Dual interface card with backward and forward compatibility
AssigneeSanDisk IL Ltd.
InventorsYosi Pinto, Amir Fridman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Techniques are presented that allow a memory card operable according to two protocols (such as a legacy protocol and newer protocol), and having a corresponding dual interface, to be used with hosts that support the new protocol as well as having backward compatibility with legacy hosts, while preventing the use of legacy cards with hosts that support the new protocol but do not support the legacy protocol. The card that supports the new protocol has a similar form factor to the legacy card, includes an indentation. A host that supports the new, but not the legacy, type card includes a mechanical structure within the attachment slot that, based on the card indentation, can distinguish the card types and prevent the non-supported card from being attached.
Claims16
A non-volatile memory card operable according to a first protocol and according to a second protocol and removably connectable to a host through a slot in the host, the memory card comprising:
- a first set of contacts for connecting the memory card to a host with which the memory card can communicate using the first protocol;
- a second set of contacts for connecting the memory card the host with which the memory card can communicate using the second protocol, wherein the first and second sets of contacts differ by at least one of the contacts;
- and
- first and second edges of the memory card, the first edge having an indentation configured to be mechanically engaged by an edge indentation detector in the host,
- wherein the indentation in the first edge of the memory card is adapted to identify the memory card to the host as operable in accordance with the first protocol, while the memory card is inserted into the slot with the second edge being introduced thereto, so as to enable the host to distinguish between such memory card and a second memory card with a similar form factor except for the indentation and that is not operable according to the first protocol.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.