Memory card

Abstract

To provide a memory card capable of increasing the speed of a communication interface.SOLUTION: A memory card according to one embodiment includes a housing, a nonvolatile memory, a controller, and a plurality of terminals. The plurality of terminals include a plurality of first terminals, a plurality of second terminals, and a plurality of third terminals. The plurality of first terminals are arranged near a first edge. The plurality of third terminals are arranged near a second edge. The plurality of second terminals are arranged between the plurality of first terminals and the plurality of third terminals. The plurality of first terminals include a pair of first and second signal terminals assigned to differential data signals and positioned between first to third ground terminals. The plurality of second terminals include a second ground terminal. The plurality of third terminals include a differential clock signal terminal, a single-ended signal terminal, a first power supply terminal, and a second power supply terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a memory card. [Background technology]

[0002] The storage capacity of flash memory is increasing with technological improvements, which in turn increases the amount of data transferred by semiconductor storage devices such as removable memory cards, and also increases the time required for data transfer. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-259207 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] If the communication interface of a semiconductor memory device can be made faster, the data transfer time can be reduced. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A memory card according to one embodiment includes a housing, a nonvolatile memory, a controller, and a plurality of terminals. The housing has a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a first edge extending in a first direction, a second edge opposite the first edge and extending in the first direction, and a first side edge extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The controller controls the nonvolatile memory. The plurality of terminals are provided on the first surface. The plurality of terminals include a plurality of first terminals, a plurality of second terminals, and a plurality of third terminals. The plurality of first terminals are arranged in the first direction with gaps between them and closer to the first edge than the second edge. The plurality of third terminals are arranged in the first direction with gaps between them and closer to the second edge than the first edge. The plurality of second terminals are arranged in the first direction with gaps between them and between the plurality of first terminals and the plurality of third terminals. The plurality of first terminals are closer to the first edge than the plurality of second terminals. The plurality of first terminals include a pair of first signal terminals assigned to receive differential data signals conforming to the PCIe standard and a pair of second signal terminals assigned to transmit differential data signals conforming to the PCIe standard. The plurality of first terminals include first to third ground terminals assigned to ground. The pair of first signal terminals is located between the first ground terminal and the second ground terminal. The pair of second signal terminals is located between the second ground terminal and the third ground terminal. The plurality of second terminals include a plurality of fourth ground terminals assigned to ground. The plurality of third terminals include differential clock signal terminals assigned to a differential clock signal having a frequency lower than that of the differential data signals, a single-ended signal terminal assigned to a single-ended signal, a first power supply terminal assigned to a first power supply, and at least one second power supply terminal assigned to a second power supply whose voltage is equal to or lower than the first power supply. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is an exemplary plan view showing a memory card according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exemplary side view showing the memory card of the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an exemplary table showing an example of signal assignment for a plurality of terminals in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exemplary plan view schematically illustrating wiring of the memory card of the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an exemplary block diagram schematically illustrating a first example of the configuration of the memory card according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an exemplary block diagram schematically illustrating a second example of the configuration of the memory card according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an exemplary flowchart showing the operation of the host device in the power supply check sequence of the memory card according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an exemplary table illustrating an example of power supply specification information according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an illustrative timing chart showing a first example of a power supply check sequence for the memory card according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an exemplary timing chart showing a second example of the power supply check sequence of the memory card according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an exemplary timing chart showing a third example of the power supply check sequence of the memory card according to the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an exemplary plan view showing a memory card according to the second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an exemplary plan view showing a memory card according to the third embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is an exemplary side view showing the memory card of the third embodiment. [Figure 15]FIG. 15 is an exemplary plan view showing a memory card according to a modification of the third embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is an exemplary table showing an example of signal assignment for a plurality of terminals in the third embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is an exemplary block diagram schematically illustrating a first example of the configuration of a memory card according to the third embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is an exemplary block diagram schematically illustrating a second example of the configuration of the memory card according to the third embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is an exemplary flowchart showing the operation of the host device in the power supply check sequence of the memory card according to the third embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is an exemplary table illustrating an example of power supply specification information according to the third embodiment. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is an illustrative timing chart showing a first example of a power supply check sequence for a memory card according to the third embodiment. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is an exemplary timing chart showing a second example of the power supply check sequence of the memory card according to the third embodiment. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is an illustrative timing chart showing a third example of the power supply check sequence of the memory card according to the third embodiment. [Figure 24] FIG. 24 is an illustrative timing chart showing a fourth example of the power supply check sequence of the memory card according to the third embodiment. [Figure 25] FIG. 25 is an exemplary flowchart showing the operation of the card controller in the temperature check sequence of the memory card according to the third embodiment. [Figure 26] FIG. 26 is an exemplary plan view showing a memory card according to the fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] (First embodiment) The first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11. In this specification, components according to the embodiment and descriptions of the components may be expressed in multiple terms. Components and descriptions that are expressed in multiple terms may be expressed in other terms that are not stated. Furthermore, components and descriptions that are not expressed in multiple terms may be expressed in other terms that are not stated.

[0008] Fig. 1 is an exemplary plan view showing a memory card 10 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 2 is an exemplary side view showing the memory card 10 according to the first embodiment. The memory card 10 is an example of a semiconductor memory device, and may also be referred to as, for example, removable media or a removable memory card.

[0009] As shown in the drawings, the present specification defines an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis. The X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis are perpendicular to each other. The X-axis is along the width of the memory card 10. The Y-axis is along the length of the memory card 10. The Z-axis is along the thickness of the memory card 10.

[0010] The memory card 10 includes a housing 11, a substrate 12, a flash memory 13, a card controller 14, and a protective sheet 15. The flash memory 13 is an example of a memory, and the card controller 14 is an example of a controller.

[0011] The memory card 10 and the housing 11 are formed, for example, in the shape of a substantially rectangular plate extending in the Y-axis direction. The Y-axis direction is the longitudinal direction of the memory card 10 and the housing 11, and includes the positive direction of the Y-axis (the direction indicated by the Y-axis arrow) and the negative direction of the Y-axis (the direction opposite to the Y-axis arrow). The Y-axis direction is an example of a second direction.

[0012] 2, the housing 11 is plate-shaped and has a first surface 21, a second surface 22, and an outer edge 23. The first surface 21 and the second surface 22 are formed in a substantially quadrangular (rectangular) shape extending in the Y-axis direction. That is, the Y-axis direction is also the longitudinal direction of the first surface 21 and the second surface 22. In this embodiment, the shapes of the memory card 10, the housing 11, the first surface 21, and the second surface 22 are each expressed as a rectangle, but may also be expressed in other ways.

[0013] The first surface 21 is a substantially flat surface facing in the positive direction of the Z axis (the direction of the arrow on the Z axis). As shown in Fig. 1, a plurality of openings 21a are provided in the first surface 21. As shown in Fig. 2, the second surface 22 is located on the opposite side of the first surface 21, and is a substantially flat surface facing in the negative direction of the Z axis (the opposite direction of the arrow on the Z axis).

[0014] The outer edge 23 is provided between the first surface 21 and the second surface 22, and is connected to the edge of the first surface 21 and the edge of the second surface 22. As shown in FIG. 1 , the outer edge 23 has a first edge 31, a second edge 32, a third edge 33, a fourth edge 34, a first corner 35, a second corner 36, a third corner 37, and a fourth corner 38.

[0015] The first edge 31 extends in the X-axis direction and faces the positive direction of the Y-axis. The X-axis direction is the short-side direction of the memory card 10, the housing 11, the first surface 21, and the second surface 22, and includes the positive direction of the X-axis (the direction indicated by the X-axis arrow) and the negative direction of the X-axis (the direction opposite to the X-axis arrow). The X-axis direction is an example of a first direction.

[0016] The second edge 32 extends in the Y-axis direction and faces in the negative direction of the X-axis. A recess 32a is provided in the second edge 32. The third edge 33 is located on the opposite side of the second edge 32, extends in the Y-axis direction and faces in the positive direction of the X-axis. The fourth edge 34 is located on the opposite side of the first edge 31, extends in the X-axis direction and faces in the negative direction of the Y-axis.

[0017] The second edge 32 and the third edge 33 are each longer than the first edge 31 and the fourth edge 34. The first edge 31 and the fourth edge 34 form the short sides of the approximately rectangular memory card 10, and the second edge 32 and the third edge 33 form the long sides of the approximately rectangular memory card 10.

[0018] The first corner 35 is a corner portion between the first edge 31 and the second edge 32, and connects the end of the first edge 31 in the negative direction of the X-axis with the end of the second edge 32 in the positive direction of the Y-axis. The end of the first edge 31 in the negative direction of the X-axis is an example of one end of a first edge. The end of the second edge 32 in the positive direction of the Y-axis is an example of an end of a second edge.

[0019] The first corner 35 extends linearly between the end of the first edge 31 in the negative X-axis direction and the end of the second edge 32 in the positive Y-axis direction. In the X-axis direction, the distance between the end of the first edge 31 in the negative X-axis direction and the second edge 32 is 1.1 mm. In the Y-axis direction, the distance between the end of the second edge 32 in the positive Y-axis direction and the first edge 31 is 1.1 mm.

[0020] The corner between the first edge 31 and the second edge 32 is set to a so-called C1.1 chamfer, thereby providing a first corner 35. In other words, the first corner 35 forms a notch C between the first edge 31 and the second edge 32.

[0021] In this embodiment, the first corner 35 forms a substantially triangular notch C at the corner between the first edge 31 and the second edge 32 that extend in directions perpendicular to each other. However, the notch C is not limited to this example. For example, the first corner 35 may form a substantially rectangular notch C that is recessed further inward into the housing 11 than in this embodiment.

[0022] The second corner 36 is a corner portion between the first edge 31 and the third edge 33, and connects the end of the first edge 31 in the positive direction of the X-axis with the end of the third edge 33 in the positive direction of the Y-axis. The end of the first edge 31 in the positive direction of the X-axis is an example of the other end of the first edge. The end of the third edge 33 in the positive direction of the Y-axis is an example of the end of the third edge.

[0023] The second corner 36 extends in an arc shape between the end of the first edge 31 in the positive direction of the X-axis and the end of the third edge 33 in the positive direction of the Y-axis. The second corner 36 extends in an arc shape of a perfect circle, but may also extend in an arc shape of an ellipse.

[0024] The radius of the second corner 36 extending in an arc shape is 0.2 mm. The corner between the first edge 31 and the third edge 33 is rounded with a radius of R0.2, thereby forming the second corner 36. In this way, the shape of the first corner 35 and the shape of the second corner 36 are different from each other.

[0025] The third corner 37 connects the end of the second edge 32 facing in the negative direction of the Y axis with the end of the fourth edge 34 facing in the negative direction of the X axis. The fourth corner 38 connects the end of the third edge 33 facing in the negative direction of the Y axis with the end of the fourth edge 34 facing in the positive direction of the X axis. The third corner 37 and the fourth corner 38 each extend in the shape of an arc with a radius of 0.2 mm.

[0026] The lengths of memory card 10, housing 11, first surface 21, and second surface 22 in the Y-axis direction are set to approximately 18±0.1 mm, and the lengths of memory card 10, housing 11, first surface 21, and second surface 22 in the X-axis direction are set to approximately 14±0.1 mm. That is, the distance between first edge 31 and fourth edge 34 in the Y-axis direction is set to approximately 18±0.1 mm, and the distance between second edge 32 and third edge 33 in the X-axis direction is set to approximately 14±0.1 mm. Note that the lengths of memory card 10, housing 11, first surface 21, and second surface 22 in the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction are not limited to this example.

[0027] 2, the housing 11 further has an inclined portion 39. The inclined portion 39 is a corner portion between the first surface 21 and the first edge 31, and extends linearly between the end of the first surface 21 in the positive direction of the Y axis and the end of the first edge 31 in the positive direction of the Z axis.

[0028] 1, the board 12, the flash memory 13, and the card controller 14 are provided inside the housing 11. The board 12, the flash memory 13, and the card controller 14 may be housed in the box-shaped housing 11 or may be embedded in the housing 11.

[0029] The board 12 is, for example, a printed circuit board (PCB), but may be other types of boards. The flash memory 13 and the card controller 14 are mounted on the board 12.

[0030] The flash memory 13 is a nonvolatile memory capable of storing information, such as a NAND flash memory. However, the flash memory 13 may be another type of flash memory, such as a NOR flash memory. The memory card 10 may have, for example, multiple stacked flash memories 13.

[0031] The card controller 14 can control the flash memory 13 and the entire memory card 10 including the flash memory 13. For example, the card controller 14 can control read / write to the flash memory 13 and control communication with the outside. This communication control includes protocol control compliant with the PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect express) standard (hereinafter simply referred to as PCIe). Note that the card controller 14 may also indirectly control the flash memory 13 via other electronic components that control the flash memory 13.

[0032] The protective sheet 15 is attached to the first surface 21. The protective sheet 15 seals, for example, the test terminals exposed on the first surface 21. However, the protective sheet 15 is not limited to this example.

[0033] The memory card 10 further has a plurality of terminals P. In this embodiment, the memory card 10 has 26 terminals P. Note that the number of terminals P is merely an example and is not limited to this example. In other words, the number of terminals P may be less than 26 or more than 26. The plurality of terminals P are provided, for example, on the substrate 12. The plurality of terminals P are exposed on the first surface 21 through the openings 21a. In this embodiment, the second surface 22 is not provided with terminals P and can be used, for example, as a printing surface or a heat dissipation surface.

[0034] In this embodiment, the terminals P are arranged in two rows, forming a first row R1 and a second row R2. The terminals P may also be arranged in three or more rows, forming a plurality of second rows R2.

[0035] Thirteen terminals P are arranged at intervals in the X-axis direction to form a first row R1. Hereinafter, the thirteen terminals P forming the first row R1 may be individually referred to as terminals P1 to P13. The number of terminals P forming the first row R1 is not limited to 13. The terminals P forming the first row R1 are arranged in order from terminal P1, which is closest to the second edge 32, to terminal P13, which is closest to the third edge 33.

[0036] The terminals P1 to P13 are arranged in the X-axis direction near and along the first edge 31. The terminals P1 to P13 and a first row R1 formed by the terminals P1 to P13 are spaced apart from the first edge 31. However, the distance between the first row R1 and the first edge 31 is shorter than the distance between the first row R1 and the fourth edge 34. The terminals P1 to P13 and the first row R1 may be adjacent to the first edge 31.

[0037] Thirteen terminals P are arranged at intervals in the X-axis direction to form a second row R2. Hereinafter, the thirteen terminals P forming the second row R2 may be individually referred to as terminals P14 to P26. The number of terminals P forming the second row R2 is not limited to thirteen. The number of terminals P forming the second row R2 may be more or less than the number of terminals P forming the first row R1. The terminals P forming the second row R2 are arranged in order from terminal P14, which is closest to the second edge 32, to terminal P26, which is closest to the third edge 33.

[0038] The multiple terminals P forming the second row R2 are arranged at a position farther from the first edge 31 than the first row R1. Therefore, the second row R2 is farther from the first edge 31 than the first row R1. The first row R1 and the second row R2 are arranged in the Y-axis direction with a gap between them.

[0039] As described above, the multiple terminals P are arranged in the X-axis direction. In this case, at least a portion of one terminal P is located in the Y-axis direction in the region between the positive end of the adjacent terminal P and the negative end of the adjacent terminal P. In each of the first row R1 and the second row R2, one terminal P may protrude in the positive direction of the Y-axis beyond the positive end of the other terminal P, or may protrude in the negative direction of the Y-axis beyond the negative end of the other terminal P. In other words, the positions of the terminals P may be offset in the Y-axis direction. By aligning the negative ends of the Y-axis of the terminals P in the same row R1 and R2, the electrical characteristics of the terminals P can be made similar when the contact positions of the connector are aligned in the Y-axis direction.

[0040] The multiple terminals P may have different shapes. For example, in the first row R1, the shapes of the terminals P1, P4, P7, P10, and P13 are different from the shapes of the terminals P2, P3, P5, P6, P8, P9, P11, and P12. Furthermore, in the second row R2, the shapes of the terminals P14, P17, P18, P19, P21, P24, and P25 are different from the shapes of the terminals P15, P16, P20, P22, P23, and P26. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the distances between the multiple terminals P are approximately constant in each of the first row R1 and the second row R2. However, the distances between the multiple terminals P may be different. In the connector inserted in the Y-axis direction, the memory card 10's power and ground terminals P1, P4, P7, P10, P13, P14, P17, P18, P19, P21, P24, and P25 are longer than the signal terminals P2, P3, P5, P6, P8, P9, P11, P12, P15, P16, P20, P22, P23, and P26. This allows the connector to make contact with the power and ground terminals first, ensuring electrical stability and preventing electrical stress on the signal terminals. If voltage is applied to the signal terminals before power is supplied to the card controller 14, electrical stress will be applied to the input buffer of the interface circuit 51, described below.

[0041] Signals used for communication conforming to a predetermined interface standard are assigned to the multiple terminals P. However, signals used for communication conforming to multiple interface standards may also be assigned to the multiple terminals P.

[0042] 3 is an exemplary table showing an example of signal assignment for a plurality of terminals P in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, signals used for PCIe data communication are assigned to a plurality of terminals P in a first column R1. PCIe allows the use of differential data signal pairs for data communication.

[0043] In the first column R1, ground potential (GND) is assigned to terminals P1, P4, P7, P10, and P13, receive differential signals PERp0, PERn0, PERp1, and PERn1 are assigned to terminals P2, P3, P8, and P9, and transmit differential signals PETp0, PETn0, PETp1, and PETn1 are assigned to terminals P5, P6, P11, and P12.

[0044] Terminals P1, P4, P7, P10, and P13 are examples of ground terminals. Receiving differential signals PERp0, PERn0, PERp1, and PERn1 and transmitting differential signals PETp0, PETn0, PETp1, and PETn1 are examples of signals and differential data signals. Terminals P2, P3, P5, P6, P8, P9, P11, and P12 are examples of signal terminals, first signal terminals, and differential data signal terminals.

[0045] A pair of terminals P2 and P3, to which receive differential signals PERp0 and PERn0 are assigned, are located between and surrounded by the two terminals P1 and P4. A pair of terminals P5 and P6, to which transmit differential signals PETp0 and PETn0 are assigned, are located between and surrounded by the two terminals P4 and P7.

[0046] A pair of terminals P8 and P9 to which receive differential signals PERp1 and PERn1 are assigned are located between two terminals P7 and P10 and are surrounded by the two terminals P7 and P10. A pair of terminals P11 and P12 to which transmit differential signals PETp1 and PETn1 are assigned are located between two terminals P10 and P13 and are surrounded by the two terminals P10 and P13.

