Efficient Connection Between Modules of Removable Electronic Circuit Cards

Abstract

A removable electronic circuit card has multiple modules connected to the card's bus in parallel so that each module can exchange commands and data independently with the host. According to a first aspect of the present invention, this achieved by a controller-to-controller interface whereby the modules can facilitate their interactions with the host. In a first set of embodiments, the modules are on a single card, while in a second set of embodiments the modules are distributed across multiple cards, where a first card attaches to the host and other cards attach to the first card rather than directly to the host. In all of these cases, the host sees the multiple modules as a single card having a single module. In a further aspect of the present invention, the card or cards are able to communicate with the host in more than one protocol.

1 . An electronic card-connectable to a host system, the card comprising: 
 a first module including a first controller;    a second module including a second controller;    a bus structure connected to both the first controller and the second controller in parallel, through which data and commands can be exchanged between a host and the first and second modules when the card is connected to the host; and    one or more control lines connected between the first controller and the second controller to exchange signals such that the two modules can interact independently with the host while appearing as a single unit to the host, wherein the card conforms functionally and mechanically to the SD Card standard, the SD IO Card standard, or both the SD Card and SD IO Card standards.    
     
     
         2 . The card of  claim 1 , wherein the number of said control lines is three.  
     
     
         3 . An electronic card connectable to a host system, the card comprising: 
 a first module including a first controller;    a second module including a second controller;    a bus structure connected to both the first controller and the second controller in parallel, through which data and commands can be exchanged between a host and the first and second modules when the card is connected to the host; and    one or more control lines connected between the first controller and the second controller to exchange signals such that the two modules can interact independently with the host while appearing as a single unit to the host, wherein said modules can interact with the host in a plurality of protocols.    
     
     
         4 . The card of  claim 3 , wherein said plurality of protocols includes the SD protocol.  
     
     
         5 . The card of  claim 3 , wherein said plurality of protocols includes the SPI protocol.  
     
     
         6 . The card of  claim 3 , wherein said plurality of protocols includes the MMC protocol.  
     
     
         7 . An electronic card connectable to a host system, the card comprising: 
 a first module including a first controller;    a second module including a second controller;    a bus structure connected to both the first controller and the second controller in parallel, through which data and commands can be exchanged between a host and the first and second modules when the card is connected to the host; and    one or more control lines connected between the first controller and the second controller to exchange signals such that the two modules can interact independently with the host while appearing as a single unit to the host, wherein the bus structure conforms to the SD Card and SD IO Card standards.    
     
     
         8 . An electronic card connectable to a host system, the card comprising: 
 a first module including a first controller;    a second module including a second controller;    a bus structure connected to both the first controller and the second controller in parallel, through which data and commands can be exchanged between a host and the first and second modules when the card is connected to the host; and    one or more control lines connected between the first controller and the second controller to exchange signals such that the two modules can interact independently with the host while appearing as a single unit to the host, wherein said commands includes one or more commands which are acceptable by one of said modules but not to the other module.    
     
     
         9 . An electronic card connectable to a host system, the card comprising: 
 a first module including a first controller;    a second module including a second controller;    a bus structure connected to both the first controller and the second controller in parallel, through which data and commands can be exchanged between a host and the first and second modules when the card is connected to the host; and    one or more control lines connected between the first controller and the second controller to exchange signals such that the two modules can interact independently with the host while appearing as a single unit to the host, wherein both of said modules are responsive to the same chip select signal.    
     
     
         10 . An electronic card connectable to a host system, the card comprising: 
 a first module including a first controller;    a second module including a second controller;    a bus structure connected to both the first controller and the second controller in parallel, through which data and commands can be exchanged between a host and the first and second modules when the card is connected to the host; and    one or more control lines connected between the first controller and the second controller to exchange signals such that the two modules can interact independently with the host while appearing as a single unit to the host, wherein the control lines allow the second controller to indicate to the first controller that it is connected to the first controller.    
     
     
         11 . An electronic card connectable to a host system, the card comprising: 
 a first module including a first controller;    a second module including a second controller;    a bus structure connected to both the first controller and the second controller in parallel, through which data and commands can be exchanged between a host and the first and second modules when the card is connected to the host; and    one or more control lines connected between the first controller and the second controller to exchange signals such that the two modules can interact independently with the host while appearing as a single unit to the host, wherein the number of said control lines is three.    
     
     
         12 . An electronic circuit card system comprising: 
 a first card connectable to a host, the first card including a first controller;    a second card connectable to the first card, the second card including a second controller;    a bus structure connected to both the first controller and the second controller in parallel when the first and second cards are connected, through which data and commands are exchanged between the host and the first and second controllers when the cards are connected and the first card is connected to the host; and    one or more control lines connected between the first controller and the second controller to exchange signals when the first and second cards are connected, such that the two cards can interact independently with the host while appearing as a single card to the host.    
     
     
         13 . The electronic circuit card system of  claim 12 , wherein one of said cards contains a memory module.  
     
     
         14 . The electronic circuit card system of  claim 12 , wherein one of said cards contains an input-output module.  
     
     
         15 . The electronic circuit card system of  claim 12 , wherein the first card conforms functionally and mechanically to the SD Card standard, the SD IO Card standard, or both the SD Card and SD IO Card standards.  
     
