Data access device supporting various memory cards

Abstract

The invention discloses a data access device supporting various memory cards. The data access device comprises a first connector, a controller, a network bridge and a second connector. The bridge is configured to bridge the first connector to the controller. Therefore, when one end of the external transmission line is connected to the external data use device and the other end of the external transmission line is inserted into the slot and is connected with the first connector, the external data use device is indirectly connected to the controller. In another aspect, the second connector is configured to connect any memory card inserted into the card slot of the housing to the controller.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a data access device, in particular to a data access device supporting various memory cards. Background Art

[0002] There are various memory cards on the market, and the data transmission speeds of different memory cards are not the same. Data access devices with a single card slot on the market can only support memory cards with a certain transmission speed, and can only support data transmission cables with a certain type of connector. For example, data access devices with a single card slot on the market can only support memory cards with a low transmission speed, and cannot support memory cards with a high transmission speed. Therefore, users need to purchase multiple data access devices that support different memory cards or a data access device with multiple card slots that is larger in size to meet usage needs. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present invention provides a data access device supporting various memory cards in view of the deficiencies of the prior art. The data access device supporting various memory cards comprises a housing, a first connector, a controller, a bridge and a second connector. The housing has a storage space. A slot and a card slot are respectively provided on both sides of the storage space and penetrate the housing outward. The first connector is arranged in the slot of the housing. The controller is arranged in the storage space of the housing. The bridge is arranged in the storage space of the housing. The bridge is configured to bridge the first connector to the controller, so that when one end of the external transmission line is connected to an external data usage device and the other end of the external transmission line is inserted into the slot of the housing and connected to the first connector, the external data usage device is indirectly connected to the controller. The second connector is arranged in the storage space of the housing. The second connector is configured to connect a device with any transmission speed inserted in the card slot of the housing to the controller.

[0004] As described above, the present invention provides a data access device supporting various memory cards, which has the following advantages:

[0005] The controller can determine the interface mode supported by the inserted memory card and is backward compatible with all memory cards at the highest transmission speed;

[0006] Only simple circuit component configuration is required to support access to multiple memory cards;

[0007] Provide a memory card that can support multiple different transfer speeds simultaneously and is backward compatible;

[0008] The bridge supports various transmission lines (such as Type-C connectors) to connect external data usage devices (such as hosts), and achieves high-speed transmission rates by connecting to a specified mode of the external data usage device (such as the host).

[0009] To further understand the features and technical contents of the present invention, please refer to the following detailed description and drawings of the present invention. However, the drawings provided are only for reference and description and are not intended to limit the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the appearance of a data access device supporting various memory cards according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 2 FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a data access device supporting various memory cards according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 3 FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a data access device supporting various memory cards according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 4 FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a data access device supporting various memory cards according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of a memory card with a single row of pins supported by a data access device supporting various memory cards according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of a memory card with two rows of pins supported by a data access device supporting various memory cards according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of a memory card with three rows of pins supported by a data access device supporting various memory cards according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 8 It is a flowchart of the steps of the operations performed by the data access device supporting various memory cards according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Fig. 9 It is a flowchart of the steps of the operations performed by the data access device supporting various memory cards according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The following is an explanation of the embodiments of the present invention through specific embodiments. Those skilled in the art can understand the advantages and effects of the present invention from the contents disclosed in this specification. The present invention can be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and the details in this specification can also be modified and changed in various ways based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the concept of the present invention. In addition, the drawings of the present invention are only simple schematic illustrations and are not depicted according to actual dimensions. It is stated in advance. The following embodiments will further explain the relevant technical contents of the present invention in detail, but the disclosed contents are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. In addition, the term "or" used herein may include any one or more combinations of the associated listed items depending on the actual situation.

[0020] See also Figure 1 , which is a schematic diagram of the appearance of a data access device supporting various memory cards according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] The data access device of the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing BE, in particular, a first connector, a second connector, a controller, a bridge and a second connector (eg, the first connector CTE1, the second connector CTE2, the controller CTR, the bridge BRG and the second connector CTE2 described below).

[0022] The housing BE of the data access device of the first embodiment of the present invention has a housing space, and two sides of the housing space are respectively provided with a slot and a card slot HL that penetrate the housing BE outward. The first connector is arranged in the slot of the housing BE. The controller, the bridge and the second connector are arranged in the housing space of the housing BE. The second connector can be arranged in the card slot HL of the housing BE.

