible mode connection, and a second row of contact pads capable of supporting the Mu mode connection and the non-USB compatible mode connection.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

In the drawings:

FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C are functional block diagrams of general applications of an electrical interface device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the general applications of an electrical interface device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A to 3D are diagrams of electrical interface devices in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a pin arrangement of an electrical interface device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a pin assignment chart of the electrical interface device illustrated in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A is a pin arrangement of an electrical interface device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a pin assignment chart of the electrical interface device illustrated in FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A is a pin assignment of an electrical interface device in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6B is a pin assignment chart of the electrical interface device illustrated in FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7A is a diagram of an electrical interface device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7B is a diagram of an electrical interface device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7C is a diagram of an adapter for use with the electrical interface device illustrated in FIG. 7A in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7D is a diagram of an adapter for use with the electrical interface device illustrated in FIG. 7A in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram of an electrical interface device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8B is a schematic top elevational view of a micro memory card suitable for use with the electrical interface device illustrated in FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9 is a diagram of an electrical interface device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10A is a diagram of an electrical interface device in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 10B and 10C are functional block diagrams of the electrical interface device illustrated in FIG. 10A;

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for interface mode detection at a device side; and

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for interface mode detection at a host side.

Claims

1. A removable electrical interface device for transferring data to and from a host adapted to operate in one of a universal serial bus (USB) compatible mode, a Mu mode and a non-USB compatible mode, comprising: a first row of contact pads capable of supporting at least one of USB Standard-A connection, Mu mode connection, or non-USB compatible mode connection; anda second row of contact pads capable of supporting at least one of the Mu mode connection or the non-USB compatible mode connection.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first row of contact pads is connectible to or removable from a USB Standard-A receptacle of the host.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first row of contact pads are disposed near a first side of the removable electrical interface device in an insertion direction towards the host, and the second row of contact pads are disposed closer to the first row of contact pads than a second side of the removable electrical interface device in the insertion direction.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first row of contact pads are disposed near a first side of the removable electrical interface device in an insertion direction towards the host, and the second row of contact pads are disposed near a second side of the removable electrical interface device in the insertion direction.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a notch formed in a corner of the removable electric interface device.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein one of the first row of contact pads is disposed farther to the first side than the other of the first row of contact pads to facilitate card detection.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein one of the second row of contact pads is disposed farther to the first side than the other of the second row of contact pads to facilitate card detection.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the second row of contact pads extends in an insertion direction towards the host to exceed one end of at least one of the first row of contact pads.

9. A removable electrical interface device for transferring data to and from a host adapted to operate in one of a universal serial bus (USB) compatible mode, a Mu mode and a non-USB compatible mode, comprising: an electrical card further comprising: a first row of contact pads capable of supporting at least one of USB Standard-A connection, Mu mode connection or non-USB compatible mode connection; anda second row of contact pads capable of supporting at least one of the Mu mode connection or the non-USB compatible mode connection; anda carrier for supporting the electrical card.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the first row of contact pads are connectible to or removable from a USB Standard-A receptacle of the host.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the carrier is suitable for use with one of a USB Standard-A receptacle and an electronic device having a receptacle width smaller than the USB Standard-A receptacle.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the carrier includes at least one guide trench extending substantially in parallel with an insertion direction of the carrier.

13. The device of claim 9, further comprising a connector capable of providing extended-USB connection.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the connector includes a Mini USB connector.

15. The device of claim 9, wherein the first row of contact pads are disposed near a first side of the removable electrical interface device in an insertion direction towards the host, and the second row of contact pads are disposed closer to the first row of contact pads than a second side of the removable electrical interface device in the insertion direction.

16. The device of claim 9, wherein the first row of contact pads are disposed near a first side of the removable electrical interface device in an insertion direction towards the host, and the second row of contact pads are disposed near a second side of the removable electrical interface device in the insertion direction.

17. The device of claim 9, wherein one of the second row of contact pads is disposed farther to the first side than the other of the second row of contact pads.

18. The device of claim 9, further comprising an adapter capable of receiving the electrical card and the carrier.

19. The device of claim 18, the adapter supports one of 4-bit MMC connection and 8-bit MMC connection.

20. The device of claim 18, the adapter supports one of 4-bit MMC connection and 4-bit SD connection.

21. A removable electrical interface device for transferring data to and from a host adapted to operate in one of a universal serial bus (USB) compatible mode, a Mu mode and a non-USB compatible mode, comprising: an adapter further comprising: a first row of contact pads capable of supporting at least one of USB Standard-A connection, Mu mode connection or non-USB compatible mode connection; anda second row of contact pads capable of supporting at least one of the Mu mode connection or the non-USB compatible mode connection;a first terminal being connectible to or removable from a USB Standard-A receptacle of the host; anda second terminal capable of receiving a memory card.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the memory card includes one of an MMC micro memory card and a micro SD memory card.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein the memory card includes an indentation on a peripheral thereof.