System for providing a host computer with access to a memory on a PCMCIA card in a power down mode

A system for switching a PCMCIA card from a SLEEP mode to allow a host computer to access a CIS of the PCMCIA card via a PCMCIA bus, comprising

• a non-volatile memory provided on said PCMCIA card for storing the CIS,
• arbitration logic coupled to said memory for providing said host computer and a PCMCIA card logic with access to said memory,
• a sleep logic coupled to said arbitration logic and said adapter card logic for supplying a sleep control signal to switch said arbitration logic and said PCMCIA logic card into a power saving mode, in which said arbitration logic performs no logical functions, and
• a CIS read detect logic coupled between said PCMCIA bus and said sleep logic for supplying said sleep logic with a CIS read detect signal when a CIS read operation is detected on said PCMCIA bus,
• said CIS read detect signal activating said arbitration logic to allow said host computer to access the CIS.

A method of providing a host computer with an access to CIS information on a PCMCIA card in a SLEEP mode, comprising the steps of:

• storing the CIS information in a non-volatile memory accessible to the host computer via a PCMCIA bus and to an adapter card logic via a local bus,
• controlling by an arbitration means accesses of the PCMCIA bus and the local bus to the non-volatile memory,
• in response to a sleep control signal that switches the PCMCIA card into the SLEEP mode, disabling the arbitration means to prevent logical functions from being performed by the arbitration means,
• monitoring the PCMCIA bus to decode a CIS read operation, and
• activating the arbitration means in response to the decoded CIS read operation to allow the host processor to access the non-volatile memory.