[0023] The memory card CRD1 can be inserted into the card slot HL of the housing BE.

[0024] It should be understood that the structure and appearance of the data access device of the present invention are Figure 2 The above is only an example, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0025] See also Figure 2 , which is a block diagram of a data access device supporting various memory cards according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] The data access device RDR according to the second embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing, a first connector CTE1, a second connector CTE2, a controller CTR, a bridge BRG and a second connector CTE2.

[0027] One end of the external transmission line WR can be inserted into the slot of the external data usage device EL and electrically connected to the external data usage device EL. At the same time, the other end of the external transmission line WR can be inserted into the slot of the shell of the data access device RDR of the second embodiment of the present invention and electrically connected to the first connector CTE1 (for example but not limited to a Type C connector).

[0028] In the data access device RDR of the second embodiment of the present invention, the bridge BRG bridges the first connector CTE1 to the controller CTR, and the controller CTR is connected to the second connector CTE2.

[0029] Therefore, when one end of the external transmission line WR is inserted into the slot of the external data usage device EL and connected to the external data usage device EL and the other end of the external transmission line WR is inserted into the slot of the housing and connected to the first connector CTE1, the external data usage device can be indirectly connected to the controller CTR.

[0030] The external transmission lines WR supported by the data access device RDR of the second embodiment of the present invention include TBT4 transmission lines, USB4 transmission lines, TBT3 transmission lines, USB3 transmission lines and other transmission lines with connectors of different specifications. The above is only an example, and the present invention is not limited thereto. In this article, the external data use device EL can be any suitable electronic device, depending on actual needs, such as but not limited to a host.

[0031] When the format of the data (packet) transmitted by the external data user EL through the external transmission line WR conforms to the data format readable by the controller CTR, the bridge BRG can directly transmit the data (packet) received from the external data user EL to the controller CTR.

[0032] However, when the format of the data (packet) transmitted by the external data usage device EL through the external transmission line WR does not conform to the data format readable by the controller CTR, the bridge BRG converts the format of the data (packet) received from the external data usage device EL, and then outputs the converted data (packet) to the controller CTR.

[0033] Then, when the controller CTR receives data (packets) from the external data-using device EL from the bridge BRG, the controller CTR can access (and use) the data (packets) of the external data-using device EL. For example, the controller CTR may have a buffer for temporarily storing the data (packets) of the external data-using device EL (such as a host), and may even operate according to control instructions in the data provided by the external data-using device EL (such as a host) (such as control instructions indicating a certain data transmission speed or control instructions indicating entering a specific mode).

[0034] Additionally or alternatively, when the controller CTR receives data (packets) from the external data-using device EL through the bridge BRG, the controller CTR may transmit the data (packets) from the external data-using device EL through the second connector CTE2 to a memory card (e.g., memory card CRD1, CRD2, or CRD3) inserted into a card slot HL in the housing and connected to the second connector CTE2 for storage.

[0035] The data transmitted from the external data using device EL to the memory card (eg, memory card CRD1, CRD2, or CRD3) via the data access device RDR of the second embodiment of the present invention may include the operating status data of the external data using device EL itself or other data that needs to be backed up.

[0036] The data access device RDR of the second embodiment of the present invention can support multiple memory cards of different forms, which can be inserted into the card slots HL of the shell at different time points and connected to the controller CTR through the second connector CTE2, so that the controller CTR can read the data stored in the memory card, or write the data of the external data use device EL or the data stored in the controller CTR into the memory card, or perform other operations on the memory card.

[0037] The data access device RDR of the second embodiment of the present invention can support memory cards with different transmission speeds (including data transmission speeds of different data / data / signals, such as different reading speeds and different writing speeds).

[0038] The data access device RDR of the second embodiment of the present invention can support a plurality of memory cards whose transmission speeds fall into a plurality of transmission speed reference ranges respectively, and all or part of the plurality of transmission speed reference ranges can be different.

[0039] The data access device of the second embodiment of the present invention supports a transmission speed of one or more of the multiple memory cards that can reach a maximum transmission speed, and the maximum transmission speed can be the maximum transmission speed of various memory cards currently available on the market).