[0047] PCIe transmits data serially, but the data is coded in units to allow the receiver circuit to generate a clock and to prevent voltage levels from becoming biased toward high or low due to repeated occurrences of the same logic level. Encoding methods such as 8B10B and 128b / 130b are used. This coding method allows the average signal voltage level to be close to the common voltage, minimizing deviations from the receiving threshold level. Furthermore, the receiver generates a receive clock based on the data transition point, enabling stable data reception because it can generate a receive clock that tracks temporal fluctuations in the data. Even if there is bias between multiple lanes (pairs of uplink and downlink differential data signals), lane-to-lane skew can be canceled by configuring independent receiver circuits for each lane and aligning the start position of the received data.

[0048] For example, the maximum transfer speed for PCIe 3.0 is 2 GB / s per lane (total of uplink and downlink). In PCIe, one lane can be configured with a pair of transmit differential signals PETp0, PETn0 and receive differential signals PERp0, PERn0. In PCIe, one lane can be configured with a pair of transmit differential signals PETp1, PETn1 and receive differential signals PERp1, PERn1. In this way, two lanes are assigned to the multiple terminals P that form the first row R1, so the number of PCIe lanes can be increased, and the data transfer speed can be improved.

[0049] PCIe recognizes a multi-lane configuration during initialization and allows a single piece of data to be transferred over multiple lanes. If the host device does not support multiple lanes, the memory card 10 can operate in single-lane mode.

[0050] Terminals P2, P3, P5, P6, P8, P9, P11, and P12 transmit differential data signals conforming to PCIe, enabling bidirectional communication. Terminals P2, P3, P5, P6, P8, P9, P11, and P12 transmit differential data signals with frequencies in the GHz band.

[0051] Control signals used to control communication in PCIe are assigned to a plurality of terminals P in the second column R2. In the second column R2, GND is assigned to terminals P14 and P17, reference differential clock signals REFCLKp and REFCLKn are assigned to terminals P15 and P16, a second power supply (power rail) PWR2 is assigned to terminals P18 and P19, a reset signal PERST# is assigned to terminal P20, a first power supply (power rail) PWR1 is assigned to terminal P21, a power management control signal CLKREQ# is assigned to terminal P22, control signals CNTA and CNTB are assigned to terminals P23 and P26, and a third power supply (power rail) PWR3 is assigned to terminals P24 and P25.

[0052] Terminals P15, P16, P20, P22, P23, and P26 are examples of signal terminals and second signal terminals. Terminals P15 and P16 are examples of differential clock signal terminals. Terminals P20, P22, P23, and P26 are examples of single-ended signal terminals. Terminals P20 and P22 are examples of sideband signal terminals. Terminals P18, P19, P21, P24, and P25 are examples of power supply terminals. Terminals P18 and P19 are examples of second power supply terminals. P21 is an example of a first power supply terminal. Terminals P24 and P25 are examples of third power supply terminals. By providing multiple terminals P as power supply terminals, the current is dispersed, the current flowing per terminal is reduced, and the drop voltage due to the resistance component existing between the power supply circuit and the power supply terminals can be reduced.

[0053] Two reference differential clock signals REFCLKp / n constitute a differential clock signal. By transmitting a clock signal with a frequency in the MHz band from the host device to terminals P15 and P16, memory card 10 can easily synchronize with the host device in which memory card 10 is inserted. In this way, the frequency of the clock signal used for transmission by terminals P15 and P16 is lower than the frequency of the differential data signal used for transmission by terminals P2, P3, P5, P6, P8, P9, P11, and P12, and by making the waveform closer to a sine wave, EMI generation can be reduced.

[0054] The host device may be, for example, an information processing device such as a personal computer, a mobile phone, a digital camera, an imaging device, a mobile terminal such as a tablet computer or a smartphone, a game device, an in-vehicle terminal such as a car navigation system, or another device.

[0055] The memory card 10 generates a bit clock by multiplying the received reference differential clock using a PLL oscillation circuit. Data is output from the transmit differential signals PETp0, PETn0, PETp1, and PETn1 in synchronization with the bit clock. Data read from the receive differential signals PERp0, PERn0, PERp1, and PERn1 is synchronized with the bit clock and aligned as a single piece of data. In other words, the receive clock generated from the code makes it possible to resynchronize the data once received with the reference differential clock.

[0056] The reset signal PERST# can be used by the host device to reset the bus used for PCIe communication. The timing for starting initialization of the PCIe differential lanes is regulated by the PCIe reset release timing. This reset signal PERST# can be used by the host device to reinitialize the memory card 10 when an error occurs, for example.

[0057] The power management control signal CLKREQ# can be used as a clock to return from power saving mode, which can reduce power consumption by stopping the high frequency bit clock used for data transfer.

[0058] The control signals CNTA and CNTB can be used to control various functions. For example, as will be described later, the control signal CNTB can be used to determine whether power supply voltage PWR3, power supply voltage PWR2, or power supply voltage PWR1 alone is required for PCIe initialization.

[0059] The reset signal PERST#, the power management control signal CLKREQ#, and the control signals CNTA and CNTB are single-ended signals. The reset signal PERST# and the power management control signal CLKREQ# are PCIe sideband signals.

[0060] By supporting PCIe communication, the memory card 10 can use the standard PCIe physical layer (PHY), which simplifies the design and reduces development costs for increasing the data transfer speed of the memory card 10.

[0061] Furthermore, since the memory card 10 supports PCIe communication, it is possible to adopt NVMe (Non Volatile Memory Express) for the PCIe data link layer, which reduces overhead during data transfer and improves data transfer efficiency.

[0062] The host device can supply a power supply voltage PWR1 as a first power supply to terminal P21. In this embodiment, the power supply voltage PWR1 is set to 3.3 V. The power supply voltage notation indicates a median value, and a certain voltage fluctuation range is allowed. The power supply voltage PWR1 can be set in the range of 2.5 V to 3.3 V, for example, but is not limited to this example.

[0063] The host device can supply a power supply voltage PWR2 as a second power supply to terminals P18 and P19. The power supply voltage PWR2 is an example of a second power supply voltage. In this embodiment, the power supply voltage PWR2 is set to 1.8 V. That is, the power supply voltage PWR2 is equal to or lower than the power supply voltage PWR1. The power supply voltage PWR2 can be set in the range of, for example, 1.2 V to 1.8 V, but is not limited to this example.

[0064] The host device can supply a power supply voltage PWR3 as a third power supply to terminals P24 and P25. The power supply voltage PWR3 is an example of a first power supply voltage. In this embodiment, the power supply voltage PWR3 is set to 1.2 V. That is, the power supply voltage PWR3 is equal to or lower than the power supply voltage PWR2. The power supply voltage PWR3 is not limited to this example.

[0065] 4 is an exemplary plan view schematically illustrating the wiring of the memory card 10 of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the card controller 14 is located between the first column R1 and the second column R2. The card controller 14 may be located in another position, for example, between the positive end of the Y-axis of the terminals P included in the first column R1 and the negative end of the Y-axis of the terminals P included in the second column R2. The card controller 14 may also be located such that the terminals P included in the second column R2 are located between the positive end of the Y-axis of the card controller 14 and the negative end of the Y-axis.

[0066] The card controller 14 has a plurality of connection terminals CP. The plurality of connection terminals CP are terminals of the card controller 14 to which receive differential signals PERp0, PERn0, PERp1, and PERn1 and transmit differential signals PETp0, PETn0, PETp1, and PETn1 are assigned. The plurality of connection terminals CP are provided on a side 14a of the card controller 14, and are located between the first column R1 and the second column R2. It is desirable to arrange the connection terminals CP so that the wiring between the connection terminals CP and the terminals P does not cross.

[0067] The memory card 10 further has a plurality of wirings W, a plurality of ground planes 41, a plurality of power supply wirings 42, and a plurality of ESD protection diodes 43. For the sake of explanation, Fig. 4 schematically shows the card controller 14, terminals P, wirings W, ground plane 41, power supply wirings 42, and ESD protection diodes 43 on the same plane. For the sake of explanation, Fig. 4 also shows the ground plane 41 and power supply wirings 42 with hatching.

[0068] In this embodiment, the multiple terminals P are allocated so that the multiple wirings W, the multiple ground planes 41, and the multiple power supply wirings 42 do not overlap with each other. Therefore, the wirings W, the ground planes 41, and the power supply wirings 42 are efficiently routed without via holes.

[0069] The multiple wirings W include wirings W2, W3, W5, W6, W8, W9, W11, and W12 that connect the connection terminal CP of the card controller 14 to terminals P2, P3, P5, P6, P8, P9, P11, and P12. Furthermore, the multiple wirings W include wirings W15, W16, W20, W22, W23, and W26 that connect the card controller 14 to terminals P15, P16, P20, P22, P23, and P26.

[0070] The lengths of the wires W2, W3, W5, W6, W8, W9, W11, and W12 are set equal to each other. Furthermore, the wires W2, W3, W5, W6, W8, W9, W11, and W12 are arranged mirror-symmetrically with respect to the central axis Ax that passes through the center of the terminal P7 and extends in the Y-axis direction. This simplifies the design of the wires W2, W3, W5, W6, W8, W9, W11, and W12. Furthermore, the lengths of the wires W15 and W16 are set equal to each other.

[0071] Wires W2, W3, W5, W6, W8, W9, W11, and W12 are wired at equal lengths to eliminate skew between wires. The wires need to be bent to adjust their length, but because it is usually difficult to draw patterns with smooth curves, when changing the wiring direction they are bent at 45° angles in multiple places rather than 90°. The width of wire W increases slightly at the bends, which causes changes in the characteristic impedance and can generate noise. Compared to 90°, there is less variation in width at 45° angles, which suppresses noise generation.

[0072] The multiple ground planes 41 surround the wiring W2, W3, W5, W6, W8, W9, W11, W12, W15, and W16. In other words, the wiring W2, W3, W5, W6, W8, W9, W11, W12, W15, and W16 are passed between the multiple ground planes 41. This ensures a return path for each differential signal, reduces mutual interference between the differential signals, and stabilizes the differential signal level.

[0073] The power supply wiring 42 is connected to terminals P18, P19, P21, P24, and P25. The width of the power supply wiring 42 is wider than the width of the wiring W. This increases the current that can flow through the power supply wiring 42, and allows for efficient heat dissipation via the power supply wiring 42. Furthermore, the memory card 10 can dissipate heat from multiple terminals P.

[0074] Voltage drops occur between the host power output and the memory card terminal due to the resistance and inductance of the wiring and connectors. If the allowable fluctuation range of the power supply voltage is a fixed percentage of the power supply voltage, the lower the voltage, the smaller the allowable voltage fluctuation range. Therefore, due to this voltage drop, the lower the power supply voltage, the more difficult it becomes to control the power supply voltage from the host device to the card terminal so that it falls within the allowable voltage fluctuation range.

[0075] On the other hand, the resistance of the connector of the host device and the wiring including the power supply wiring 42 is the same regardless of the voltage if it is the same board and the same connector. Therefore, if the power supply voltage is low, the amount of current that can flow through one terminal P becomes small.

[0076] In this embodiment, the power supply voltage PWR2 is applied to two terminals P18 and P19. Furthermore, the power supply voltage PWR3 is applied to two terminals P24 and P25. In this way, the current is distributed to multiple terminals P18, P19, P24, and P25, and the current value per terminal P is reduced, thereby reducing the drop voltage due to the resistance components of the power supply wiring 42 and the connector of the host device. This makes it easier for the host device to keep the power supply voltage within the allowable voltage fluctuation range. Furthermore, by setting the power supply voltages PWR2 and PWR3 to the same voltage, a larger current can be supplied.

[0077] Also, normally PWR1 is 3.3V±5% and PWR2 is 1.8V±5%, but as mentioned above, the power supply voltage PWR1 may be set to a wider voltage range on the lower side, such as 2.5-5% to 3.3V+5%, and the power supply voltage PWR2 may be set to a wider voltage range on the lower side, such as 1.2-5% to 1.8V+5%, which makes it possible to lower the voltage and reduce power consumption.

[0078] The ESD protection diodes 43 connect each of the wirings W2, W3, W5, W6, W8, W9, W11, and W12 to the ground plane 41. The ESD protection diodes 43 are disposed between the terminal P and the connection terminal CP, and absorb static electricity entering from the terminals P2, P3, P5, P6, P8, P9, P11, and P12.

[0079] By locating the multiple connection terminals CP between the first column R1 and the second column R2, the wirings W2, W3, W5, W6, W8, W9, W11, and W12 can be configured so as not to detour around other wirings or other components or pass between the multiple terminals P included in the second column R2. This allows the lengths of the wirings W2, W3, W5, W6, W8, W9, W11, and W12 to be shortened and allows the ESD protection diodes 43 to be effectively disposed. In this embodiment, the ESD protection diodes 43 are disposed near the terminals P included in the first column R1.

[0080] The memory card 10 is attached to a connector of a host device. For example, the memory card 10 is attached to a push-pull connector by being inserted into the connector slot. However, the memory card 10 may also be attached to other types of connectors.

[0081] The memory card 10 of this embodiment is inserted into the connector slot from the first edge 31 in Figure 1, where the notch C is provided. As a result, when the memory card 10 is attached to the connector, the first edge 31 is located deeper in the connector than the fourth edge 34.

[0082] The first corner 35 forms a notch C between the first edge 31 and the second edge 32, preventing the memory card 10 from being inserted upside down into the connector slot. For example, when the memory card 10 is inserted into the connector slot in the correct orientation, the notch C avoids the internal components of the connector. On the other hand, when the memory card 10 is inserted into the connector slot upside down, the internal components of the connector interfere with, for example, the second corner 36, preventing the memory card 10 from being fully inserted. Similarly, when the memory card 10 is inserted into the connector from the fourth edge in the reversed Y-axis direction, the memory card 10 cannot be inserted into the connector. The edges in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction tightly contact the connector near the second corner 36 formed between the first edge 31 and the third edge 33, reducing rotational misalignment between the connector and the memory card 10.

[0083] When the memory card 10 is inserted into the connector, the lead frame of the connector comes into contact with each of the multiple terminals P. The memory card 10 is provided with an inclined portion 39, and the leading end of the memory card 10 is tapered. This allows the lead frame to be guided by the inclined portion 39, reducing, for example, friction between the lead frame and the housing 11. This prevents the plating on the lead frame from peeling off, improving the wear resistance of the connector.

[0084] When the lead frame contacts the terminals P, the controller of the host device (hereinafter referred to as the host controller) and the card controller 14 of the memory card 10 are electrically connected via the wiring of the host device and the wiring W of the memory card 10.

[0085] The connection points of the connector on the host controller side, such as the terminals of the connector for mounting on the board of the host device, are generally provided at the back side of the connector slot (upward in FIG. 1). Therefore, the length of the wiring between the contact points of the terminals P and lead frame forming the first row R1 and the host controller tends to be shorter. On the other hand, the length of the wiring between the contact points of the terminals P and lead frame forming the second row R2 and the host controller tends to be longer, for example, because it bypasses the first row R1.

[0086] In the memory card 10 of this embodiment, the terminals P2, P3, P5, P6, P8, P9, P11, and P12 that transmit high-speed differential data signals are included in the first row R1, where the wiring length to the host controller is shorter. This brings the physical layer (PHY) of the host device and the physical layer (PHY) of the memory card 10 closer together, making it easier to ensure signal integrity in the transmission of differential data signals from the memory card 10.

[0087] 5 is an exemplary block diagram schematically illustrating a first example of the configuration of the memory card 10 of the first embodiment. The card controller 14 has an interface circuit (I / F) 51, a physical layer and memory controller 52, two regulators 53 and 54, and a power supply check circuit 55. The physical layer and memory controller 52 of the card controller 14 are shown as a single block in FIG. 5 and will be described collectively below.

[0088] The I / F 51 can accommodate single-ended signals. The I / F 51 is provided with, for example, an input buffer and an output buffer. The input buffer can receive a reset signal PERST#, a power management control signal CLKREQ#, and a control signal CNTA from terminals P20, P22, and P23. The output buffer can output a response to the power management control signal CLKREQ# and a control signal CNTB via terminals P22 and P26.

[0089] The physical layer and memory controller 52 can support differential signals. The physical layer and memory controller 52 is provided with a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver can input receive differential signals PERp0, PERn0, PERp1, and PERn1. The transmitter can output transmit differential signals PETp0, PETn0, PETp1, and PETn1.

[0090] The physical layer and memory controller 52 and the power supply check circuit 55 are connected to the I / F 51. The physical layer and memory controller 52 is connected to the flash memory 13. The card controller 14 may be provided with a PCIe data link layer and a PCIe transaction layer in addition to the PCIe physical layer.

[0091] The physical layer and memory controller 52 can perform serial-to-parallel conversion, parallel-to-serial conversion, and data symbolization. Symbolization is a process in which consecutive 0s or 1s in data are replaced with symbols from codes such as 8B10B or 128b / 130b that do not contain consecutive 0s or 1s, thereby limiting the number of consecutive occurrences of the same value to a predetermined value or less. This symbolization reduces bias in voltage levels during data transmission. Furthermore, repeated transmission of the same symbol pattern increases the harmonics of a specific frequency. However, by switching to multiple symbols with different patterns to avoid repeating patterns, the harmonics of a specific frequency can be prevented from increasing. This reduces the occurrence of EMI (Electromagnetic Interference).

[0092] The PCIe transaction layer can packetize data and add commands to the packet headers. The PCIe data link layer can add sequence numbers and CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) codes to packets received from the transaction layer. The sequence number can be used to confirm packet delivery, etc.

[0093] When serial receive differential signals PERp0, PERn0, PERp1, and PERn1 are transmitted from the host device to the memory card 10, they are converted into parallel data receive signals by the receiver. When parallel data transmit signals are transmitted to the transmitter, the transmit signals are converted into serial transmit differential signals PETp0, PETn0, PETp1, and PETn1 and transmitted to the host device.

[0094] The power supply voltage PWR1 is supplied to the flash memory 13 and the card controller 14. In this embodiment, the power supply voltage PWR1 is used for operations of the flash memory 13, such as reading / writing from / to the flash memory 13.

[0095] As described above, the power supply voltage PWR1 is equal to or greater than the power supply voltage PWR2 and equal to or greater than the power supply voltage PWR3. The power supply voltage PWR1 can satisfy the write voltage of the flash memory 13.

[0096] When the host device and memory card 10 are connected with a 3.3V signal voltage, the power supply voltage PWR1 is used as the I / O power supply. Even when the host device and memory card 10 are connected with a 1.8V signal voltage as in the example of FIG. 5, the power supply voltage PWR1 may be used as the I / O power supply. This allows the memory card 10 to withstand high voltages and protects the card input circuit. For example, when the power supply voltage PWR1 is set to 2.5V, the memory card 10 can withstand a 2.5V voltage, and when the power supply voltage PWR1 is set to 3.3V, the memory card 10 can withstand a 3.3V voltage.

[0097] The power supply voltage PWR2 is supplied to the flash memory 13 and the card controller 14. In this embodiment, the power supply voltage PWR2 is used as a power supply for the logic circuit. The power supply voltage PWR2 is also used as an interface voltage between the flash memory 13 and the card controller 14.

