Card Reader Control Chip Interference Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multiple card readers using shared pins for memory cards suffer from interference issues, leading to data corruption and malfunction when multiple cards are accessed simultaneously, limiting them to accepting only one memory card at a time due to unaddressed pin interference.
Innovation Solution
A card reader control chip with detection pins that couple to the shared pins of memory card read/write interfaces, allowing for early detection of interference by using additional detection pins, such as a card detection pin and a second ground pin (Vss), to generate an interference-acknowledgement signal and perform error corrections before data access is affected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If common pins are adopted for memory card read/write interfaces, then package cost is reduced, but pin interference occurs causing data corruption when multiple cards are accessed simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting the insertion or removal of memory cards before actual data access operations begin. The detection pin monitors the presence of cards in advance, allowing the system to acknowledge potential interference situations before they cause data corruption, thus preventing reliability issues while maintaining shared pin architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using a detection pin to continuously monitor the state of memory card interfaces and provide real-time information about card insertion/removal events. This feedback mechanism enables the control chip to adjust its operations dynamically, preventing data interference while maintaining cost-effective shared pin design
2Reliability
If only one memory card is accepted at a time, then pin interference is avoided, but productivity is reduced due to inability to access multiple cards simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
By detecting card presence in advance through dedicated detection pins before data access operations, the system can safely enable simultaneous access to multiple cards. This preliminary detection prevents interference issues from arising, allowing productivity improvement without sacrificing data access stability
Solution Approach 2:
The detection pin acts as an intermediary that monitors the state of multiple memory card interfaces independently. This intermediary component provides early warning of interference conditions, enabling the system to coordinate access to multiple cards simultaneously while maintaining reliable data transmission
3Reliability
If detection pins are added to detect memory card insertion, then interference can be detected earlier, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection pin is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a general-purpose I/O pin and as a card detection pin depending on the operational context. This universal design allows the system to gain interference detection capability without adding dedicated separate pins, thus improving reliability while minimizing the increase in device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A control chip of a card reader providing at least one card detection pin for detecting memory cards connected to corresponding read/write interfaces. The card detection pin is for the prevention of mutual interference caused by the memory cards connected with shared pins of the control chip. The card detection pin of the memory card may be used for the detection of another memory card being inserted into or pulled out from a read/write interface when the control chip of the card reader is accessing a memory card. An interference-acknowledgement signal is generated for the prevention or correction of accessing errors.