[0040] For example, the multiple memory cards supported by the data access device RDR of the second embodiment of the present invention may include general memory cards and high-speed memory cards, such as but not limited to SD 8.0express memory cards with a transmission speed of 1700MB / s, UHS-II memory cards with a transmission speed of 300MB / s, and UHS-I memory cards with a transmission speed of 100MB / s, etc. The above are only examples, and the present invention is not limited to this.

[0041] See also Figure 3 , which is a block diagram of a data access device supporting various memory cards according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] When the controller CTR detects that a memory card is inserted into the card slot HL of the shell to be electrically connected to the second connector CTE2, the controller CTR can access the data stored in the memory card (for example, memory card CRD1, CRD2 or CRD3) through the second connector CTE2. For example, the controller CTR has a cache for temporarily accessing the data of the memory card (for example, memory card CRD1, CRD2 or CRD3).

[0043] When the controller CTR receives a memory card data request signal from the external data usage device EL through the bridge BRG, the controller CTR can obtain the data of the specified memory card (for example, memory card CRD1, CRD2 or CRD3) through the second connector CTE2 based on this memory card data request signal, and transmit the obtained data of the specified memory card to the external data usage device EL through the bridge BRG, the first connector CTE1 and the external transmission line WR in sequence.

[0044] After the external data usage device EL obtains the data stored in the memory card, the external data usage device EL can store the obtained data or operate according to the obtained data. For example, the external data usage device EL obtains the data stored in the memory card (such as the memory card CRD1, CRD2 or CRD3) through the data access device RDR of the third embodiment of the present invention, and the data packet contains the operation control instruction data for controlling the external data usage device EL.

[0045] See also Figure 4 , which is a block diagram of a data access device supporting various memory cards according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] like Figure 2 As shown, in the second embodiment, the data access device RDR of the present invention can support one-way data transmission: transmitting the data of the external data using device EL to the memory card for storage / backup.

[0047] like Figure 3 As shown, in the third embodiment, the data access device RDR of the present invention can support one-way data transmission: the data stored in the memory card is transmitted to the external data using device EL for storage or use.

[0048] like Figure 4 As shown, in the fourth embodiment, the data access device RDR of the present invention can also support two-way transmission, that is, the data of the external data using device EL can be transmitted to the memory card for storage / backup, and the data stored in the memory card can be transmitted to the external data using device EL for storage or use.

[0049] The same contents of the fourth embodiment of the present invention as those of the second and third embodiments are not described in detail herein.

[0050] See also Figure 5 , which is a schematic diagram of a memory card with a single row of pins supported by a data access device supporting various memory cards according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] The data access device of the present invention (eg Figures 2 to 4 The memory card supported by the data access device RDR) shown in FIG. Figure 5 The memory card shown has only a single row of pins.

[0052] like Figure 5 The memory card with a single row of pins can be inserted into the card slot of the housing of the data access device of the present invention to connect with the second connector of the data access device of the present invention.

[0053] The controller of the data access device of the present invention can access the data stored in the memory card with a single row of pins, and can even transmit the accessed data stored in the memory card with a single row of pins to an external data using device for storage in the above manner. Additionally or alternatively, the controller of the data access device of the present invention can write the data of an external data using device (such as a host) into the memory card with a single row of pins for storage in the above manner.

[0054] See also Figure 6 , which is a schematic diagram of a memory card with two rows of pins supported by a data access device supporting various memory cards according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[0055] The data access device of the present invention (eg Figures 2 to 4 The memory cards supported by the data access device RDR) shown in FIG. Figure 6 A memory card with two rows of pins is shown.

[0056] The controller of the data access device of the present invention can access the data stored in the memory card with two rows of pins, and can even transmit the accessed data stored in the memory card with two rows of pins to an external data using device for storage in the above manner. Additionally or alternatively, the controller of the data access device of the present invention can write the data of an external data using device (such as a host) into the memory card with two rows of pins for storage in the above manner.

[0057] See also Figure 7 , which is a schematic diagram of a memory card with three rows of pins supported by a data access device supporting various memory cards according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

[0058] The data access device of the present invention (eg Figures 2 to 4 The memory cards supported by the data access device RDR) shown in FIG. Figure 7 A memory card is shown having at least three rows of pins.