[0098] When the host device and the memory card 10 are connected with a signal voltage of 1.8V, the power supply voltage PWR2 may be used for the I / O power supply. In this case, the memory card 10 can be made to withstand a voltage of 1.8V.

[0099] The power supply voltage PWR3 is supplied to the card controller 14. In this embodiment, the power supply voltage PWR3 is used as a power supply for the physical layer (PHY) of the differential signal circuit and analog circuits.

[0100] Generally, a low-noise power supply is used for a differential signal circuit that performs analog operation, and is separated from the digital power supply. In this embodiment, the power supply voltage PWR3 supplied from the host device must be a sufficiently stabilized, low-noise power supply.

[0101] As described above, in order to reduce the effects of noise and power supply fluctuations, the three power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3 are supplied separately in the memory card 10. That is, the three power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3 are used depending on the application.

[0102] 6 is an exemplary block diagram schematically illustrating a second example of the configuration of the memory card 10 of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the power supply voltage PWR2 may be supplied to regulators 53 and 54. Furthermore, terminals P24 and P25 to which the power supply voltage (third power supply) PWR3 is assigned may be set to ground level. This is the case when using a memory card 10 that operates on two power supplies, the power supply voltage PWR1 and the power supply voltage PWR2.

[0103] As shown in the example of Figure 6, the regulator 54 generates a power supply voltage Vlogic that is lower than the input power supply voltage PWR2. This power supply voltage Vlogic is supplied to the flash memory 13, the physical layer of the card controller 14, and the memory controller 52 in place of the power supply voltage PWR2. The power supply voltage Vlogic is used as a power supply for the logic circuit and also as an interface voltage between the flash memory 13 and the card controller 14. Reducing the interface voltage enables high-speed data transfer between the flash memory 13 and the card controller 14 and reduces power consumption. Generally, a lower signal voltage shortens the rise and fall times of the signal, enabling high-speed data transmission.

[0104] 6, when terminals P24 and P25 are connected to ground, regulator 53 generates, from input power supply voltage PWR2, power supply voltage PWR3 that is lower than power supply voltage PWR2. If it is difficult to supply a stable power supply voltage PWR3 from the host device due to environmental or other reasons, the problem can be solved by using power supply voltage PWR3 generated by regulator 53.

[0105] Both power supply voltages PWR3 and Vlogic are generated from power supply voltage PWR2. Power supply voltage PWR3 and power supply voltage Vlogic may be the same or different voltages, but to separate the power supplies and prevent them from affecting each other, the power supply voltages are generated by separate regulators 53 and 54. Furthermore, by using LDOs (Low Drop Out) as regulators 53 and 54, unnecessary power consumption due to input / output voltage differences can be reduced.

[0106] 6, the regulator 53 may generate the power supply voltage PWR3 from the power supply voltage PWR1, and the regulator 54 may generate the power supply voltage Vlogic from the power supply voltage PWR1. In other words, the memory card 10 can operate as long as it has the power supply voltage PWR1.

[0107] As described above, the memory card 10 can operate using the power supply voltage PWR1, the power supply voltages PWR1 and PWR2, or the power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3 applied to the terminals P18, P19, P21, P24, and P25. The memory card 10 may be able to switch power supply modes depending on the combination of the power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3 applied to the terminals P18, P19, P21, P24, and P25.

[0108] The host device can respond to the power supply configuration of the memory card 10 by acquiring the power supply specification information 13a of the memory card 10 stored in the flash memory 13 through the following power supply check sequence. The power supply specification information 13a includes, for example, the voltage range of the power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3, the maximum current (continuous), and the peak current (100 μsec interval).

[0109] 7 is an exemplary flowchart showing the operation of the host device in the power supply check sequence of the memory card 10 of the first embodiment. PCIe initialization is performed before the host device acquires the power supply specification information 13a from the flash memory 13. Therefore, in the power supply check sequence, the host device determines whether initialization can be started with the combination of the supplied power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3.

[0110] As shown in FIG. 7, the host device supplies (applies) a power supply voltage PWR2 to the terminals P18 and P19 of the memory card 10 inserted into the slot of the connector (S1).

[0111] 5, a power supply voltage PWR2 is input to the power supply check circuit 55. If the applied power supply voltage PWR2 allows initialization by PCIe to begin, the power supply check circuit 55 drives CNTB=High. At this point, PWR1 is not supplied, but it is assumed that PWR1 will be supplied before initialization begins.

[0112] If the applied power supply voltage PWR2 does not allow initialization by PCIe to start, the power supply check circuit 55 keeps CNTB=Low.

[0113] After a certain time Tpok has elapsed (S2), the host device checks the level of the control signal CNTB (S3). The power supply check circuit 55 can switch the level of the control signal CNTB from low to high during the time Tpok. Therefore, the host device only needs to check the level of the control signal CNTB once after the time Tpok has elapsed. If CNTB remains low (S3: No), the host device supplies (applies) the power supply voltage PWR3 to terminals P24 and P25 of the memory card 10 (S4).

[0114] The power supply check circuit 55 drives CNTB=High if PCIe initialization can be started with the applied power supply voltage PWR3. At this point, PWR1 is not supplied, but it is assumed that PWR1 will be supplied before initialization begins. On the other hand, if PCIe initialization cannot be started with the applied power supply voltage PWR3, the power supply check circuit 55 leaves CNTB=Low. For example, if PCIe initialization can be started with the power supply voltage PWR1, the power supply check circuit 55 leaves CNTB=Low.

[0115] After a certain time Tpok has elapsed (S5), the host device checks the level of the control signal CNTB (S6). If CNTB remains low (S6: No), the host device turns off the power supply voltage PWR3 (S7) and then turns off the power supply voltage PWR2 (S8), in the reverse order of application. In this example, power supplies not used by the card are turned off, but unused power supplies for the card can also be left on.

[0116] If the control signal CNTB is high when the level is checked (S3: Yes, S6: Yes), or if the power supply voltage PWR2 is turned off (S8), the host device supplies (applies) the power supply voltage PWR1 to the terminal P21 of the memory card 10 (S9). That is, the power supply voltage PWR1 is always supplied before starting initialization.

[0117] As described above, when the power supply voltage PWR1 is not applied to the terminal P21, the control signal CNTB output to the terminal P26 is used to output the result of the power supply check circuit 55. When the power supply check circuit 55 detects the power supply voltage PWR1, the memory card 10 can switch the CNTB output to the terminal P26 to an output signal for another purpose. In addition, since the control signal CNTB is output at the signal voltage of the power supply voltage PWR2, the power supply voltage PWR2 is applied first in the power supply check sequence.

[0118] Next, the host device executes a PCIe training sequence (S10). This training sequence detects the physical layer, trains the physical layer, and so on, enabling communication between the host device and the memory card 10 and enabling the MMIO register to be read.

[0119] Fig. 8 is an exemplary table showing an example of the power supply specification information 13a according to the first embodiment. The power supply specification information 13a shown in Fig. 8 is register information described as power supply requirement specifications, and includes the voltage ranges, maximum currents (continuous), and peak currents (for example, 100 μsec intervals) of the power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3, as described above.

[0120] The maximum current (continuous) is the continuous current value used when accessing the memory of the memory card 10. The power supply circuit of the host device is required to supply this current value continuously.

[0121] The peak current (100 μsec interval) is the peak current value that flows when measured over a 100 μsec interval, and is affected by the capacitance of the coupling capacitor in the host device's power supply settings and the response characteristics of the power supply circuit. The host device's power supply circuit is required to be able to supply this peak current.

[0122] The voltage range is the range within which the power supply voltage is allowed to fluctuate. The host device's power supply circuit is required to maintain the power supply voltage at terminal P within this voltage range, even if there is a drop voltage in the wiring or connectors.

[0123] Furthermore, the power supply specification information 13a includes information indicating whether the power supply voltage PWR3 is generated by the regulator 53. As described above, the regulator 53 can generate the power supply voltage PWR3 from the power supply voltage PWR2 when the power supply voltage PWR3 is not applied to the terminals P24 and P25. Note that even if the memory card 10 includes the regulator 53, it may use the power supply voltage PWR3 applied to the terminals P24 and P25.

[0124] 7, the host device reads the power supply specification information 13a from the flash memory 13 (S11). The power supply specification information 13a is, for example, arranged in a vendor specific area of ​​an NVMe register mapped on MMIO, and is output as a differential data signal via the physical layer and the memory controller 52. The host device restores the power supply specification information 13a on the system memory by decoding the differential data signal.

[0125] The host device compares the power supply requirement specifications of the read power supply specification information 13a with the power supply circuit specifications of the host device to determine whether the memory card 10 is usable (S12). If the host device satisfies all of the power supply requirement specifications (S12: Yes), the host device is equipped with a power supply circuit sufficient for accessing the flash memory 13, and so the memory card 10 is determined to be usable (S13).

[0126] If the host device does not satisfy the power supply requirement specifications (S12: No), the host device determines whether arbitration of the power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3 is possible (S14). For example, if the power supply voltage PWR1 is insufficient, and the memory card 10 can be used by limiting the maximum power using the Slot Power Limit defined in PCIe (S14: Yes), the host device performs arbitration (S15) and determines that the memory card 10 can be used (S13). On the other hand, if arbitration is not possible (S14: No), the host device does not use the memory card 10 (S16).

[0127] A plurality of power modes can be implemented in the memory card 10. For example, as described above, the memory card 10 can implement a Slot Power Limit (a function for setting an upper limit on maximum power consumption).

[0128] The host device sets the available slot power limit in the memory card 10 using a PCIe packet according to the power supply capacity. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the memory card 10 of this embodiment supports three slot power limits. However, the memory card 10 is not limited to this example. The peak current does not depend on the slot power limit, so it is a common setting.

[0129] Slot Power Limit A consumes more power than Slot Power Limit B. Slot Power Limit B also consumes more power than Slot Power Limit C. The higher the power consumption, the higher the performance. If the power supply circuit of the host device does not satisfy Slot Power Limit A, the host device can use the memory card 10 by setting Slot Power Limit B. Slot Power Limit options are provided, for example, by other PCIe registers.

[0130] FIG. 9 is an illustrative timing chart showing a first example of a power supply check sequence of the memory card 10 of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the first example of the power supply check sequence will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 9. The memory card 10 according to this first example can start initialization by PCIe by using the power supply voltage PWR3. In addition, in FIG. 9, the timing corresponding to each operation in FIG. 7 is assigned with the reference numeral corresponding to FIG. 7.

[0131] First, the host device supplies power supply voltage PWR2 to terminals P18 and P19 of memory card 10 (S1). Because power supply voltage PWR3 is used to initialize memory card 10, the level of control signal CNTB remains low (S3: No) even after a certain time Tpok has elapsed (S2). Therefore, the host device supplies power supply voltage PWR3 to terminals P24 and P25 of memory card 10 (S4).

[0132] When power supply voltage PWR3 is supplied, CNTB becomes High. Therefore, after a certain time Tpok has elapsed (S5), CNTB is checked and CNTB is found to be High (S6: Yes), so the host device supplies power supply voltage PWR1 to terminal P21 (S9). In other words, the host can recognize that the memory card 10 requires three power sources.

[0133] 10 is an exemplary timing chart showing a second example of the power supply check sequence of the memory card 10 of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the second example of the power supply check sequence will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 10. The memory card 10 according to the second example can generate the power supply voltage PWR3 from the power supply voltage PWR2 by the regulator 53, and can start initialization via PCIe by using the power supply voltage PWR2.

[0134] First, the host device supplies power supply voltage PWR2 to terminals P18 and P19 of memory card 10 (S1). Supplying power supply voltage PWR2 sets CNTB=High. Therefore, after a certain time Tpok has elapsed (S2), CNTB level check reveals that CNTB=High (S3: Yes), so the host device supplies power supply voltage PWR1 to terminal P21 (S9). Time Tpok is set, for example, to a time sufficient for power supply voltage PWR3 generated by regulator 53 to stabilize. In other words, the host can recognize that memory card 10 requires two power supplies, PWR1 and PWR2.

[0135] 11 is an exemplary timing chart showing a third example of the power supply check sequence of the memory card 10 of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the third example of the power supply check sequence will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 11. The memory card 10 according to the third example can generate the power supply voltage PWR3 from the power supply voltage PWR1 by the regulator 53, and can start initialization via PCIe by using the power supply voltage PWR1.

[0136] First, the host device supplies the power supply voltage PWR2 to the terminals P18 and P19 of the memory card 10 (S1). Since the power supply voltage PWR1 is used to initialize the memory card 10, the level of the control signal CNTB remains low (S3: No) even after a certain time Tpok has elapsed (S2).

[0137] The host device supplies power supply voltage PWR3 to terminals P24 and P25 of memory card 10 (S4). Even after a certain time Tpok has elapsed (S5), the level of the control signal CNTB remains low (S6: No). As a result, the host device turns off power supply voltages PWR3 (S7) and PWR2 (S8) and supplies power supply voltage PWR1 to terminal P21 (S9). In other words, the host can recognize that memory card 10 requires power from PWR1. When power supply voltage PWR1 is supplied, memory card 10 disconnects the output of power supply check circuit 55 and no longer outputs the control signal CNTB to terminal P26, to which it is assigned. However, the control signal CNTB can be used for other purposes.

[0138] A large current may be used to access the flash memory 13 at high speed. However, the current consumed for PCIe initialization is less than the current required for high-speed access. Therefore, the power supply specification information 13a can be read even with a minimum power supply installed.

[0139] In the above power supply check sequence, the card controller 14 of the memory card 10 determines whether or not PCIe initialization using differential data signals is possible based on the power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3 applied to terminals P18, P19, P21, P24, and P25, and outputs the determination result from terminal P26. Furthermore, when PCIe initialization using differential data signals is completed, the power supply specification information 13a recorded in the flash memory 13 becomes readable.

[0140] The power supply check sequence described above allows the host device to identify the power supply specifications even when multiple types of memory cards 10 with different power supply specifications are mixed. Note that the power supply check sequence can be omitted by predetermining the power supply specifications of the memory card 10 and the corresponding host device.

[0141] The host device has a function to detect, for example, the insertion and removal of the memory card 10 into the connector. In this case, the host device turns on the power after detecting the insertion of the memory card 10 into the connector, and turns off the power when it detects that the memory card 10 has been removed from the connector. This allows the memory card 10 to omit the function for hot-plugging.

[0142] In the memory card 10 according to the first embodiment described above, the housing 11 has a first edge 31 extending in the X-axis direction, a second edge 32 extending in the Y-axis direction intersecting the X-axis direction, and a first corner 35 forming a notch C between the first edge 31 and the second edge 32. The first corner 35 forming the notch C is used, for example, to prevent the memory card 10 from being inserted incorrectly. Therefore, when the memory card 10 is inserted into a push-pull connector, for example, the memory card 10 is inserted into the connector first edge 31 first. The multiple terminals P are arranged in the X-axis direction with gaps between them to form a first row R1, and are arranged in the X-axis direction with gaps between them at positions farther from the first edge 31 than the first row R1 to form a second row R2. In this way, the multiple terminals P form multiple rows R1 and R2, enabling the memory card 10 of this embodiment to achieve a high-speed communication interface.

[0143] Generally, the length of the wiring between the terminals P of the memory card 10 inserted into the connector and the host controller becomes shorter the further into the connector. That is, the length of the wiring between the terminals P included in the first column R1 and the host controller is shorter than the length of the wiring between the terminals P included in the second column R2 and the host controller. Therefore, it is easier to ensure signal integrity for the terminals P2, P3, P5, P6, P8, P9, P11, and P12 included in the first column R1 that are used for signal transmission than for the terminals P15, P16, P20, P22, P23, and P26 included in the second column R2 that are used for signal transmission. For example, the memory card 10 of this embodiment can achieve a high-speed communication interface by increasing the number of terminals P included in the first column R1 that are used for signal transmission compared to the number of terminals P included in the second column R2 that are used for signal transmission, or by using the terminals P included in the first column R1 for differential signal transmission.

[0144] The number of terminals P2, P3, P5, P6, P8, P9, P11, and P12 included in the first column R1 is greater than the number of terminals P15, P16, P20, P22, P23, and P26 included in the second column R2. This allows the memory card 10 of this embodiment to have a high-speed communication interface.

[0145] Furthermore, the multiple terminals P form a first row R1 and a second row R2. As a result, compared to arranging the multiple terminals P in a single row, even if more of the terminals P2, P3, P5, P6, P8, P9, P11, and P12 used for signal transmission are arranged near the first edge 31, the desired size of the terminals P and the desired spacing between the multiple terminals P can be ensured.

[0146] The first column R1 includes terminals P2, P3, P5, P6, P8, P9, P11, and P12, which are used to transmit signals with higher frequencies than the terminals P15, P16, P20, P22, P23, and P26. This allows the memory card 10 of this embodiment to have a high-speed communication interface.

[0147] By increasing the number of differential data signal terminals and the number of lanes, the memory card 10 of this embodiment can increase the speed of the communication interface.

[0148] The terminals P forming the first column R1 include terminals P2, P3, P5, P6, P8, P9, P11, and P12 to which differential data signals are assigned. Meanwhile, the terminals P forming the second column R2 include terminals P15 and P16 to which differential clock signals having a lower frequency than the differential data signals are assigned, terminals P20, P22, P23, and P26 to which single-ended signals are assigned, and terminals P18, P19, P21, P24, and P25 to which power is assigned. This allows the number of terminals P2, P3, P5, P6, P8, P9, P11, and P12 capable of transmitting signals at high speed in the first column R1 to be increased, thereby enabling the memory card 10 of this embodiment to have a high-speed communication interface.

[0149] The multiple terminals P forming the first row R1 include terminals P2, P3, P5, P6, P8, P9, P11, and P12 to which multiple lanes of differential data signals are assigned, thereby enabling the memory card 10 of this embodiment to have a high-speed communication interface.

[0150] Each of the multiple pairs of terminals P2, P3, P5, P6, P8, P9, P11, and P12 is located between two of the multiple terminals P1, P4, P7, P10, and P13. This ensures a return path for each differential signal, reduces mutual interference between the differential signals, and stabilizes the differential signal level.

[0151] The terminals P20 and P22 are assigned sideband signals of the PCIe standard, which increases the number of terminals P2, P3, P5, P6, P8, P9, P11, and P12 capable of transmitting signals at high speed in the first row R1, thereby enabling the memory card 10 of this embodiment to have a high-speed communication interface.

[0152] Terminal P21 is assigned to the first power supply PWR1. Terminals P18 and P19 are assigned to the second power supply PWR2, whose voltage is equal to or lower than that of the first power supply PWR1. Terminals P24 and P25 are assigned to the third power supply PWR3, whose voltage is equal to or lower than that of the second power supply PWR2. This allows the first to third power supplies PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3 to be used depending on the application, increasing the flexibility of the memory card 10. Furthermore, the lower the voltage, the smaller the allowable power supply voltage fluctuation, so it is better to reduce the current value flowing through each terminal P. However, by providing multiple terminals P18 and P19 and multiple terminals P24 and P25, the current value is distributed, reducing the current value per terminal and suppressing voltage fluctuations.