     
         16 . The electronic circuit card system of  claim 15 , wherein the number of said control lines is three.  
     
     
         17 . The electronic circuit card system of  claim 12 , wherein the second card conforms functionally to the SD Card standard.  
     
     
         18 . The electronic circuit card system of  claim 12 , wherein the second card conforms functionally to the SD IO Card standard.  
     
     
         19 . The electronic circuit card system of  claim 12 , wherein said cards can interact with the host in a plurality of protocols.  
     
     
         20 . The electronic circuit card system of  claim 19 , wherein said plurality of protocols includes the SD protocol.  
     
     
         21 . The electronic circuit card system of  claim 19 , wherein said plurality of protocols includes the SPI protocol.  
     
     
         22 . The electronic circuit card system of  claim 19 , wherein said plurality of protocols includes the MMC protocol.  
     
     
         23 . The electronic circuit card system of  claim 12 , wherein the bus structure conforms to the SD Card and SD IO Card standards.  
     
     
         24 . The electronic circuit card system of  claim 12 , wherein said commands includes one or more commands which are acceptable by one of said controllers but not to the other controller.  
     
     
         25 . The electronic circuit card system of  claim 12 , wherein both of said cards are responsive to the same chip select signal.  
     
     
         26 . The electronic circuit card system of  claim 12 , wherein the control lines allow the second controller to indicate to the first controller that it is connected to the first controller.  
     
     
         27 . The electronic circuit card system of  claim 12 , wherein the number of said control lines is three.  
     
     
         28 . A first electronic circuit card connectable to a host system, the card comprising: 
 a first module including a first controller;    a connector for attachment of a second electronic circuit card, the second card having a second module including a second controller;    a bus structure connected to both the first controller and the connector for connecting the second controller in parallel, through which data and commands are exchanged between a host and the first and second modules when the first card is connected to the host and the second card; and    one or more control lines connected between the first controller and the connector for connecting the second controller to exchange signals such that the two modules can interact independently with the host while appearing as a single unit to the host.    
     
     
         29 . The first electronic circuit card of  claim 28 , wherein the first electronic circuit card conforms functionally and mechanically to the SD Card standard, the SD IO Card standard, or both the SD Card and SD IO Card standards.  
     
     
         30 . The first electronic circuit card of  claim 28 , wherein the number of said control lines is three.  
     
     
         31 . The first electronic circuit card of  claim 28 , wherein the first electronic circuit card can interact with the host in a plurality of protocols.  
     
     
         32 . The first electronic circuit card of  claim 28 , wherein the bus structure conforms to the SD Card and SD IO Card standards.  
     
     
         33 . A first electronic circuit card connectable to a second electronic circuit card, the first card comprising: 
 a first module including a first controller;    a connector for attachment of the second electronic circuit card, the second card connectable to a host system and having a second module including a second controller;    a bus structure connected to both the first controller and the connector for connecting the second controller in parallel, through which data and commands are exchanged between a host and the first and second modules when the first card is connected to the second card and the second card is connected to the host; and    one or more control lines connected between the first controller and the connector for connecting the second controller to exchange signals such that the two modules can interact independently with the host while appearing as a single unit to the host.    
     
     
         34 . The first electronic circuit card of  claim 33 , wherein the first card conforms functionally to the SD Card standard, the SD IO Card standard, or both the SD Card and SD IO Card standards.  
     
     
         35 . The first electronic circuit card of  claim 34 , wherein the first card does not conform mechanically to an SD Card standard.  
     
     
         36 . The first electronic circuit card of  claim 33 , wherein the number of said control lines is three.  
     
     
         37 . The first electronic circuit card of  claim 33 , wherein the first card can interact with the host in a plurality of protocols.  
     
     
         38 . The first electronic circuit card of  claim 33 , wherein the bus structure conforms to the SD Card and SD IO Card standards.  
     
     
         39 . A system, comprising: 
 a host;    a first electronic circuit card connectable to the host, the card comprising a first module including a first controller;    a second module including a second controller;    a bus structure connected to both the first controller and the second controller in parallel when the first and second modules are connected to the host, through which data and commands can be exchanged between the host and the first and second controllers; and    one or more control lines connected between the first controller and the second controller to exchange signals when the first and second modules are connected to the host, such that the two modules can interact independently with the host while appearing as a single card to the host, wherein the first electronic circuit card further comprises the second module, and wherein the first card conforms functionally to the SD Card standard, the SD IO Card standard, or both the SD Card and SD IO Card standards.    
     
     
         40 . A system, comprising: 
 a host;    a first electronic circuit card connectable to the host, the card comprising a first module including a first controller;    a second module including a second controller;    a bus structure connected to both the first controller and the second controller in parallel when the first and second modules are connected to the host, through which data and commands can be exchanged between the host and the first and second controllers;    one or more control lines connected between the first controller and the second controller to exchange signals when the first and second modules are connected to the host, such that the two modules can interact independently with the host while appearing as a single card to the host; and    a second electronic circuit card comprising the second module, wherein the second card connects to the host through the first card to which it connects through a connector.    
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the second card does not conform mechanically to an SD Card standard.