[0059] The controller of the data access device of the present invention can access the data stored in the memory card with at least three rows of pins, and can even transmit the accessed data stored in the memory card with at least three rows of pins to an external data using device for storage in the above manner. Additionally or alternatively, the controller of the data access device of the present invention can write the data of an external data using device (such as a host) into the memory card with at least three rows of pins for storage in the above manner.

[0060] See also Figure 8 , which is a flow chart of the steps of operations performed by a data access device supporting various memory cards according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

[0061] In the eighth embodiment, the data access device of the present invention is taken as an example. Figure 3 and Figure 4 The data access device RDR shown can execute the following Figure 8 Steps S101 to S107 are shown.

[0062] In step S101 , the controller CTR detects the second connector CTE2 .

[0063] In step S102, the controller CTR determines whether the second connector CTE2 is connected to a memory card (eg, memory card CRD1, CRD2, or CRD3) inserted into the card slot HL of the housing of the data access device RDR, thereby determining whether the data access device RDR of the present invention is connected to an external memory card.

[0064] If the data access device RDR of the present invention is not currently connected to an external memory card, the process returns to step S101 to allow the controller CTR to continuously detect the connection status of the second connector CTE2. On the contrary, if the data access device RDR is currently connected to an external memory card, the process proceeds to step S103.

[0065] In step S103, the controller CTR identifies the characteristics of the external memory card, including the shape of the memory card, the unique identifier of the memory card, the transmission speed of the memory card, the data content of the memory card, and the amount of data currently stored in the memory card. The information about the characteristics of the memory card can be obtained from the data stored in the memory card or from the information sensed by the sensor (for example, sensing a symbol on the memory card that represents the speed grade of the memory card).

[0066] In step S104, the controller CTR may determine whether the data in the memory card is the data required by the external data usage device EL based on the characteristics of the external memory card, and decide whether to provide the data stored in the memory card to the external data usage device EL.

[0067] If the controller CTR decides not to provide the data stored in the external memory card to the external data using device EL, the process returns to step S101 to allow the controller CTR to detect whether the memory card connected to the second connector CTE2 is replaced.

[0068] On the contrary, if the controller CTR decides to provide the data stored in the external memory card to the external data using device EL, step S105 is executed.

[0069] In step S105 , the bridge BRG bridges the controller CTR to the first connector CTE1 .

[0070] In step S106 , the first connector CTE1 is connected to one end of the external transmission line WR.

[0071] In step S107, the other end of the external transmission line WR is connected to the external data user EL. The controller CTR obtains the data of the external memory card through the second connector CTE2, and then transmits the obtained data of the external memory card to the external data user EL through the bridge BRG, the first connector CTE1 and the external transmission line WR in sequence.

[0072] See also Fig. 9 , which is a flow chart of the steps of operations performed by a data access device supporting various memory cards according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention.

[0073] In the ninth embodiment, the data access device of the present invention is taken as an example. Figure 2 and Figure 4 The data access device RDR shown can execute the following Fig. 9 Steps S201 to S207 are shown.

[0074] In step S201, one end of the external transmission line WR is connected to the external data using device EL, and the other end of the external transmission line WR is connected to the bridge BRG through the first connector CTE1.

[0075] In step S202 , the bridge BRG bridges the first connector CTE1 to the controller CTR.

[0076] In step S203, the controller CTR detects whether the bridge BRG receives data transmitted from the external data user EL to the first connector CTE1 through the external transmission line WR, thereby determining whether the external data user EL provides data.

[0077] If the external data usage device EL does not provide data, the process returns to step S201. On the contrary, if the external data usage device EL provides data, the process proceeds to step S204.

[0078] In step S204, the controller CTR analyzes the data of the external data usage device EL, including analyzing the data content, data volume, and even the capacity occupied by the data of the external data usage device EL.

[0079] In step S205, the controller CTR determines whether to transfer the data of the external data using device EL to the memory card.

[0080] If the controller CTR determines not to transfer the data of the external data usage device EL to the memory card, the process returns to step S201. On the contrary, if the controller CTR determines to transfer the data of the external data usage device EL to the memory card, the process goes to step S206.

[0081] In step S206, the controller CTR is connected to the memory card through the second connector CTE2.