[0153] When terminals P24 and P25, to which the third power supply PWR3 of the power supply voltage PWR3 is assigned, are grounded, regulator 53 generates power supply voltage PWR3 from power supply voltage PWR2 applied to terminals P18 and P19, to which the second power supply PWR2 of the power supply voltage PWR2 is assigned. This allows memory card 10 of this embodiment to be compatible with both host devices with two power supplies, PWR1 and PWR2, and host devices with three power supplies, PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3.

[0154] The card controller 14 determines whether initialization using differential data signals is possible based on the power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3 applied to terminals P18, P19, P21, P24, and P25, and outputs the determination result from terminal P26, to which the control signal CNTB is assigned. When initialization using differential data signals is complete, the flash memory 13 becomes capable of reading the power supply specification information 13a stored in the flash memory 13. The host device can determine whether the memory card 10 is usable by comparing the power supply specification information 13a with the host device's power supply specifications. This allows the host device to identify the power supply specifications of the memory card 10, even if memory cards 10 with different power supply configurations are mixed.

[0155] At least a portion of the side 14a of the card controller 14 is located between the first column R1 and the second column R2 and has connection terminals CP on the side 14a connected by wiring W to terminals P2, P3, P5, P6, P8, P9, P11, and P12 included in the first column R1. This makes it possible to prevent the wiring W from bypassing other wiring or other components or passing between multiple terminals P included in the second column R2. This makes it easy to provide, for example, ESD protection diodes 43 on the wiring W and shortens the length of the wiring W between the terminals P2, P3, P5, P6, P8, P9, P11, and P12 included in the first column R1 and the connection terminals CP.

[0156] The memory card 10 has a length of 14±0.1 mm in the X-axis direction and a length of 18±0.1 mm in the Y-axis direction. Generally, microSD cards have dimensions of 11 mm × 15 mm. That is, the memory card 10 of this embodiment is larger than a microSD card. Therefore, the memory card 10 can accommodate memories with large storage capacities and dimensions that are difficult to accommodate in a microSD card, such as large three-dimensional flash memories, and can accommodate future increases in the size of flash memories 13 due to technological advances. Furthermore, the memory card 10 is larger than a microSD card but smaller than a standard SD memory card. Therefore, the memory card 10 is not too large for a host device and can be easily inserted and removed from the host device's connector.

[0157] The housing 11 further has a third edge 33 located on the opposite side of the second edge 32 and extending in the Y-axis direction, and a second corner 36 between the first edge 31 and the third edge 33. The shape of the first corner 35 and the shape of the second corner 36 are different from each other. This prevents the memory card 10 from being inserted backwards.

[0158] The first corner 35 extends linearly between one end of the first edge 31 and the end of the second edge 32, forming a so-called C1.1 chamfered portion. The second corner 36 extends in an arc between the other end of the first edge 31 and the end of the third edge 33, forming a so-called R0.2 chamfered portion. The memory card 10 may be inserted into a connector with the second corner 36 abutting against the connector. In this case, it is possible to reduce misalignment of the memory card 10 in the X-axis direction.

[0159] (Second embodiment) The second embodiment will be described below with reference to Fig. 12. In the following description of the embodiment, components having the same functions as components already described are given the same reference numerals as the components already described, and further description may be omitted. Furthermore, multiple components given the same reference numerals do not necessarily have all the same functions and properties, and may have different functions and properties according to each embodiment.

[0160] 12 is an exemplary plan view showing a memory card 10 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 12, a card controller 14 according to the second embodiment is stacked on a flash memory 13.

[0161] The flash memory 13 is overlapped with the terminals P included in the second column R2. In other words, the flash memory 13 is arranged such that the terminals P included in the second column R2 are located between the end of the flash memory 13 in the positive direction of the Y axis and the end of the flash memory 13 in the negative direction of the Y axis. On the other hand, the flash memory 13 is spaced apart from the terminals P included in the first column R1.

[0162] The card controller 14 is located between the first column R1 and the second column R2. Therefore, similar to the first embodiment, the multiple connection terminals CP of the card controller 14 are also located between the first column R1 and the second column R2. Wiring W connects the connection terminals CP and the terminals P included in the first column R1.

[0163] As in the memory card 10 of the second embodiment described above, the card controller 14 may be stacked on the flash memory 13. By separating the flash memory 13 from the first column R1 and positioning the connection terminals CP between the first column R1 and the second column R2, the length of the wiring W is prevented from increasing.

[0164] (Third embodiment) The third embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 13 to 25. Figure 13 is an exemplary plan view showing a memory card 10 according to the third embodiment. Figure 14 is an exemplary side view showing the memory card 10 of the third embodiment. The memory card 10 is an example of a semiconductor memory device.

[0165] The memory card 10 includes a housing 11, a substrate 12, a flash memory 13, a card controller 14, and a protective sheet 15. The flash memory 13 is an example of a memory, and the card controller 14 is an example of a controller.

[0166] The memory card 10 and the housing 11 are formed, for example, in the shape of a substantially rectangular plate extending in the Y-axis direction. The Y-axis direction is the longitudinal direction of the memory card 10 and the housing 11. The Y-axis direction is an example of a second direction.

[0167] 14, the housing 11 is plate-shaped and has a first surface 21, a second surface 22, and an outer edge 23. The first surface 21 and the second surface 22 are formed in a substantially quadrangular (rectangular) shape extending in the Y-axis direction. That is, the Y-axis direction is also the longitudinal direction of the first surface 21 and the second surface 22. In this embodiment, the shapes of the memory card 10, the housing 11, the first surface 21, and the second surface 22 are each expressed as a rectangle, but other expressions are also possible.

[0168] The first surface 21 is a substantially flat surface facing in the positive direction of the Z axis. As shown in Fig. 13, a plurality of openings 21a are provided in the first surface 21. As shown in Fig. 14, the second surface 22 is located on the opposite side of the first surface 21 and is a substantially flat surface facing in the negative direction of the Z axis.

[0169] The outer edge 23 is provided between the first surface 21 and the second surface 22, and is connected to the edges of the first surface 21 and the second surface 22. As shown in FIG. 13 , the outer edge 23 has a first edge 31, a second edge 32, a third edge 33, a fourth edge 34, a first corner 35, a second corner 36, a third corner 37, and a fourth corner 38. The first edge 31 is an example of a first edge. The second edge 32 is an example of a first side edge. The third edge 33 is an example of a second side edge. The fourth edge 34 is an example of a second edge.

[0170] The first edge 31 extends in the X-axis direction and faces the positive direction of the Y-axis. The X-axis direction is the short-side direction of the memory card 10, the housing 11, the first surface 21, and the second surface 22, and includes the positive direction of the X-axis and the negative direction of the X-axis. The X-axis direction is an example of a first direction.

[0171] The second edge 32 extends in the Y-axis direction and faces in the negative direction of the X-axis. A recess 32a is provided in the second edge 32. The third edge 33 is located on the opposite side of the second edge 32, extends in the Y-axis direction and faces in the positive direction of the X-axis. The fourth edge 34 is located on the opposite side of the first edge 31, extends in the X-axis direction and faces in the negative direction of the Y-axis.

[0172] The second edge 32 and the third edge 33 are each longer than the first edge 31 and the fourth edge 34. The first edge 31 and the fourth edge 34 form the short sides of the approximately rectangular memory card 10, and the second edge 32 and the third edge 33 form the long sides of the approximately rectangular memory card 10.

[0173] The first corner 35 is a corner portion between the first edge 31 and the second edge 32, and connects the end of the first edge 31 in the negative direction of the X-axis with the end of the second edge 32 in the positive direction of the Y-axis. The end of the first edge 31 in the negative direction of the X-axis is an example of one end of a first edge. The end of the second edge 32 in the positive direction of the Y-axis is an example of an end of a second edge.

[0174] The first corner 35 extends linearly between the end of the first edge 31 in the negative X-axis direction and the end of the second edge 32 in the positive Y-axis direction. In the X-axis direction, the distance between the end of the first edge 31 in the negative X-axis direction and the second edge 32 is 1.1 mm. In other words, the distance in the X-axis direction between the end of the first edge 31 in the negative X-axis direction and the intersection of the extension lines of the first edge 31 and the second edge 32 is 1.1 mm.

[0175] In the Y-axis direction, the distance between the end of second edge 32 in the positive Y-axis direction and first edge 31 is 1.1 mm. In other words, the distance in the Y-axis direction between the end of second edge 32 in the positive Y-axis direction and the intersection of the extension line of first edge 31 and the extension line of second edge 32 is 1.1 mm.

[0176] The corner between the first edge 31 and the second edge 32 is set to a so-called C1.1 chamfer, thereby providing a first corner 35. In other words, the first corner 35 forms a notch C between the first edge 31 and the second edge 32.

[0177] In this embodiment, the first corner 35 forms a substantially triangular notch C at the corner between the first edge 31 and the second edge 32 that extend in directions perpendicular to each other. However, the notch C is not limited to this example. For example, the first corner 35 may form a substantially rectangular notch C that is recessed further inward into the housing 11 than in this embodiment.

[0178] The second corner 36 is a corner portion between the first edge 31 and the third edge 33, and connects the end of the first edge 31 in the positive direction of the X-axis with the end of the third edge 33 in the positive direction of the Y-axis. The end of the first edge 31 in the positive direction of the X-axis is an example of the other end of the first edge. The end of the third edge 33 in the positive direction of the Y-axis is an example of the end of the third edge.

[0179] The second corner 36 extends in an arc shape between the end of the first edge 31 in the positive direction of the X-axis and the end of the third edge 33 in the positive direction of the Y-axis. The second corner 36 extends in an arc shape of a perfect circle, but may also extend in an arc shape of an ellipse.

[0180] The radius of the second corner 36 extending in an arc shape is 0.2 mm. The corner between the first edge 31 and the third edge 33 is rounded with a radius of R0.2, thereby forming the second corner 36. In this way, the shape of the first corner 35 and the shape of the second corner 36 are different from each other.

[0181] The third corner 37 connects the end of the second edge 32 facing in the negative direction of the Y axis with the end of the fourth edge 34 facing in the negative direction of the X axis. The fourth corner 38 connects the end of the third edge 33 facing in the negative direction of the Y axis with the end of the fourth edge 34 facing in the positive direction of the X axis. The third corner 37 and the fourth corner 38 each extend in the shape of an arc with a radius of 0.2 mm.

[0182] The lengths of memory card 10, housing 11, first surface 21, and second surface 22 in the Y-axis direction are set to approximately 18±0.1 mm, and the lengths of memory card 10, housing 11, first surface 21, and second surface 22 in the X-axis direction are set to approximately 14±0.1 mm. That is, the distance between first edge 31 and fourth edge 34 in the Y-axis direction is set to approximately 18±0.1 mm, and the distance between second edge 32 and third edge 33 in the X-axis direction is set to approximately 14±0.1 mm. Note that the lengths of memory card 10, housing 11, first surface 21, and second surface 22 in the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction are not limited to this example.

[0183] 14, the housing 11 further has an inclined portion 39. The inclined portion 39 is a corner portion between the first surface 21 and the first edge 31, and extends linearly between the end of the first surface 21 in the positive direction of the Y axis and the end of the first edge 31 in the positive direction of the Z axis.

[0184] 13, the board 12, the flash memory 13, and the card controller 14 are provided inside the housing 11. The board 12, the flash memory 13, and the card controller 14 may be housed in the box-shaped housing 11 or may be embedded in the housing 11.

[0185] The board 12 is, for example, a PCB. However, the board 12 may be another type of board. The flash memory 13 and the card controller 14 are mounted on the board 12.

[0186] The flash memory 13 is a nonvolatile memory capable of storing information, such as a NAND flash memory. However, the flash memory 13 may be another type of flash memory, such as a NOR flash memory. The memory card 10 may have, for example, multiple stacked flash memories 13.

[0187] The card controller 14 can control the flash memory 13 and the entire memory card 10 including the flash memory 13. For example, the card controller 14 can control read / write to the flash memory 13 and control communication with the outside. This communication control includes protocol control compatible with PCIe. Note that the card controller 14 may also indirectly control the flash memory 13 via other electronic components that control the flash memory 13.

[0188] The protective sheet 15 is attached to the first surface 21. The protective sheet 15 seals, for example, the test terminals exposed on the first surface 21. However, the protective sheet 15 is not limited to this example.

[0189] The memory card 10 further has a plurality of terminals P. In this embodiment, the memory card 10 has 39 terminals P. Note that the number of terminals P is merely an example and is not limited to this example. In other words, the number of terminals P may be less than 39 or more than 39. The plurality of terminals P are provided, for example, on the substrate 12. The plurality of terminals P are exposed on the first surface 21 through the openings 21a. In this embodiment, the second surface 22 is not provided with terminals P and can be used, for example, as a printing surface or a heat dissipation surface.

[0190] In this embodiment, the terminals P form a plurality of rows that are divided into a first group G1 and a second group G2. The first group G1 includes first rows R11 and R12. The second group G2 includes a second row R21. That is, the terminals P are arranged in three rows, forming the first rows R11 and R12 and the second row R21.

[0191] The first group G1 includes at least one first column (R11, R12), i.e., the first group G1 may include one first column (R11 or R12) or more than two first columns (R11, R12, ...).

[0192] The second group G2 includes at least one second column (R21), i.e., the second group G2 may include one second column (R21) or more than two second columns (R21, R22, ...).

[0193] 15 is an exemplary plan view showing a memory card 10 according to a modification of the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 15, the memory card 10 of the modification may have 26 terminals P arranged in two rows to form a first row R11 and a second row R21. That is, the first group G1 may have one first row R11, and the first row R12 may be omitted.

[0194] 13, the first row R11 includes 13 terminals P arranged in the X-axis direction at intervals at positions closer to the first edge 31 than the fourth edge 34. Hereinafter, the 13 terminals P forming the first row R11 and included in the first row R11 may be individually referred to as terminals P101 to P113. Note that the number of terminals P forming the first row R11 is not limited to 13. The terminals P forming the first row R11 are arranged in order from terminal P101, which is closest to the second edge 32, to terminal P113, which is closest to the third edge 33.

[0195] The terminals P101 to P113 are arranged in the X-axis direction near and along the first edge 31. The terminals P101 to P113 and a first row R11 formed by the terminals P101 to P113 are slightly spaced from the first edge 31. However, the distance between the first row R11 and the first edge 31 is shorter than the distance between the first row R11 and the fourth edge 34. The terminals P101 to P113 and the first row R11 may be adjacent to the first edge 31.

[0196] The first row R12 includes 13 terminals P arranged in the X-axis direction at intervals at positions closer to the first edge 31 than the fourth edge 34. Hereinafter, the 13 terminals P forming the first row R12 and included in the first row R12 may be individually referred to as terminals P114 to P126. The number of terminals P forming the first row R12 is not limited to 13. The number of terminals P forming the first row R12 may be more or less than the number of terminals P forming the first row R11. The terminals P forming the first row R12 are arranged in order from terminal P114, which is closest to the second edge 32, to terminal P126, which is closest to the third edge 33.

[0197] The multiple terminals P forming the first row R12 are arranged at a position farther from the first edge 31 than the first row R11. Therefore, the first row R12 is farther from the first edge 31 than the first row R11. The first row R11 and the first row R12 are arranged in the Y-axis direction with a predetermined short interval between them.

[0198] The second row R21 includes 13 terminals P arranged in the X-axis direction at intervals at positions closer to the fourth edge 34 than to the first edge 31. Hereinafter, the 13 terminals P forming the second row R21 and included in the second row R21 may be individually referred to as terminals P127 to P139. The number of terminals P forming the second row R21 is not limited to 13. The number of terminals P forming the second row R21 may be greater or less than the number of terminals P forming each of the first row R11 and the first row R12. The terminals P forming the second row R21 are arranged in order from terminal P127, which is closest to the second edge 32, to terminal P139, which is closest to the third edge 33.

[0199] The multiple terminals P forming the second row R21 are located closer to the fourth edge 34 than to the first edge 31. In other words, the multiple terminals P forming the second row R21 are arranged between the center line (indicated by the dashed line) of the memory card 10 and the housing 11 in the Y-axis direction and the fourth edge 34. Therefore, the distance between the first row R12 and the second row R21 is wide. In this embodiment, the multiple terminals P forming the second row R21 are spaced apart from the center line.

[0200] As described above, the second group G2 may further include the second column R22 indicated by the two-dot chain line. In this case, the second column R21 and the second column R22 are aligned in the Y-axis direction with a predetermined short interval between them.

[0201] As described above, the multiple terminals P are arranged in the X-axis direction. When the length between the second edge 32 and the third edge 33 is constant, the distance between adjacent terminals P in the X-axis direction is determined, for example, according to the number of terminals P. Furthermore, the maximum number of terminals P that can be arranged in the X-axis direction is determined by the minimum distance between adjacent terminals P in the X-axis direction. The distances between the multiple terminals P in the X-axis direction may be equal or different. In this embodiment, the number of terminals P in each of the first columns R11, R12 and the second column R21 is the same. Therefore, the distances between all of the terminals P are constant.

[0202] The length of the terminals P in the Y-axis direction is set, for example, to a length between a maximum length and a minimum length determined so that the memory card 10 can be connected to a connector for the memory card 10. In each of the first rows R11, R12 and the second row R21, the terminals P are arranged so that their ends in the negative direction of the Y-axis are aligned.

[0203] Because PCIe Gen4 has a low bit rate of 16GT / s, it is necessary to minimize the pad area as much as possible to reduce capacitance and improve frequency characteristics. On the other hand, the smaller the pad area, the less mechanically manufacturable it becomes, so a pad area large enough to tolerate manufacturing variations and variations in the card connector contact point position is required. Therefore, the minimum pad length is determined by a trade-off between electrical characteristics and mechanical technology level. For this card form factor, the number of pads that can be placed in one row is calculated to be 13, based on the minimum spacing allowed by current mounting technology.

[0204] Setting the lengths of the multiple terminals P in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction to be approximately the same can make the electrical characteristics of the multiple terminals P similar. In this embodiment, the lengths of all the signal terminals P in the first row R11 and all the terminals P in the first row R12 in the Y-axis direction are set to the minimum lengths possible at a mechanical technology level, although the shorter the lengths, the better the electrical characteristics. This improves the electrical characteristics of the multiple terminals P forming the first rows R11 and R12, and reduces the area of ​​the region where the first rows R11 and R12 are provided.

