Flash card and controller with integrated voltage converter for attachment to a bus that can operate at either of two power-supply voltages
US7483329B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 20, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jan 27, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 6, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C16/30
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A dual-voltage secure digital (SD) card can be inserted into a legacy host or a newer host. Legacy hosts drive a high voltage such as 3.3 volts onto the power line of the SD bus, while newer hosts drive the power line with a reduced voltage such as 1.8 volts. A flash and voltage controller chip on the SD card has a controller core that operates at the reduced voltage. A voltage regulator on the SD card, or a power management unit inside the controller chip generates an internal power voltage of 1.8 volts from the dual-voltage SD bus power line. The internal power voltage is applied to the controller core and to a voltage converter that generates a flash power voltage from the internal power voltage. The flash power voltage is applied to flash-memory chips on the SD card that operate at the higher voltage.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.