Mode selectable memory controller for PCMCIA standard memory cards and non-standard memory cards

A mode-selectable memory system for reading standard PCMCIA memory cards and non-standard memory cards that are PCMCIA socket compatible, comprising:

• a PCMCIA compatible socket for connecting a memory card;
• a non-standard memory card inserted in the socket;
• a processor coupled to the socket for reading a code indicative of a type of a memory card inserted in the socket, the type being either a PCMCIA standard memory card or a non-standard memory card;
• a register coupled to the processor for storing the code;
• an address buffer coupled to the socket and to a system bus for receiving an address from the processor and sending the address to the memory card;
• an access control circuit, coupled to the register and to the socket, that generates and transmits access control signals to the memory card at times governed by the code stored in the register;
• and
• a data transceiver coupled to the access control circuit to receive an enable signal, coupled to the processor to send and receive data, and coupled to the memory card to send and receive data.

A method for providing access for a processor to a memory card in a PCMCIA standard socket, comprising the steps of;

• receiving a memory type code at a memory controller, the memory type code being indicative of a PCMCIA memory card or a non-standard memory card;
• transmitting access control signals to the memory card and to an address buffer, which is coupled to both a system bus and the PCMCIA socket, at times required by a PCMCIA memory card if the memory type code indicates a PCMCIA memory card or at times required by the non-standard memory card if the memory type code indicates a non-standard memory card;
• receiving a memory address from the address buffer in response to the access control signals;
• transmitting an acknowledge signal to the processor at a time required by a PCMCIA memory card if the memory type code indicates a PCMCIA memory card;
• and
• transmitting an acknowledge signal to the processor at a time required by a non-standard memory card if the memory type code indicates a non-standard memory card.