[0205] In this embodiment, the lengths of the data transfer terminals P in the first column R11 and the second column R21 in the Y-axis direction are set to be the same. This allows the electrical characteristics of the data transfer terminals P in the first column R11 and the first column R12 to be similar. Furthermore, one terminal P may protrude in the positive Y-axis direction beyond the end of the other terminal P in the positive Y-axis direction. For example, by having the power supply terminal P and the GND terminal P protrude beyond the data transfer terminal P, in the case of a horizontal insertion connector in which the memory card 110 is inserted in the positive Y-axis direction, the power supply and GND terminals P will contact the lead frame of the connector before the data transfer terminal P. This makes the GND level of the host device equivalent to the GND level of the memory card 10, thereby stabilizing the electrical level of the card controller 14. Among the terminals P in the first row R11 and the second row R21, the power terminals P and the GND terminals P are set long in the Y-axis direction, so that when multiple terminals P are arranged in two rows, as shown in Figure 15, for example, the memory card 10 can be used with a horizontal insertion connector such as a push-push type or push-pull type.

[0206] In the first rows R11 and R12, the only terminals P other than the signal terminals P are GND terminals P. Therefore, if the GND terminals P in the first row R11 contact the lead frame of the connector first, there is no need to lengthen the GND terminals P in the first row R12. This allows the length of all terminals P in the first row R12 in the Y-axis direction to be shortened. This allows the spacing between the first rows R11 and R12 to be shortened.

[0207] The terminals P may have different shapes. For example, in the first row R11, the shapes of the terminals P101, P104, P107, P110, and P113 are different from those of the terminals P102, P103, P105, P106, P108, P109, P111, and P112, but they may be the same. Furthermore, in the second row R21, the shapes of the terminals P127, P130, P131, P132, P134, P137, and P138 are different from those of the terminals P128, P129, P133, P135, P136, and P139, but they may be the same.

[0208] In this embodiment, the distances between the plurality of terminals P are substantially constant in each of the first rows R11, R12 and the second row R21. However, the distances between the plurality of terminals P may be different.

[0209] In the connector inserted along the Y axis, the power and ground terminals P101, P104, P107, P110, P113, P127, P130, P131, P132, P134, P137, and P138 of the memory card 10 are slightly longer than the signal terminals P102, P103, P105, P106, P108, P109, P111, P112, P128, P129, P133, P135, P136, and P139. This allows the connector to make contact with the power and ground terminals first, ensuring electrical stability and preventing electrical stress on the signal terminals. If voltage is applied to the signal terminals before power is supplied to the card controller 14, electrical stress will be applied to the input buffer of the interface circuit 51, described below.

[0210] Signals used for communication conforming to a predetermined interface standard are assigned to the multiple terminals P. However, signals used for communication conforming to multiple interface standards may also be assigned to the multiple terminals P.

[0211] 16 is an exemplary table showing an example of signal assignment for a plurality of terminals P in the third embodiment. As shown in Fig. 16, in this embodiment, signals used for PCIe data communication are assigned to a plurality of terminals P in the first column R11 and the first column R12 of the first group G1. In PCIe, differential data signal pairs can be used for data communication.

[0212] In the first column R11, ground potential (GND) is assigned to terminals P101, P104, P107, P110, and P113, receive differential signals PERp0, PERn0, PERp1, and PERn1 are assigned to terminals P102, P103, P108, and P109, and transmit differential signals PETp0, PETn0, PETp1, and PETn1 are assigned to terminals P105, P106, P111, and P112.

[0213] In the first column R12, ground potential (GND) is assigned to terminals P114, P117, P120, P123, and P126, receive differential signals PERp2, PERn2, PERp3, and PERn3 are assigned to terminals P115, P116, P121, and P122, and transmit differential signals PETp2, PETn2, PETp3, and PETn3 are assigned to terminals P118, P119, P124, and P125.

[0214] Terminals P101, P104, P107, P110, P113, P114, P117, P120, P123, and P126 are examples of ground terminals. Terminals P102, P103, P105, P106, P108, P109, P111, P112, P115, P116, P118, P119, P121, P122, P124, and P125 are examples of signal terminals, first signal terminals, and differential data signal terminals. Receive differential signals PERp0, PERn0, PERp1, PERn1, PERp2, PERn2, PERp3, and PERn3 and transmit differential signals PETp0, PETn0, PETp1, PETn1, PETp2, PETn2, PETp3, and PETn3 are examples of signals and differential data signals.

[0215] A pair of terminals P102 and P103, to which receive differential signals PERp0 and PERn0 are assigned, is located between and surrounded by the two terminals P101 and P104. A pair of terminals P105 and P106, to which transmit differential signals PETp0 and PETn0 are assigned, is located between and surrounded by the two terminals P104 and P107.

[0216] A pair of terminals P108, P109 to which receive differential signals PERp1, PERn1 are assigned is located between the two terminals P107, P110 and is surrounded by the two terminals P107, P110. A pair of terminals P111, P112 to which transmit differential signals PETp1, PETn1 are assigned is located between the two terminals P110, P113 and is surrounded by the two terminals P110, P113.

[0217] A pair of terminals P115, P116 to which receive differential signals PERp2, PERn2 are assigned is located between the two terminals P114, P117 and is surrounded by the two terminals P114, P117. A pair of terminals P118, P119 to which transmit differential signals PETp2, PETn2 are assigned is located between the two terminals P117, P120 and is surrounded by the two terminals P117, P120.

[0218] A pair of terminals P121, P122 to which receive differential signals PERp3, PERn3 are assigned is located between two terminals P120, P123 and is surrounded by the two terminals P120, P123. A pair of terminals P124, P125 to which transmit differential signals PETp3, PETn3 are assigned is located between two terminals P123, P126 and is surrounded by the two terminals P123, P126.

[0219] PCIe transmits data serially, but the data is coded in units of a certain length to allow the receiver circuit to generate a clock and to prevent voltage levels from becoming biased toward high or low due to repeated occurrences of the same logic level. Encoding methods such as 8B10B and 128b / 130b are used. This coding method allows the average signal voltage level to be close to the common voltage, minimizing deviations from the receiving threshold level. Furthermore, the receiver generates a receive clock from the data transition point, enabling it to generate a receive clock that tracks temporal fluctuations in the data, enabling stable data reception (a technology known as CDR: Clock Data Recovery). Even if there is bias between multiple lanes (pairs of uplink and downlink differential data signals), lane-to-lane skew can be canceled by configuring independent receiver circuits for each lane and aligning the start positions of the parallelized received data.

[0220] For example, the maximum transfer speed for PCIe 3.0 is 2 GB / s per lane (upstream and downstream combined). In PCIe, one lane can be configured with a pair of transmit differential signals PETp0, PETn0 and receive differential signals PERp0, PERn0. In PCIe, one lane can be configured with a pair of transmit differential signals PETp1, PETn1 and receive differential signals PERp1, PERn1. Similarly, one lane can be configured with a pair of transmit differential signals PETp2, PETn2 and receive differential signals PERp2, PERn2, and one lane can be configured with a pair of transmit differential signals PETp3, PETn3 and receive differential signals PERp3, PERn3.

[0221] As described above, two lanes are assigned to the multiple terminals P forming the first column R11, and two lanes are assigned to the multiple terminals P forming the first column R12. In other words, the multiple terminals P forming the first columns R11 and R12 include multiple pairs of terminals P102, P103, P105, P106, P108, P109, P111, P112, P115, P116, P118, P119, P121, P122, P124, and P125 assigned to multiple lanes of differential data signals. This allows for an increase in the number of PCIe lanes, thereby improving data transfer speeds.

[0222] PCIe recognizes a multi-lane configuration during initialization and can distribute and transfer a single piece of data across multiple lanes. If the host device does not support multiple lanes, the memory card 10 can operate in a single-lane mode or a mode using only some of the lanes, such as two of the four lanes described above.

[0223] The terminals P102, P103, P105, P106, P108, P109, P111, P112, P115, P116, P118, P119, P121, P122, P124, and P125 transmit differential data signals compliant with PCIe, and enable bidirectional communication by pairing the transmitting and receiving terminals. The terminals P102, P103, P105, P106, P108, P109, P111, P112, P115, P116, P118, P119, P121, P122, P124, and P125 can transmit differential data signals with frequencies in the GHz band.

[0224] Control signals other than PCIe differential data signals are assigned to multiple terminals P in a second column R21. In the second column R21, GND is assigned to terminals P127 and P130, reference differential clock signals REFCLKp and REFCLKn are assigned to terminals P128 and P129, a second power supply (power rail) PWR2 is assigned to terminals P131 and P132, a reset signal PERST# is assigned to terminal P133, a first power supply (power rail) PWR1 is assigned to terminal P134, a clock control signal CLKREQ# is assigned to terminal P135, control signals CNTA and CNTB are assigned to terminals P136 and P139, and a third power supply (power rail) PWR3 is assigned to terminals P137 and P138.

[0225] Terminals P128, P129, P133, P135, P136, and P139 are examples of a signal terminal and a second signal terminal. Terminals P128 and P129 are examples of a differential clock signal terminal. Terminals P133 and P135 are examples of a single-ended signal terminal and an example of a sideband signal terminal. Terminals P131, P132, P134, P137, and P138 are examples of power supply terminals. Terminals P131 and P132 are examples of a second power supply terminal. P134 is an example of a first power supply terminal. Terminals P137 and P138 are examples of a third power supply terminal. As will be described later, different voltages are applied to the multiple power supply terminals. Furthermore, by providing multiple terminals P as power supply terminals, the current is dispersed, the current flowing per terminal is reduced, and the drop voltage due to the resistance component existing between the power supply circuit and the power supply terminals can be reduced.

[0226] The PCIe reference differential clock signal REFCLKp / n consists of two lines. By transmitting a clock signal with a frequency in the MHz range from the host device to terminals P128 and P129, the memory card 10 does not need to incorporate a high-precision clock oscillator, facilitating synchronization with the host device to which the memory card 10 is attached. Furthermore, by lowering the frequency of the clock signal used for transmission by terminals P128 and P129 and making it closer to a sine wave, EMI generation can be reduced. The memory card 10 multiplies the received clock using a PLL circuit to generate a high-frequency differential data signal used for transmission by terminals P102, P103, P105, P106, P108, P109, P111, P112, P115, P116, P118, P119, P121, P122, P124, and P125.

[0227] The host device may be, for example, an information processing device such as a personal computer, a mobile phone, a digital camera, an imaging device, a mobile terminal such as a tablet computer or a smartphone, a game device, an in-vehicle terminal such as a car navigation system, or another device.

[0228] The memory card 10 generates a bit clock by multiplying the received reference differential clock using a PLL oscillator circuit. Data is synchronized with the bit clock and output from the transmit differential signals PETp0, PETn0, PETp1, PETn1, PETp2, PETn2, PETp3, and PETn3. Data input from the receive differential signals PERp0, PERn0, PERp1, PERn1, PERp2, PERn2, PERp3, and PERn3 is sampled using a receive clock (the CDR) generated from the received code pattern, and the data in each lane is aligned as parallel data. This data can be resynchronized with an internal clock generated from the reference differential clock. The internal clock is set to a frequency lower than the bit clock by the number of data bits obtained by parallel-converting the serial data. For example, when an 8B10B codec is used, when a 10-bit code received serially is aligned into 1-byte (8-bit) parallel data, the internal clock has a frequency 1 / 10 of the bit clock.

[0229] The reset signal PERST# can be used by the host device to start and reset a memory device used for PCIe communication. The timing for starting initialization of the PCIe differential lanes is regulated by the PCIe reset release timing specification. In the case of embedded memory, the time from power-on to reset release is regulated, so the memory card 10 must be prepared to be in a state where it can be initialized within this time. However, in the case of removable memory, the reset release timing must also take into account the time it takes for the memory card 10 and connector to become stably mated. This reset signal PERST# can be used by the host device to reinitialize the memory card 10 when an error occurs that cannot be recovered using the normal recovery protocol.

[0230] The clock control signal CLKREQ# is a control signal that requests the host to supply a reference differential clock. This signal is initially set to high level (pulled high due to open drain) after power is applied to the memory card 10, but is driven low once the internal power supply voltage of the memory card 10 stabilizes and the memory card 10 is ready to receive the clock. When the host detects that CLKREQ# has gone low, it begins supplying the reference clock. The host can also use this signal to control the memory card 10's transition to and return from power-saving mode. When the memory card 10 is in an idle state (not accessing memory), it can enter power-saving mode to reduce PHY power consumption. In power-saving mode, the host can stop the PCIe reference differential clock signal REFCLKp / n. The memory card 10 also has a mode that can turn off the PHY common power supply, significantly reducing power consumption.

[0231] The reset signal PERST# and the clock control signal CLKREQ# are single-ended signals and are defined as PCIe sideband signals.

[0232] By supporting PCIe communication, the memory card 10 can use the standard PCIe physical layer (PHY), which simplifies the design and reduces development costs for increasing the data transfer speed of the memory card 10.

[0233] Furthermore, since the memory card 10 supports PCIe communication, it can use the NVMe protocol. Because the protocol is standardized, the memory card 10 can be used simply by connecting it to an NVMe-compatible host device. NVMe also provides optimal control for the flash memory 13, allows multiple commands to be registered by creating a queue in system memory, and reduces overhead during data transfer through multi-transaction processing. Furthermore, data transfer efficiency can be improved by using the PCIe master transfer function to transfer data.

[0234] The host device can supply a power supply voltage PWR1 as a first power supply to terminal P134. In this embodiment, the power supply voltage PWR1 is set to 3.3V. The power supply voltage notation indicates the upper standard value, which is the operating voltage supported by most flash memories. If the flash memory supports a wide operating voltage range, operation at a lower voltage is permitted. The power supply voltage PWR1 can be set, for example, in the range of 2.5V to 3.3V, but is not limited to this example. This voltage range of 2.5V to 3.3V does not imply dynamic fluctuations, and the power supply voltage PWR1 uses a stable voltage within this voltage range.

[0235] The host device can supply a power supply voltage PWR2 as a second power supply to terminals P131 and P132. The power supply voltage PWR2 is an example of a second power supply voltage. In this embodiment, the power supply voltage PWR2 is set to 1.8 V. That is, the power supply voltage PWR2 is equal to or lower than the power supply voltage PWR1. When the power supply voltage PWR3 described below is not used, the power supply voltage PWR2 can be set in the range of, for example, 1.2 V to 1.8 V, but is not limited to this example.

[0236] The host device can supply a power supply voltage PWR3 as a third power supply to terminals P137 and P138. The power supply voltage PWR3 is an example of a first power supply voltage. In this embodiment, the power supply voltage PWR3 is set to 1.2 V or less. That is, the power supply voltage PWR3 is equal to or less than the power supply voltage PWR2. The power supply voltage PWR3 is not limited to this example.

[0237] The power supply voltage PWR3 is not essential for the memory card 10. The power supply voltage PWR3 can be made unnecessary by generating the power supply voltage PWR3 from the power supply voltage PWR2 inside the memory card 10. In this case, the host only needs to supply two power supplies, the power supply voltage PWR1 and the power supply voltage PWR2.

[0238] 13, the card controller 14 is located between the first columns R11, R12 and the second column R21. The card controller 14 may be located in another position, for example, between the positive end of the Y-axis of the terminals P included in the first column R11 and the negative end of the Y-axis of the terminals P included in the second column R21. The card controller 14 may also be located such that the terminals P included in the second column R21 are located between the positive end of the Y-axis of the card controller 14 and the negative end of the Y-axis.

[0239] As in the first embodiment, the card controller 14 has a plurality of connection terminals CP shown in Fig. 4. The plurality of connection terminals CP are provided on a side 14a of the card controller 14, and are located between the first row R11 and the second row R21. The connection terminals CP can be arranged, for example, so that the wiring between the connection terminals CP and the terminals P does not cross.

[0240] In this embodiment, the multiple terminals P are allocated so that the multiple wires W, the multiple ground planes 41, and the multiple power supply wires 42 shown in Fig. 4 do not overlap with each other. Therefore, the wires W and the power supply wires 42 can be efficiently routed without using via holes.

[0241] Wires W2, W3, W5, W6, W8, W9, W11, and W12 connect the connection terminal CP of the card controller 14 to terminals P102, P103, P105, P106, P108, P109, P111, and P112.

[0242] The lengths of the wires W2, W3, W5, W6, W8, W9, W11, and W12 are set equal to each other. Furthermore, the wires W2, W3, W5, W6, W8, W9, W11, and W12 are arranged mirror-symmetrically with respect to the central axis Ax that passes through the center of the terminal P107 and extends in the Y-axis direction. This simplifies the design of the wires W2, W3, W5, W6, W8, W9, W11, and W12. Furthermore, the lengths of the wires W15 and W16 are set equal to each other.

[0243] Wires W2, W3, W5, W6, W8, W9, W11, and W12 are wired at equal lengths to reduce skew between wires. The wires are bent to adjust their length, but because it is usually difficult to draw patterns with smooth curves, they are bent at 45° angles in multiple places when changing the wiring direction, rather than at 90° angles. If they were bent at 90°, the width of wire W would be slightly wider at the bend, causing a change in characteristic impedance and generating noise. Compared to 90°, there is less variation in width at 45° angles, which suppresses noise generation.

[0244] The multiple ground planes 41 surround the wires W2, W3, W5, W6, W8, W9, W11, and W12, thereby ensuring a return path for each differential signal, reducing mutual interference between the differential signals and stabilizing the differential signal level.

[0245] The power supply wiring 42 is connected to terminals P131, P132, P134, P137, and P138. By making the width of the power supply wiring 42 wider than the width of the wiring W, the resistance of the power supply wiring 42 is reduced and heat dissipation via the power supply wiring 42 is efficient. Furthermore, the memory card 10 can dissipate heat from multiple terminals P to the connector.

[0246] Voltage drops occur between the host power output and the memory card terminal due to the resistance and inductance of the wiring and connectors. If the allowable range of power supply voltage fluctuation is a fixed percentage of the power supply voltage (for example, + / - 5%), the lower the voltage, the smaller the allowable voltage fluctuation range. Therefore, due to this voltage drop, the lower the power supply voltage, the more difficult it is for the host device to control the power supply voltage at the card terminal so that it falls within the allowable voltage fluctuation range.

[0247] On the other hand, the resistance of the connector of the host device and the wiring, including the power supply wiring 42, is similar regardless of the voltage if they are on the same board and the same connector. For this reason, if the power supply voltage is low, the amount of current that can flow through one terminal P becomes small.

[0248] In this embodiment, the power supply voltage PWR2 is applied to two terminals P131 and P132. Furthermore, the power supply voltage PWR3 is applied to two terminals P137 and P138. In this manner, the current is distributed to multiple terminals P131, P132, P137, and P138, and the current value per terminal P is roughly halved, thereby reducing the drop voltage due to the resistance components of the power supply wiring 42 and the connector of the host device. This makes it easier for the host device to keep the power supply voltage within the allowable voltage fluctuation range. Furthermore, by setting the power supply voltages PWR2 and PWR3 to the same voltage, a larger current can be supplied.

[0249] The resistance components of a connector are made up of, for example, contact resistance and contact resistance, and by reducing the resistance, it is possible to increase the current that can flow through the memory card 10. The contact resistance is determined by the contact length, thickness, material, etc., and the contact contact resistance is determined by the pressure, shape, roughness, material, etc. of the contact point.