[0082] In step S207, the controller CTR transmits the data of the external data using device EL to the memory card through the second connector CTE2 for backup.

[0083] In summary, the present invention provides a data access device supporting various memory cards, which has the following advantages:

[0084] The controller can determine the interface mode supported by the inserted memory card and is backward compatible with all memory cards at the highest transmission speed;

[0085] Only simple circuit component configuration is required to support access to multiple memory cards;

[0086] Provide a memory card that can support multiple different transfer speeds simultaneously and is backward compatible;

[0087] The bridge supports various transmission lines (such as Type-C connectors) to connect external data usage devices (such as hosts), and achieves high-speed transmission rates by connecting to a specified mode of the external data usage device (such as the host).

[0088] The contents disclosed above are only preferred feasible embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the claims of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent technical changes made using the contents of the present invention description and drawings are included in the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A data access device supporting various memory cards, characterized in that: The data access device supporting various memory cards includes: A housing, wherein the housing has a containing space, and two sides of the containing space are respectively provided with a slot and a card slot that penetrate the housing outward; A first connector, disposed in the slot of the housing; A controller, disposed in the accommodation space of the housing; a network bridge disposed in the accommodation space of the housing and configured to bridge the first connector to the controller, so that when one end of an external transmission line is connected to an external data usage device and the other end of the external transmission line is inserted into the slot of the housing and connected to the first connector, the external data usage device is indirectly connected to the controller; as well as The second connector is disposed in the accommodating space of the housing and is configured to connect a memory card with any transmission speed inserted into the card slot of the housing to the controller.

2. The data access device supporting various memory cards according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the format of the data transmitted by the external data using device through the external transmission line conforms to the data format readable by the controller, the bridge directly transmits the data of the external data using device received from the external transmission line through the first connector to the controller.

3. The data access device supporting various memory cards according to claim 2, characterized in that: When the format of data transmitted by the external data-using device through the external transmission line does not conform to the data format readable by the controller, the bridge will convert the format of the data of the external data-using device received from the external transmission line through the first connector, and then output the converted data of the external data-using device to the controller.

4. The data access device supporting various memory cards according to claim 3, characterized in that: When the controller receives the data of the external data using device from the bridge, the controller accesses the data of the external data using device.

5. The data access device supporting various memory cards according to claim 3, characterized in that: When the controller receives the data from the external data-using device through the network bridge, the controller transmits the data from the external data-using device to the memory card through the second connector for storage.

6. The data access device supporting various memory cards according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the controller detects that a memory card is connected to the second connector, the controller accesses data stored in the memory card through the second connector.

7. The data access device supporting various memory cards according to claim 1, characterized in that: The controller obtains the data of the memory card through the second connector according to a memory card data request signal received from the external data usage device through the bridge, and transmits the obtained memory card data to the external data usage device through the bridge, the first connector and the external transmission line in sequence.

8. The data access device supporting various memory cards according to claim 7, characterized in that: After the external data using device obtains the data of the memory card, the external data using device stores the data of the memory card or operates according to the data of the memory card.

9. The data access device supporting various memory cards according to claim 1, characterized in that: The data access device supports different memory cards with different transmission speeds.

10. The data access device supporting various memory cards according to claim 1, characterized in that: The data access device supports different memory cards whose transmission speeds respectively fall within a plurality of transmission speed reference ranges.

11. The data access device supporting various memory cards according to claim 1, characterized in that: The data access device supports a memory card whose transmission speed reaches a maximum transmission speed.

12. The data access device supporting various memory cards according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transmission speed of the memory card includes the data reading speed of the memory card, the data writing speed of the memory card, or a combination thereof.

13. The data access device supporting various memory cards according to claim 1, characterized in that: The memory cards supported by the data access device include SD 8.0express memory cards with a transmission speed of 1700MB / s, UHS-II memory cards with a transmission speed of 300MB / s, UHS-I memory cards with a transmission speed of 100MB / s, or any combination thereof.

14. The data access device supporting various memory cards according to claim 1, characterized in that: The memory card inserted in the card slot has two rows or less of pins.

15. The data access device supporting various memory cards according to claim 1, characterized in that: The memory card inserted in the card slot has at least three rows of pins.

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