[0250] Furthermore, normally, power supply voltage PWR1 is 3.3V±5%, and power supply voltage PWR2 is 1.8V±5%, but as described above, power supply voltage PWR1 may be set to a wider voltage range on the lower side, such as 2.5-5% to 3.3V+5%, and power supply voltage PWR2 may be set to a wider voltage range on the lower side, such as 1.2-5% to 1.8V+5%, which makes it possible to lower the voltage and reduce power consumption.

[0251] The ESD protection diodes 43 connect each of the wirings W2, W3, W5, W6, W8, W9, W11, and W12 to the ground plane 41. The ESD protection diodes 43 are disposed between the terminal P and the connection terminal CP, and absorb static electricity entering from the terminals P102, P103, P105, P106, P108, P109, P111, and P112.

[0252] When the multiple connection terminals CP are positioned between the first column R11 and the first column R12, the wirings W2, W3, W5, W6, W8, W9, W11, and W12 can be configured so as not to detour around other wirings or other components or pass between the multiple terminals P included in the first column R12. This allows the lengths of the wirings W2, W3, W5, W6, W8, W9, W11, and W12 to be shortened and allows the ESD protection diodes 43 to be effectively disposed. In this embodiment, the ESD protection diodes 43 are disposed near the terminals P included in the first column R11.

[0253] The memory card 10 is attached to a connector of a host device. For example, the memory card 10 is attached to a push-push or push-pull type connector by being inserted into the connector slot. However, the memory card 10 may also be attached to other types of connectors, such as a hinge type connector.

[0254] The memory card 10 of this embodiment is inserted into the connector slot from the first edge 31 in Figure 13, where the notch C is provided. As a result, when the memory card 10 is attached to the connector, the first edge 31 is located deeper in the connector than the fourth edge 34.

[0255] The first corner 35 forms a notch C between the first edge 31 and the second edge 32, preventing the memory card 10 from being inserted upside down into the connector slot. For example, when the memory card 10 is inserted into the connector slot in the correct orientation, the notch C avoids the internal components of the connector. On the other hand, when the memory card 10 is inserted into the connector slot upside down, the internal components of the connector interfere with, for example, the second corner 36, preventing the memory card 10 from being fully inserted. Similarly, when the memory card 10 is inserted into the connector from the fourth edge in the reversed Y-axis direction, the memory card 10 cannot be inserted into the connector. The edges in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction tightly contact the connector near the second corner 36 formed between the first edge 31 and the third edge 33, reducing rotational misalignment between the connector and the memory card 10.

[0256] As shown in FIG. 14, when the memory card 10 is inserted into the connector, the lead frames 101 and 103 of the connector contact the terminals P that form the first and second rows R11 and R21. The lead frames 101 and 103 extend, for example, in a direction that minimizes the length of the host wiring. In this case, when the memory card 10 is inserted into the connector, a force is applied in a direction that tends to bend the lead frames 101 and 103. The memory card 10 has a slope 39, making the leading ends of the memory card 10 tapered. This allows the lead frames 101 and 103 to be guided by the slope 39, reducing, for example, friction between the lead frames 101 and 103 and the housing 11 and the force that tends to bend the lead frames. Furthermore, peeling of the plating on the lead frames 101 and 103 is suppressed, improving the wear resistance of the connector. The direction of the lead frame 102 reduces the bending force, but makes it difficult to extract the many signals from the connector and increases the length of the host wiring. For this reason, mounting the lead frame 102 may be optional.

[0257] For example, in a hinge-type connector, the lead frame 102 contacts each of the multiple terminals P that form the first row R12. In the memory card 10 of the modified example shown in FIG. 15, the lead frame 102 contacts the first surface 21 of the housing 11. The contact of the lead frame 102 with the terminals P or the first surface 21 increases the number of contact points between the connector and the memory card 10. This allows heat from the memory card 10 to be conducted to the connector, making it easier for the memory card 10 to cool.

[0258] When the lead frames 101, 102, 103 contact the terminals P, the controller of the host device (hereinafter referred to as the host controller) and the card controller 14 of the memory card 10 are electrically connected via the wiring of the host device and the wiring W of the memory card 10.

[0259] The connection points of the connector on the host controller side, such as the terminals of the connector for mounting on the board of the host device, are generally provided at the back side of the connector slot (upward in FIG. 13). Therefore, the length of the wiring between the contact points of the terminals P and lead frame 101 forming the first row R11 and the host controller tends to be shorter. On the other hand, the length of the wiring between the contact points of the terminals P and lead frame 103 forming the second row R21 and the host controller tends to be longer, for example, because it bypasses the first row R11.

[0260] In the memory card 10 of this embodiment, the terminals P102, P103, P105, P106, P108, P109, P111, P112, P115, P116, P118, P119, P121, P122, P124, and P125 that transmit high-speed differential data signals are included in the first rows R11 and R12, where the wiring length to the host controller is shorter. This brings the physical layer (PHY) of the host device and the physical layer (PHY) of the memory card 10 closer together, making it easier to ensure signal integrity in the transmission of differential data signals from the memory card 10.

[0261] 17 is an exemplary block diagram schematically illustrating a first example of the configuration of a memory card 10 according to the third embodiment. The card controller 14 includes an interface circuit (I / F) 51, a physical layer and memory controller 52, two regulators 53 and 54, and a power supply check circuit 55. The physical layer and memory controller 52 of the card controller 14 are shown as a single block in FIG. 17 and will be described collectively below.

[0262] The I / F 51 can accommodate single-ended signals. The I / F 51 is provided with, for example, an input buffer and an output buffer. The reset signal PERST# is an input signal, and an input buffer is provided at terminal P133. The CLKREQ# is a bidirectional signal, and an input buffer and an open-drain output buffer are provided at terminal P135. This signal is pulled up to a high level by the host. The memory card 10 enters an input state by not driving this signal low. Furthermore, while the host is not driving this signal low, the memory card 10 enters an output state in which the signal level can be controlled from the memory card 10.

[0263] The physical layer and memory controller 52 can support differential signals. The physical layer and memory controller 52 is provided with a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver can input reception differential signals PERp0, PERn0, PERp1, PERn1, PERp2, PERn2, PERp3, and PERn3. The transmitter can output transmission differential signals PETp0, PETn0, PETp1, PETn1, PETp2, PETn2, PETp3, and PETn3.

[0264] The physical layer and memory controller 52 and the power supply check circuit 55 are connected to the I / F 51. The physical layer and memory controller 52 is connected to the flash memory 13. The card controller 14 may be provided with a PCIe data link layer and a PCIe transaction layer in addition to the PCIe physical layer.

[0265] The physical layer and memory controller 52 can perform serial-to-parallel conversion, parallel-to-serial conversion, and data symbolization. Symbolization is a process in which consecutive 0s or 1s in data are replaced with symbols from codes such as 8B10B or 128b / 130b that do not contain consecutive 0s or 1s, thereby limiting the number of consecutive occurrences of the same value to a predetermined value or less. This symbolization reduces bias in voltage levels during data transmission. Furthermore, repeated transmission of the same symbol pattern increases the harmonics of a specific frequency. However, by switching to multiple symbols with different patterns to avoid repeating patterns, the harmonics of a specific frequency can be prevented from increasing. In other words, EMI can be reduced.

[0266] The PCIe transaction layer can send and receive data in packets, and can also send and receive messages. The PCIe data link layer can add sequence numbers and CRC codes to packets received from the transaction layer. The sequence number can be used to confirm packet delivery, etc.

[0267] PCIe can be configured with multiple lanes, but each lane connecting the host and memory card 10 is initialized independently. Only lanes that have been initialized and are capable of communication are used. In this embodiment, a maximum of four lanes are used, but only one or two lanes may be used. 1 lane PERp0, PERn0, PETp0, PETn0, or PERp1, PERn1, PETp1, PETn1 2 lanes PERp0,PERn0,PETp0,PETn0, PERp1, PERn1, PETp1, PETn1 4 lanes PERp0,PERn0,PETp0,PETn0, PERp1, PERn1, PETp1, PETn1, PERp2,PERn2,PETp2,PETn2, PERp3, PERn3, PETp3, PETn3 The data is distributed in byte units in the order of lane numbers according to the number of lanes available for communication.

[0268] When serial receive differential signals PERp0, PERn0, PERp1, PERn1, PERp2, PERn2, PERp3, and PERn3 are transmitted from the host device to the memory card 10, they are converted into parallel data in byte units for each lane receiver. When byte-unit parallel data is transmitted to each lane transmitter, the data is converted into serial transmit differential signals PETp0, PETn0, PETp1, PETn1, PETp2, PETn2, PETp3, and PETn3 and transmitted to the host device.

[0269] The power supply voltage PWR1 is supplied to the flash memory 13 and the card controller 14. In this embodiment, the power supply voltage PWR1 is mainly used for operations of the flash memory 13, such as reading / writing from / to the flash memory 13. By boosting the power supply voltage PWR1, a write voltage for the flash memory 13 is generated. The power supply voltage PWR1 can also be used for other purposes. As described above, the power supply voltage PWR1 is equal to or greater than the power supply voltage PWR2 and equal to or greater than the power supply voltage PWR3.

[0270] When the host device and memory card 10 are connected with a 3.3V signal voltage, the power supply voltage PWR1 is used as the I / O power supply. Even when the host device and memory card 10 are connected with a 1.8V signal voltage as in the example of FIG. 17, the power supply voltage PWR1 may be used as the I / O power supply. This allows the memory card 10 to withstand high voltages and protects the card input circuit. For example, when the power supply voltage PWR1 is set to 2.5V, the memory card 10 can withstand a 2.5V voltage, and when the power supply voltage PWR1 is set to 3.3V, the memory card 10 can withstand a 3.3V voltage.

[0271] The power supply voltage PWR2 is supplied to the flash memory 13 and the card controller 14. In this embodiment, the power supply voltage PWR2 is used as a power supply for the logic circuit. The power supply voltage PWR2 is also used as an interface voltage between the flash memory 13 and the card controller 14.

[0272] When the host device and the memory card 10 are connected with a signal voltage of 1.8V, the power supply voltage PWR2 may be used for the I / O power supply. In this case, the memory card 10 can be made to withstand a voltage of 1.8V.

[0273] The power supply voltage PWR3 is supplied to the card controller 14. In this embodiment, the power supply voltage PWR3 is used as a power supply for the physical layer (PHY) of the differential signal circuit and analog circuits.

[0274] Generally, a low-noise power supply is used for a differential signal circuit that performs analog operation, and is separated from the digital power supply. In this embodiment, the power supply voltage PWR3 supplied from the host device is a sufficiently stabilized, low-noise power supply.

[0275] As described above, in the memory card 10, three power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3 are supplied separately to reduce the effects of noise and power supply fluctuations. That is, the three power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3 are used depending on the application. Note that the power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3 are not limited to the above example and may be used in other ways.

[0276] 18 is an exemplary block diagram schematically illustrating a second example of the configuration of the memory card 10 of the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 18, the power supply voltage PWR2 may be supplied to regulators 53 and 54. The power supply voltage PWR3 is generated by the regulator 53 by setting terminals P137 and P138, to which the power supply voltage (third power supply) PWR3 is assigned, to the ground level. This is the case when using a memory card 10 that operates using two power supplies, the power supply voltage PWR1 and the power supply voltage PWR2.

[0277] 18, the regulator 54 generates a power supply voltage Vlogic that is lower than the input power supply voltage PWR2. This power supply voltage Vlogic is supplied to the flash memory 13, the physical layer of the card controller 14, and the memory controller 52 in place of the power supply voltage PWR2. The power supply voltage Vlogic is used as a power supply for the logic circuit, and can also be used as an interface voltage between the flash memory 13 and the card controller 14. Reducing the interface voltage enables high-speed data transfer between the flash memory 13 and the card controller 14, and also reduces power consumption. Generally, a lower signal voltage shortens the rise / fall time of the signal, enabling high-speed data transmission.

[0278] If it is difficult for the host device to supply a stable power supply voltage PWR3, the problem can be solved by using the power supply voltage PWR3 generated by the regulator 53. As in the example of Figure 18, when terminals P137 and P138 are connected to ground, the regulator 53 generates a power supply voltage PWR3 that is lower than the input power supply voltage PWR2 from the power supply voltage PWR2. When the host supplies the power supply voltage PWR3 as in Figure 17, the memory card 10 can switch to using the power supply voltage PWR3 supplied from the host without using the regulator 53.

[0279] Both power supply voltages PWR3 and Vlogic are generated from power supply voltage PWR2. Power supply voltage PWR3 and power supply voltage Vlogic may be the same or different voltages, but to separate the power supplies and prevent them from affecting each other, the power supply voltages are generated by separate regulators 53 and 54. Furthermore, by using LDOs (Low Drop Out) as regulators 53 and 54, unnecessary power consumption due to input / output voltage differences can be reduced.

[0280] 18, the regulator 53 may generate the power supply voltage PWR3 from the power supply voltage PWR1, and the regulator 54 may generate the power supply voltage Vlogic from the power supply voltage PWR1. In other words, in this case, the memory card 10 can operate as long as it has the power supply voltage PWR1.

[0281] As described above, the memory card 10 can operate using the power supply voltages PWR1 and PWR2 or the power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3 applied to the terminals P131, P132, P134, P137, and P138. The memory card 10 may be able to switch power supply modes depending on the combination of the power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3 applied to the terminals P131, P132, P134, P137, and P138.

[0282] The host device can respond to the power supply configuration of the memory card 10 by acquiring the power supply specification information 13a of the memory card 10 stored in the flash memory 13 through the following power supply check sequence. The power supply specification information 13a includes, for example, the voltage range of the power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3, the maximum current (continuous), and the peak current (100 μsec interval).

[0283] 19 is an exemplary flowchart showing the operation of the host device in the power supply check sequence of the memory card 10 of the third embodiment. PCIe initialization is performed before the host device acquires the power supply specification information 13a from the flash memory 13. Therefore, in the power supply check sequence, the host device determines whether initialization can be started with the combination of the supplied power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3.

[0284] As shown in FIG. 19, the host device supplies (applies) a power supply voltage PWR1 to the terminal P134 of the memory card 10 inserted into the connector slot (S101), and supplies (applies) a power supply voltage PWR2 to the terminals P131 and P132 (S102).

[0285] 17, power supply voltages PWR1 and PWR2 are input to the power supply check circuit 55. If the memory card 10 can be used with the applied power supply voltages PWR1 and PWR2, the power supply check circuit 55 drives CLKREQ#=Low. On the other hand, if the card cannot be used with the applied power supply voltages PWR1 and PWR2, the power supply check circuit 55 leaves CLKREQ#=High.

[0286] As shown in Figure 19, after a certain time Tpok has elapsed (S103), the host device checks the level of CLKREQ# (S104). The power supply check circuit 55 can switch the level of CLKREQ# from High to Low during the time Tpok. Therefore, the host device only needs to check the level of CLKREQ# once after the time Tpok has elapsed. If CLKREQ# remains High (S104: No), the host device supplies (applies) the power supply voltage PWR3 to terminals P137 and P138 of the memory card 10 (S105).

[0287] The power supply check circuit 55 drives CLKREQ#=Low if the memory card 10 can be used with the applied power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3. On the other hand, the power supply check circuit 55 keeps CLKREQ#=High if the card cannot be used with the applied power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3.

[0288] After a certain time Tpok has elapsed (S106), the host device checks the level of CLKREQ# (S107). If CLKREQ# remains high (S107: No), the host device turns off the power supply voltages PWR1 and PWR3 (S108).

[0289] After a certain time Tpok has elapsed (S109), the host device checks the level of CLKREQ# (S110). If CLKREQ# remains high (S110: No), the host device does not use the memory card 10 (S111).

[0290] If only the power supply voltage PWR2 is applied (S108), the power supply check circuit 55 drives CLKREQ#=Low. Since PCIe initialization is possible with only the power supply voltage PWR2, the host device reads the power supply specification information 13a as described below and determines whether or not it can supply another power supply voltage required by the memory card 10.

[0291] If CLKREQ#=Low when checking the level of the control signal CLKREQ# (S104: Yes, S107: Yes, S110: Yes), the host device starts PCIe initialization (S112, S113, S114). S112, S113, and S114 are the standard power-up sequence for PCIe. If CLKREQ#=Low, the host device supplies the differential clock REFCLK (S112) and sets the reset signal PERST# to High at a predetermined timing (TPVPGL) (S113).

[0292] Next, the host device executes a PCIe training sequence (S114). This training sequence detects the physical layer, adjusts the operating parameters of the physical layer, and enables communication between the host device and the memory card 10, enabling the MMIO register to be read. The above-mentioned initialization includes this training sequence.

[0293] Fig. 20 is an exemplary table showing an example of power supply specification information 13a according to the third embodiment. The power supply specification information 13a shown in Fig. 20 is register information described as power supply requirement specifications, and includes the voltage ranges, maximum currents (continuous), and peak currents (for example, 100 μsec intervals) of the power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3, as described above.

[0294] The maximum current (continuous) is the continuous current value used when accessing the memory of the memory card 10. The power supply circuit of the host device is required to supply this current value continuously.

[0295] The peak current (100 μsec interval) is the peak current value that flows when measured over a 100 μsec interval, and is affected by the capacitance of the coupling capacitor in the power supply design of the host device and the response characteristics of the power supply circuit. The power supply circuit of the host device is required to be able to supply this peak current.

[0296] The voltage range includes the range in which the power supply voltage is allowed to fluctuate. The power supply circuit of the host device is required to maintain the power supply voltage at terminal P within this voltage range, even if there is a drop voltage in the wiring or connectors.

[0297] Furthermore, the power supply specification information 13a includes information indicating whether the power supply voltage PWR3 is generated from the power supply voltage PWR2 by the regulator 53. As described above, the regulator 53 can generate the power supply voltage PWR3 from the power supply voltage PWR2 when the power supply voltage PWR3 is not applied to the terminals P137 and P138. Note that even if the memory card 10 includes the regulator 53, it may use the power supply voltage PWR3 applied to the terminals P137 and P138.

[0298] 19, the host device determines whether the subsequent checks can be omitted (S115). For example, if CLKREQ#=Low in S104 and S107, the host device has a power supply circuit sufficient for accessing the flash memory 13, so the host device determines that the subsequent checks can be omitted (S115: Yes) and determines that the memory card 10 is usable (S116).

[0299] If the check cannot be omitted (S115: No), the host device reads the power supply specification information 13a from the flash memory 13 (S117). The power supply specification information 13a is, for example, located in a vendor specific area of ​​an NVMe register mapped on MMIO, and is placed on a packet and output as a differential data signal via the physical layer and the memory controller 52. The host device decodes the differential data signal to restore the packet and acquire the power supply specification information 13a.

[0300] The host device compares the power supply requirement specifications of the read power supply specification information 13a with the power supply circuit specifications of the host device to determine whether the memory card 10 is usable (S118). If the host device satisfies all of the power supply requirement specifications (S118: Yes), the host device is equipped with a power supply circuit sufficient for accessing the flash memory 13, and the memory card 10 is therefore determined to be usable (S116).

[0301] If the host device does not satisfy the power supply requirement specifications (S118: No), the host device determines whether arbitration of the power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3 is possible (S119). For example, if the power supply voltage PWR1 is insufficient, and the memory card 10 can be used by limiting the maximum power in the power state defined by PCIe (S119: Yes), the host device performs arbitration (S121) and determines that the memory card 10 can be used (S116). On the other hand, if arbitration is not possible (S119: No), the host device does not use the memory card 10 (S120).

[0302] Furthermore, a process of lowering the voltage may also be used to adjust the power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3. For example, if the power supply specification information 13a indicates that the power supply voltage PWR1 applied with 3.3 V can operate at 2.5 V, the host device can reduce power consumption by lowering the power supply voltage PWR1 to 2.5 V, thereby adjusting the power requirements of the memory card 10 to a match with the power supply capability of the host device.

[0303] Memory card 10 can implement multiple power modes. For example, as described above, memory card 10 can implement multiple power states or power limits.

[0304] The host device sets the available power states in the memory card 10 using PCIe packets according to the power supply capacity. For example, as shown in Fig. 20, the memory card 10 of this embodiment supports three power states. However, the memory card 10 is not limited to this example. The peak current is an instantaneous current value, not a steady current, and is not dependent on the power state, so it is a common setting.

[0305] Power State A consumes more power than Power State B. Power State B also consumes more power than Power State C. The higher the power consumption, the higher the performance. If the power supply circuit of the host device does not satisfy Power State A, the host device can use the memory card 10 by setting it to Power State B. The power state options are given, for example, by other PCIe registers or NVMe commands.

[0306] PCIe initialization determines the PCIe bus performance, which in turn determines the maximum performance of the memory card 10 and the maximum power consumption of the memory card 10. Therefore, the host device can control the power consumption of the memory card 10 by having the memory card 10 change the power state setting depending on the PCIe initialization result and the power supply voltage value supplied from the host device.

[0307] The memory card 10 may use a power limit (Slot Power Limit) instead of the power state, as in the first embodiment.

[0308] 21 is an illustrative timing chart showing a first example of a power supply check sequence of the memory card 10 of the third embodiment. Hereinafter, the first example of the power supply check sequence will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 and 21. In FIG. 21, the timings corresponding to the operations in FIG. 19 are assigned with the same reference numerals as in FIG. 19 for the memory card 10 according to this first example. The interface between the host device and the memory card 10 uses a signal voltage based on the power supply voltage PWR2, so the host device supplies a voltage that is at least within the range of the power supply voltage PWR2 of the memory card 10.

[0309] First, the host device supplies power supply voltage PWR1 to terminal P134 of memory card 10 (S101) and power supply voltage PWR2 to terminals P131 and P132 (S102). Power supply voltage PWR3 is set to ground level. Because power supply voltage PWR3 is used to initialize memory card 10, the level of control signal CLKREQ# remains high (S104: No) even after a certain time Tpok has elapsed (S103). Therefore, the host device supplies power supply voltage PWR3 to terminals P137 and P138 of memory card 10 (S105).

[0310] When power supply voltage PWR3 is supplied, CLKREQ# goes low. Therefore, after a certain time Tpok has elapsed (S106), a level check of CLKREQ# reveals that CLKREQ# is low (S107: Yes), and the host device recognizes that the memory card 10 requires three power sources. After Tck time has elapsed since CLKREQ# went low, the host device supplies a differential reference clock (S112). Furthermore, after TPVPGL time has elapsed, the reset signal PERST# is deasserted from low to high (S113).

[0311] 22 is an exemplary timing chart showing a second example of the power supply check sequence of the memory card 10 of the third embodiment. Hereinafter, the second example of the power supply check sequence will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 and 22. The memory card 10 according to the second example can generate the power supply voltage PWR3 from the power supply voltage PWR1 or PWR2 by the regulator 53, and can start initialization by PCIe using only the power supply voltages PWR1 and PWR2.

[0312] First, the host device supplies power supply voltage PWR1 to terminal P134 (S101), and supplies power supply voltage PWR2 to terminals P131 and P132 of memory card 10 (S102). The supply of power supply voltages PWR1 and PWR2 causes CLKREQ# to go low. Therefore, after a certain time Tpok has elapsed (S103), CLKREQ# goes low when the level of CLKREQ# is checked (S104: Yes), so the host device can recognize that memory card 10 requires two power supplies, PWR1 and PWR2, but not PWR3.

[0313] 23 is an exemplary timing chart showing a third example of the power supply check sequence of the memory card 10 of the third embodiment. Hereinafter, the third example of the power supply check sequence will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0314] First, the host device supplies a power supply voltage PWR1 to terminal P134 of the memory card 10 (S101) and a power supply voltage PWR2 to terminals P131 and P132 (S102). Even after a certain time Tpok has elapsed (S103), the level of the control signal CLKREQ# remains high (S104: No).

[0315] The host device supplies a power supply voltage PWR3 to terminals P137 and P138 of the memory card 10 (S105). Even after a certain time Tpok has elapsed (S106), the level of the control signal CLKREQ# remains high (S107: No). Therefore, the host device recognizes that the memory card 10 according to the third example needs to be operated at a power supply voltage other than the standard power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3. For example, if a high-performance memory card 10 consumes too much power at the standard power supply voltage, it may be possible to reduce the power consumption of the memory card 10 by using it at a lower power supply voltage.

[0316] The host device turns off the power supply voltages PWR1 and PWR3 and applies only PWR2 (S108), which sets CLKREQ# to Low if PCIe initialization is possible. After a certain time Tpok has elapsed (S109), the host device checks the CLKREQ# level and finds that CLKREQ# is Low (S110: Yes), so it executes PCIe initialization (S112, S113, S114).

[0317] As described above, because the memory card 10 according to the third example operates on a special power supply voltage, the host device does not skip the check (S115: No) and reads the power supply specification information 13a (S117). The card according to the third example can initialize PCIe using only the power supply voltage PWR2, allowing the power supply specification information 13a to be read. If the power supply voltage PWR1 is used to read the power supply specification information 13a, the host device may read the power supply specification information 13a before turning off the power supply voltage PWR1 because the power supply voltage PWR1 was supplied in S101. The host device then temporarily drops the power supply voltage PWR2, supplies the power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3 in accordance with the power supply specification information 13a, and executes the power-up sequence from the beginning. For example, if the host device already knows the power supply specifications of the memory card 10, the host device may skip the check even if the memory card 10 operates on a special power supply voltage (S115: Yes).

[0318] FIG. 24 is an illustrative timing chart showing a fourth example of the power check sequence of the memory card 10 of the third embodiment. The fourth example is a general PCIe power-up sequence. As shown in FIG. 24, the host device initially supplies three power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3 at which the memory card 10 can operate. In this case, regardless of whether or not the power supply voltage PWR3 is used, the check is omitted and CLKREQ#=Low is output, indicating that memory access is possible. This achieves compatibility with a general PCIe power-up sequence.

[0319] In addition, in an environment where only a specific host device and a specific memory card 10 are used in combination, the host device may recognize the power supply specifications of the memory card 10 in advance. In this case, the host device may start initialization by applying all necessary power supply voltages from the beginning without executing a power check sequence. In this case, too, CLKREQ#=Low indicates that memory access is possible.

[0320] A large current may be used to access the flash memory 13 at high speed. However, the current consumed for PCIe initialization is less than the current required for high-speed access. Therefore, the power supply specification information 13a can be read even with a minimum power supply current. The host device can obtain information on the optimal power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3 for the memory card 10 from the power supply specification information 13a.

[0321] In the above power supply check sequence, the card controller 14 of the memory card 10 determines whether memory access via differential data signals is possible based on the combination of power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3 applied to terminals P131, P132, P134, P137, and P138, and outputs the determination result from terminal P135. Furthermore, once PCIe initialization via differential data signals is complete, the flash memory 13 becomes capable of reading the power supply specification information 13a recorded in the flash memory 13. The card controller 14 of the memory card 10 controls memory access performance and changes power state information based on the combination of power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3 applied to terminals P131, P132, P134, P137, and P138 and the result of PCIe initialization.

[0322] The power supply check sequence described above allows the host device to identify the power supply specifications even when multiple types of memory cards 10 with different power supply specifications are mixed. Note that the power supply check sequence can be omitted by predetermining the power supply specifications of the memory card 10 and the corresponding host device.

[0323] The memory card 10 does not support hot swapping, so measures are taken in the host device and connector. The memory card 10 is replaced when the power to the memory card 10 is turned off.

[0324] The host device detects the insertion of the memory card 10 into the connector and controls the device to turn on the power only after the memory card 10 is attached. Furthermore, since data loss occurs if the memory card 10 is removed while power is being supplied to the memory card 10, the connector has a locking function to prevent this. When replacing the memory card 10, the host device performs a shutdown process for the memory card 10, and after the shutdown process is complete, it stops the power supply and releases the connector's locking function. This prevents the memory card 10 from being accidentally removed, and protects the data on the memory card 10.

[0325] In a host system where memory cards 10 are always replaced with the power off, there is no need for a function to detect the insertion or removal of memory cards 10. The connector only needs to have a signal that can detect whether a memory card 10 is inserted. The host system can also determine the presence of a memory card 10 by initializing the memory card 10 after powering on.

[0326] 25 is an exemplary flowchart showing the operation of the card controller 14 in a temperature check sequence for the memory card 10 according to the third embodiment. For example, information about the temperature of the memory card 10 may be used in designing a heat dissipation mechanism for a host device. For this design, the card controller 14 transmits information about the temperature of the memory card 10 to the host device in response to a request, as described below.

[0327] 25, the card controller 14 determines whether or not a read request for temperature information has been received from the host device (S201). In designing the heat dissipation mechanism of the host device, for example, the surface temperature of the memory card 10 when the memory card 10 is in a maximum performance state (maximum power consumption state) is used. Therefore, the host device sends a read request to the memory card 10 when, for example, the card controller 14 is continuously writing to or reading from the flash memory 13.

[0328] When the card controller 14 receives a request to read temperature information from the host device (S201: Yes), it reads the value of the temperature sensor 111 provided in the memory card 10 (S202). For example, the value of the temperature sensor 111 indicates the junction temperature of the card controller 14.

[0329] 17 and 18, the temperature sensor 111 is provided in the memory card 10 as a component separate from the card controller 14. The temperature sensor 111 is mounted, for example, on the top or bottom surface of the card controller 14. The card controller 14 reads the value of the temperature sensor 111, for example, via a temperature sensor interface (I / F).

[0330] The temperature sensor 111 may be provided inside the card controller 14. For example, the temperature sensor 111 may be an electrical resistor built into the card controller 14 that is used as a semiconductor temperature sensor. The temperature sensor 111 can measure the junction temperature of the controller by being placed near the circuit that generates the most heat inside the card controller. When the card controller 14 receives a request to read temperature information, the CPU of the card controller 14 can obtain the junction temperature information by reading the value of the register that displays the value of the semiconductor temperature sensor.

[0331] The resistance value of the semiconductor temperature sensor described above changes with temperature. By measuring the characteristics between temperature and resistance in advance, it is possible to calculate the temperature from the resistance value. Therefore, the card controller 14 can measure the electrical resistance value of the semiconductor temperature sensor and convert it into the junction temperature.

[0332] The temperature sensor 111 is not limited to an electrical resistor, and may be a semiconductor sensor using other elements whose characteristics change with temperature. For example, when a constant current is passed through an element used as a semiconductor sensor, the potential difference between both ends changes depending on the temperature. Therefore, it is possible to calculate the temperature from the potential difference between both ends of the element using the temperature-voltage characteristics of the element calculated in advance based on actual measurements.

[0333] When the above element is used as a semiconductor sensor, for example, an A / D converter that measures voltage is connected to the element. The junction temperature of card controller 14 is calculated based on the voltage value measured by the A / D converter and the temperature-voltage characteristics of the element. The CPU of card controller 14 can read information about the calculated junction temperature via a register.

[0334] Next, the card controller 14 converts the junction temperature read from the temperature sensor 111 into the surface temperature of the memory card 10 (S203). The junction temperature and the surface temperature of the memory card 10 are converted based on, for example, a conversion table or a conversion formula written in firmware.

[0335] The firmware is stored in the flash memory 13 or the non-volatile memory of the card controller 14. When the memory card 10 receives power, the CPU of the card controller 14 reads the stored firmware into the memory of the card controller 14 and executes it.

[0336] The card controller 14 converts the junction temperature into the surface temperature of the memory card 10 using a conversion table or conversion formula stored in the flash memory 13 or the non-volatile memory of the card controller 14. The conversion table and conversion formula are created, for example, by measuring the junction temperature and surface temperature in the maximum performance state (maximum power consumption state) of the memory card 10 before shipping from the factory, and calculating the relationship between the junction temperature and the surface temperature from the measurement results. The conversion table and conversion formula may also be created by calculation based on, for example, the type and configuration of the flash memory 13, the arrangement of the card controller 14, and the material of the housing 11. However, it is difficult to determine a theoretical formula for the physical properties of all types of materials. In contrast, the method of creating the conversion table and conversion formula by actual measurement makes it easy to determine the correspondence. In actual measurement, the surface temperature near the card controller 14 is usually measured.

[0337] Next, the card controller 14 transmits information about the surface temperature of the memory card 10 to the host device as a response to the temperature information read request (S204). Note that the card controller 14 may transmit the surface temperature and the junction temperature, or may transmit only the junction temperature.

[0338] The request from the host device to read the surface temperature is, for example, a command including a field requesting the memory card 10 to provide Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology (SMART) information including temperature information.

[0339] When the connection between the memory card 10 and the host device is NVMe compliant, the host device may use, for example, the SMART / Health Information command described in NVM Express Revision 1.3 as a command to request SMART information. In response to this command, the memory card 10 may notify the host device of a response in which the junction temperature is set in the Composite Temperature field and the surface temperature of the memory card 10 converted from the junction temperature is set in the reserved area.

[0340] When the connection between memory card 10 and a host device complies with SMBus, for example, the host device assigns an information read command assigned to a specific SMBus address and transmits it to memory card 10. In response to the command, memory card 10 returns a response to the host device that stores temperature information in a specified area. In this case, terminals P136 (CONTA) and P139 (CONTB) are assigned as two-wire SMBus interface signals, and memory card 10 may use terminals P136 and P139 to receive a surface temperature read request from the host device and transmit the surface temperature information of memory card 10.

[0341] The temperature check sequence described above provides the host device with temperature information about the memory card 10. The provided temperature information can be used, for example, to analyze the characteristics of the heat dissipation mechanism of the host device or to check the heat dissipation mechanism of the host device.

[0342] The temperature check sequence for the memory card 10 is not limited to the above example. For example, the temperature sensor 111 may measure the surface temperature of the flash memory 13. In this case, the card controller 14 may convert the temperature information acquired from the temperature sensor 111 into the surface temperature of the memory card 10 as the junction temperature of the flash memory 13. In this case, the surface temperature represents the surface temperature near the flash memory 13.

[0343] In the memory card 10 according to the third embodiment described above, the housing 11 has a first edge 31 extending in the X-axis direction, a fourth edge 34 located opposite the first edge 31 and extending in the X-axis direction, a second edge 32 extending in the Y-axis direction intersecting the X-axis direction, and a first corner 35 forming a notch C between the first edge 31 and the second edge 32. The first corner 35 forming the notch C is used, for example, to prevent reverse insertion of the memory card 10. Therefore, when the memory card 10 is inserted into, for example, a push-pull type connector, the memory card 10 is inserted into the connector first edge 31 first. The multiple terminals P form first rows R11 and R12 and a second row R21 arranged at intervals in the Y-axis direction. The first columns R11, R12 each include a plurality of terminals P aligned in the X-axis direction at intervals at positions closer to the first edge 31 than the fourth edge 34. The second column R21 each include a plurality of terminals P aligned in the X-axis direction at intervals at positions closer to the fourth edge 34 than the first edge 31. In this way, by forming a plurality of columns (R11, R12, R21) of terminals P, the memory card 10 of this embodiment can increase the speed of its communication interface.

[0344] Generally, the length of the wiring between the terminals P of the memory card 10 inserted into the connector and the host controller becomes shorter the further back the connector is. That is, the length of the wiring between the terminals P included in the first columns R11 and R12 and the host controller is shorter than the length of the wiring between the terminals P included in the second column R21 and the host controller. For this reason, it is easier to ensure signal integrity for the terminals P102, P103, P105, P106, P108, P109, P111, P112, P115, P116, P118, P119, P121, P122, P124, and P125 included in the first columns R11 and R12 and used for signal transmission than for the terminals P128, P129, P133, P135, P136, and P139 included in the second column R21 and used for signal transmission. For example, by increasing the number of terminals P used for transmitting signals included in the first columns R11 and R12 to be greater than the number of terminals P used for transmitting signals included in the second column R21, or by using the terminals P included in the first columns R11 and R12 for transmitting differential signals, the memory card 10 of this embodiment can increase the speed of the communication interface.

[0345] The number of signal terminals included in the first columns R11 and R12 (terminals P102, P103, P105, P106, P108, P109, P111, P112, P115, P116, P118, P119, P121, P122, P124, and P125) is greater than the number of signal terminals included in the second column R21 (terminals P128, P129, P133, P135, P136, and P139). This allows the memory card 10 of this embodiment to have a high-speed communication interface.

[0346] Furthermore, by using the first columns R11 and R12 simultaneously for data transfer, the memory card 10 of this embodiment can increase the speed of the communication interface.

[0347] Furthermore, the multiple terminals P form first rows R11, R12 and a second row R21. This makes it possible to ensure the desired size of the terminals P and the desired spacing between the multiple terminals P, compared to when all the terminals P are arranged in a single row.

[0348] The first columns R11 and R12 include terminals P102, P103, P105, P106, P108, P109, P111, P112, P115, P116, P118, P119, P120, P121, P124, and P125, which are used to transmit signals with higher frequencies than terminals P128, P129, P133, P135, P136, and P139. This allows the memory card 10 of this embodiment to have a high-speed communication interface.

[0349] By increasing the number of terminals P102, P103, P105, P106, P108, P109, P111, P112, P115, P116, P118, P119, P120, P121, P124, and P125 assigned to differential data signals and increasing the number of lanes, the memory card 10 of this embodiment can speed up the communication interface.

[0350] The terminals P forming the first columns R11 and R12 include terminals P102, P103, P105, P106, P108, P109, P111, P112, P115, P116, P118, P119, P121, P122, P124, and P125 assigned to differential data signals. Meanwhile, the terminals P forming the second column R21 include terminals P128 and P129 assigned to differential clock signals having a lower frequency than the differential data signals, terminals P133, P135, P136, and P139 assigned to single-ended signals, and terminals P131, P132, P134, P137, and P138 assigned to power supplies. As a result, in the first columns R11 and R12, the number of lanes can be increased by using terminals P102, P103, P105, P106, P108, P109, P111, P112, P115, P116, P118, P119, P121, P122, P124, and P125 that can transmit signals at high speed, and the memory card 10 of this embodiment can speed up the communication interface.

[0351] The multiple terminals P forming the first column R11 include terminals P102, P103, P105, P106, P108, P109, P111, and P112 assigned to two lanes of differential data signals. The multiple terminals P forming the first column R12 include terminals P115, P116, P118, P119, P121, P122, P124, and P125 assigned to two lanes of differential data signals. This allows the memory card 10 of this embodiment to have a high-speed communication interface.

[0352] Each of the pairs of terminals P102, P103, P105, P106, P108, P109, P111, and P112 assigned to differential data signals is located between two of the terminals P101, P104, P107, P110, and P113 assigned to ground, thereby ensuring a return path for each differential signal, reducing mutual interference between the differential signals and stabilizing the differential signal level.

[0353] Each of the pairs of terminals P115, P116, P118, P119, P121, P122, P124, and P125 assigned to differential data signals is located between two of the terminals P114, P117, P120, P123, and P126 assigned to ground, thereby ensuring a return path for each differential signal, reducing mutual interference between the differential signals and stabilizing the differential signal level.

[0354] Terminal P134 is assigned to the first power supply PWR1. Terminals P131 and P132 are assigned to the second power supply PWR2, whose voltage is equal to or lower than that of the first power supply PWR1. Terminals P137 and P138 are assigned to the third power supply PWR3, whose voltage is equal to or lower than that of the second power supply PWR2. This allows the first to third power supplies PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3 to be used depending on the application, increasing the flexibility of the memory card 10. Furthermore, the lower the voltage, the smaller the tolerance for power supply voltage fluctuations. Therefore, it is better to reduce the current value flowing through one terminal P. However, by providing multiple terminals P131 and P132 and multiple terminals P137 and P138, the current value is distributed, reducing the current value per terminal and suppressing voltage fluctuations.

[0355] When terminals P137 and P138 assigned to the third power supply PWR3 of the power supply voltage PWR3 are grounded, the regulator 53 generates the power supply voltage PWR3 from the power supply voltage PWR2 applied to terminals P131 and P132 assigned to the second power supply PWR2 of the power supply voltage PWR2, or the power supply voltage PWR1 applied to terminal P134 assigned to the first power supply PWR1 of the power supply voltage PWR1. This allows the memory card 10 of this embodiment to be compatible with both host devices with two power supplies, PWR1 and PWR2, and host devices with three power supplies, PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3.

[0356] The card controller 14 determines whether memory access via differential data signals is possible based on the combination of power supply voltages PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3 applied to terminals P131, P132, P134, P137, and P138, and outputs the determination result from terminal P135, which is assigned to CLKREQ#. If memory access via differential data signals is possible, the flash memory 13 becomes capable of reading the power supply specification information 13a stored in the flash memory 13. The host device can determine whether the memory card 10 is usable by comparing the power supply specification information 13a with the power supply specifications of the host device. This allows the host device to identify the power supply specifications of the memory card 10 even when memory cards 10 with different power supply configurations are mixed.

[0357] At least a part of the side 14a of the card controller 14 is located between the first columns R11, R12 and the second column R21, and connection terminals CP connected by wiring W to terminals P102, P103, P105, P106, P108, P109, P111, and P112 included in the first column R11 can be arranged on the side 14a. Similarly, in the first column R12, connection terminals CP connected by wiring W to terminals P115, P116, P118, P119, P121, P122, P124, and P125 included therein can be arranged on the side 14a. This enables wiring such that the wiring W does not detour around other wiring or other components or pass between multiple terminals P included in the second column R21. Therefore, for example, it becomes easier to provide an ESD protection diode 43 on the wiring W, and the length of the wiring W between the terminals P102, P103, P105, P106, P108, P109, P111, and P112 included in the first column R11 and the terminals P115, P116, P118, P119, P121, P122, P124, and P125 included in the first column R12 and the connection terminal CP can be shortened.

[0358] The memory card 10 has a length of 14±0.1 mm in the X-axis direction and a length of 18±0.1 mm in the Y-axis direction. Generally, microSD cards have dimensions of 11 mm × 15 mm. That is, the memory card 10 of this embodiment is larger than a microSD card. Therefore, the memory card 10 can accommodate memories with large storage capacities and dimensions that are difficult to accommodate in a microSD card, such as large three-dimensional flash memories, and can accommodate future increases in the size of flash memories 13 due to technological advances. Furthermore, the memory card 10 is larger than a microSD card but smaller than a standard SD memory card. Therefore, the memory card 10 is not too large for a host device and can be easily inserted and removed from the host device's connector.

[0359] The housing 11 further has a third edge 33 located on the opposite side of the second edge 32 and extending in the Y-axis direction, and a second corner 36 between the first edge 31 and the third edge 33. The shape of the first corner 35 and the shape of the second corner 36 are different from each other. This prevents the memory card 10 from being inserted backwards.

[0360] The first corner 35 extends linearly between one end of the first edge 31 and the end of the second edge 32, forming a so-called C1.1 chamfered portion. The second corner 36 extends in an arc between the other end of the first edge 31 and the end of the third edge 33, forming a so-called R0.2 chamfered portion. The memory card 10 may be inserted into a connector with the second corner 36 abutting against the connector. In this case, it is possible to reduce misalignment of the memory card 10 in the X-axis direction.

[0361] The first rows R11 and R12 are located near the first edge 31. The second row R21 is closer to the fourth edge 34 than the first edge 31. That is, the first rows R11 and R12 are located between the center line of the memory card 10 and the housing 11 in the Y-axis direction and the first edge 31, and the second row R21 is located between the center line and the fourth edge 34. Therefore, the pressure acting on the memory card 10 by the lead frames 101, 102, and 103 of the connector is uniform in the region between the center line and the first edge 31 and the region between the center line and the fourth edge 34, making the memory card 10 more stable within the connector.

[0362] The width of the terminal P in the X-axis direction and the distance between adjacent terminals P are the minimum dimensions that allow for the formation of connector terminals and board footprints. Therefore, the number of terminals P in the first row R11, R12, and second row R21 is the same, 13. The first row R11 includes two PCIe lanes, and the first row R12 also includes two PCIe lanes. The memory card 10 of FIG. 15, in which the first row R11 and second row R21 are formed, can use two PCIe lanes. The memory card 10 of FIG. 13, in which the first row R11, R12, and second row R21 are formed, can use four PCIe lanes, achieving higher speeds.

[0363] As the host device, a first host device that uses only the first column R11 and a second host device that uses the first column R11 and the first column R12 can be configured. The first host device, the second host device, and the memory card 10 in Fig. 13 and the memory card 10 in Fig. 15 can be used in all combinations of host devices and memory cards 10.

[0364] Each PCIe lane has at least Gen.3 performance and can support Gen.4 performance, allowing host devices to select the bus performance that best suits their application with a wide range of communication speeds and the lowest power consumption.

[0365] In the case of the first host device or the memory card 10 of FIG. 15, the first row R12 is not used for communication. However, the lead frame 102 can dissipate heat from the memory card 10. The lead frame 102 can dissipate heat from the memory card 10 whether it is in contact with the terminals P of the first row R12 or the first surface 21 of the housing 11. The first host device may have a lead frame 102 that is electrically connected to ground for the sole purpose of heat dissipation.

[0366] By arranging the flash memories 13 below the second row R21, the second row R21 can be used to dissipate heat from the flash memories 13. For example, the lead frame 103 in contact with the second row R21 dissipates heat from the flash memories 13.

[0367] As described above, not only the heat dissipation mechanism in contact with the second surface 22 of the connector, but also the lead frames 101, 102, and 103 in contact with the first surface 21 can be used to dissipate heat from the memory card 10. By dissipating heat from both the first surface 21 and the second surface 22, the heat dissipation capacity and heat dissipation effect of the memory card 10 are improved.

[0368] In each of the first rows R11 and R12, the ends of the terminals P that are farther from the first edge 31 are aligned at the same position in the Y-axis direction. The lengths in the Y-axis direction of the signal terminals P102, P103, P105, P106, P108, P109, P111, and P112 included in the first row R11, which is closer to the first edge 31 than the first row R12, are shorter than the lengths in the Y-axis direction of the ground terminals P101, P104, P107, P110, and P113, and the lengths in the Y-axis direction of the terminals P114 to P126 included in the first row R12 are equal. As a result, when the memory card 10 is inserted into the connector of the host device in the Y-axis direction, the ground terminals P101, P104, P107, P110, P113, P127, and P130 and the power terminals P131, P132, P134, P137, and P138 come into contact with the lead frame of the connector before the signal terminals P102, P103, P105, P106, P108, P109, P111, P112, P128, P129, P133, P135, P136, and P139. Therefore, the GND level of the host device and the GND level of the memory card 10 become equivalent, and the electrical level of the card controller 14 can be stabilized. Furthermore, because the ground terminals P101, P104, P107, P110, and P113 in the first row R11 contact the lead frame of the connector first, there is no need to lengthen the ground terminals P in the first row R12. This allows the length of all terminals P in the first row R12 in the Y-axis direction to be shortened, thereby shortening the distance between the first rows R11 and R12. This allows the distance between the first row R12 and the second row R21 to be widened, ensuring an area for arranging the lead frames 102 and 103 extending in opposite directions as shown in FIG. 14.

[0369] The shape and length of the terminals P included in the second rows R21, R22 can be set arbitrarily because the frequency of the signals used by the terminals P is low. For example, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 15, when multiple terminals P form multiple second rows R21, R22, the ends of the terminals P in each second row R21, R22 that are farther from the first edge 31 are aligned at the same position in the Y-axis direction. Furthermore, the lengths in the positive direction of the Y-axis of the signal terminals P128, P129, P133, P135, P136, and P139 included in the second row R21 that are closer to the first edge 31 than the second row R22 are shorter than the lengths in the Y-axis direction of the ground terminals P127, P130 and the power terminals P131, P132, P134, P137, and P138.

[0370] In the Y-axis direction, the length of the signal terminals P included in the second column R22 may be shorter than the length of the power supply and ground terminals P included in the second column R22. Furthermore, if the second column R22 includes power supply terminals P, the power supply terminals P may have the same shape as the power supply terminals P included in the second column R21.

[0371] The signal terminals P included in the first columns R11 and R12 have the same length in the X-axis direction, which allows the signal terminals P included in the first columns R11 and R12 to have similar electrical characteristics.

[0372] The lengths of the signal terminals P and the ground terminals P included in the first columns R11 and R12 may be different in the X-axis direction. In this case, for example, the lengths of the signal terminals P in the X-axis direction are made equal to each other, and the lengths of the ground terminals P are made equal to each other. Note that the lengths of the terminals P in the X-axis direction are not limited to this example.

[0373] The above describes one form factor of the memory card 10. However, the form factor of the memory card 10 may be expanded in terms of the outer shape and the number of terminals P while maintaining the positions of the terminals P that form the first row R11 and the second row R21.

[0374] For example, the outer shape of the memory card 10 may be enlarged in at least one of the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction. In the form factor of the memory card 10 with an enlarged outer shape, the number of terminals P forming the first rows R11, R12 may be increased. For example, the number of terminals P included in the first rows R11, R12 may be greater than 13. Furthermore, multiple terminals P may form more than two first rows R11, R12, R13, R14...

[0375] The expanded first columns R13, R14... may be arranged in the negative direction of the Y axis relative to the first columns R11, R12, or in the positive direction of the Y axis. When the first columns R13, R14... are arranged in the negative direction of the Y axis relative to the first columns R11, R12, the shape of the terminals P included in the first columns R13, R14... is the same as the shape of the terminals P included in the first column R12.

[0376] In the form factor of the memory card 10 with an enlarged outer shape, the number of terminals P forming the second rows R21, R22 may be expanded. For example, multiple terminals P may form more than two second rows R21, R22, R23, R24.... The shapes of the terminals P included in the expanded second rows R23, R24... may be set arbitrarily.

[0377] A memory card 10 according to one form factor may be made usable with a connector for a memory card 10 according to a larger form factor, for example, by using an adapter, in which the relative positions of the lead frames 101, 102, 103 are the same in the connector for the memory card 10 according to the one form factor.

[0378] (Fourth embodiment) The fourth embodiment will be described below with reference to Fig. 26. Fig. 26 is an exemplary plan view showing a memory card 10 according to the fourth embodiment. As shown in Fig. 26, a card controller 14 according to the fourth embodiment is stacked on a flash memory 13.

[0379] The flash memory 13 is overlapped with the terminals P included in the second column R21. In other words, the flash memory 13 can be arranged so that the terminals P included in the second column R21 are located between the positive end of the Y axis and the negative end of the Y axis of the flash memory 13. Meanwhile, the chip area of ​​the flash memory 13 varies depending on the memory capacity, and the flash memory 13 may be close to the terminals P included in the first columns R11 and R12 or may be spaced apart.

[0380] The card controller 14 is located between the first columns R11, R12 and the second column R21. Therefore, similar to the third embodiment, the multiple connection terminals CP of the card controller 14 can also be arranged between the first columns R11, R12 and the second column R21. Wiring W connects the connection terminals CP and terminals P included in the first column R11.

[0381] As in the memory card 10 of the fourth embodiment described above, the card controller 14 may be stacked on the flash memory 13. By locating the flash memory 13 at a position separated from the first columns R11, R12 and locating the connection terminals CP between the first columns R11, R12 and the second column R21, the length of the wiring W of the card controller 14 is prevented from increasing.

[0382] According to at least one embodiment described above, the housing has a first edge extending in a first direction, a second edge extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and a first corner forming a notch between the first edge and the second edge. The first corner forming the notch is used, for example, to prevent reverse insertion of the semiconductor memory device. Therefore, when the semiconductor memory device is inserted into, for example, a push-pull type connector, the semiconductor memory device is inserted into the connector from the first edge. The multiple terminals are arranged in the first direction with gaps between them to form a first row, and at least one second row is arranged in the first direction with gaps between them at a position farther from the first edge than the first row. By forming multiple rows of terminals, the semiconductor memory device of this embodiment can increase the speed of its communication interface.

[0383] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0384] 10...memory card, 11...casing, 13...flash memory, 13a...power supply specification information, 14...card controller, 14a...edge, 21...first surface, 22...second surface, 31...first edge, 32...second edge, 33...third edge, 35...first corner, 36...second corner, 53, 54...regulator, C...notch, P, P1 to P26, P101 to P139...terminals, PWR1, PWR2, PWR3...power supply voltage, W, W2, W3, W5, W6, W8, W9, W11, W12...wiring, CP...connection terminal, R11, R12...first row, R21, R22...second row.

Claims

1. a housing having a first surface, a second surface located opposite the first surface, a first edge extending in a first direction, a second edge located opposite the first edge and extending in the first direction, and a first side edge extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction; a non-volatile memory; a controller that controls the nonvolatile memory; a plurality of terminals provided on the first surface; Equipped with the plurality of terminals include a plurality of first terminals, a plurality of second terminals, and a plurality of third terminals; the plurality of first terminals are arranged in the first direction at intervals from one another at positions closer to the first edge than to the second edge; the third terminals are arranged in the first direction at intervals from one another at positions closer to the second edge than to the first edge; the second terminals are arranged in the first direction at intervals between the first terminals and the third terminals, the plurality of first terminals are closer to the first edge than the plurality of second terminals; the plurality of first terminals include a pair of first signal terminals assigned to receive differential data signals conforming to the PCIe standard, and a pair of second signal terminals assigned to transmit differential data signals conforming to the PCIe standard; the plurality of first terminals include first to third ground terminals assigned to ground, the pair of first signal terminals are located between the first ground terminal and the second ground terminal; the pair of second signal terminals are located between the second ground terminal and the third ground terminal; the plurality of second terminals include a plurality of fourth ground terminals assigned to ground; the plurality of third terminals include a differential clock signal terminal assigned to a differential clock signal having a lower frequency than the differential data signal, a single-ended signal terminal assigned to a single-ended signal, a first power supply terminal assigned to a first power supply, and at least one second power supply terminal assigned to a second power supply having a voltage equal to or lower than the first power supply; Memory card.

2. the plurality of terminals include a plurality of signal terminals used for transmitting signals, the number of the signal terminals included in the plurality of first terminals and the plurality of second terminals is greater than the number of the signal terminals included in the plurality of third terminals; The memory card of claim 1.

3. 2. The memory card according to claim 1, wherein the single-ended signal terminal includes a plurality of sideband signal terminals assigned to sideband signals of the PCIe standard.

4. the plurality of third terminals include a plurality of third power supply terminals assigned with a third power supply having a voltage equal to or lower than the second power supply; The memory card of claim 1.

5. the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other, The length in the first direction is 14±0.1 mm, The length in the second direction is 18±0.1 mm. The memory card of claim 1.

6. the housing further has a first corner portion between the first end edge and the first side edge, a second side edge located opposite the first side edge and extending in the second direction, and a second corner portion between the first end edge and the second side edge, The shape of the first corner portion and the shape of the second corner portion are different from each other. The memory card of claim 1.

7. the pair of first and second signal terminals and the pair of first, second, third ground terminals have different lengths in the second direction; The memory card of claim 1.

8. the pair of first signal terminals and the pair of second signal terminals have the same length in the second direction; The memory card of claim 7.

9. the first to third ground terminals have the same length in the second direction; The memory card of claim 7.

10. the housing has an inclined portion extending linearly between the first edge and the first surface; The memory card of claim 1.

11. the third terminals include a plurality of the second power supply terminals; two of the plurality of second power supply terminals are adjacent to each other in the first direction; The memory card of claim 1.

12. the plurality of third terminals include a plurality of fifth ground terminals assigned to ground; The memory card of claim 11.

13. the single-ended signal terminal is located between the first power supply terminal and the at least one second power supply terminal; The memory card of claim 12.

14. 14. The memory card according to claim 13, wherein the single-ended signal terminal includes a sideband signal terminal assigned to a sideband signal of the PCIe standard.

15. The power supplied to the first power supply terminal is supplied to the nonvolatile memory. The memory card of claim 11.

16. configured such that power supplied to one of the at least one second power supply terminal is supplied to the nonvolatile memory; The memory card of claim 11.

17. the plurality of second terminals are arranged in the first direction at positions closer to the first edge than to the second edge; one of the plurality of first terminals and one of the plurality of second terminals are arranged in the second direction with an interval therebetween; The memory card of claim 1.

18. At least some sides of the controller have a connection terminal connected to one of the plurality of second terminals through a wiring. The memory card of claim 1.

19. The nonvolatile memory and the controller are provided inside the housing. The memory card of claim 1.

20. the plurality of third terminals include a plurality of third signal terminals used for transmitting signals and a plurality of fifth ground terminals assigned to ground; The memory card of claim 1.

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