System and method for producing high volume flash memory cards

Abstract

A system for producing high volume flash memory cards includes a processing unit, a PC interface for connecting to an external PC, a PC drive circuit connected to the PC interface and the processing unit, a card interface for connecting to an external flash memory card, and a card drive circuit connected to the card interface and the processing unit. The PC drive circuit realizes communication between the PC and the processing unit. The card drive circuit realizes communication between the flash memory card and the processing unit. The processing unit receives command or data from the PC interface, and sends card re-initialization command or data to the flash memory card via the card interface.

1 . A system for producing high volume flash memory cards, comprising: 
 a processing unit;    a PC interface for connecting to an external PC;    a PC drive circuit connected to the PC interface and the processing unit for realizing communication between the PC and the processing unit;    at least one card interface for connecting to an external flash memory card; and    at least one card drive circuit connected to the card interface and the processing unit for realizing communication between the flash memory card and the processing unit,    wherein the processing unit receives command or data from the PC interface, and sends card re-initialization command or data to the flash memory card via the card interface.    
   
   
       2 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit further comprises: 
 a program storage memory for storing program code;    a working storage memory for storing data and program when working; and    a nonvolatile storage memory for storing firmware code and data required to be saved after powered off; and    a CPU connected to the program storage memory, working storage memory and nonvolatile storage memory via data and address bus, wherein the CPU executes the program code and firmware code stored in the program storage memory and nonvolatile storage memory, receives the command or data from the PC interface, and sends the card re-initialization command or data to the flash memory card via the card interface.    
   
   
       3 . The system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the program storage memory commonly uses ROM (Read Only Memory) for program code storage.  
   
   
       4 . The system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the working storage memory uses RAM (Random Read-writable Memory) for data and program storage.  
   
   
       5 . The system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the nonvolatile storage memory uses nonvolatile storage media for storage of firmware code and data.  
   
   
       6 . The system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the PC drive circuit implements function of interface drive circuit and logic control.  
   
   
       7 . The system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the card drive circuit is provided for translating command from the CPU to the type of command to the flash memory card that complies with the flash memory card's specification.  
   
   
       8 . The system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one card interface includes a plurality of card interfaces.  
   
   
       9 . The system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one card drive circuit includes a plurality of card drive circuits.  
   
   
       10 . The system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one card interface includes a plurality of card interfaces.  
   
   
       11 . The system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one card drive circuit includes a plurality of card drive circuits, each being connected to a plurality of card interfaces.  
   
   
       12 . The system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the PC interface is selectively to be a serial port, a parallel port, a USB, a PCMCIA and a mixed interface.  
   
   
       13 . The system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the flash memory card is selectively to be an SD card, an MMC card, an SM card, an MC card, and a CF card.  
   
   
       14 . The system as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a PLC interface for connecting to external manipulator; and    a PLC drive circuit connected to the PLC interface and the processing unit for realizing communication between the manipulator and the processing unit.    
   
   
       15 . The system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the CPU sends operation signal to the manipulator via the PLC interface.  
   
   
       16 . The system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the PLC interface provides connection between the processing unit and the manipulator.  
   
   
       17 . The system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the PLC drive circuit implements the interface drive circuit and logic control.  
   
   
       18 . In a system including a processing unit, a PC interface for connecting to an external PC, a PC drive circuit connected to the PC interface and the processing unit for realizing communication between the PC and the processing unit, at least one card interface for connecting to an external flash memory card, and at least one card drive circuit connected to the card interface and the processing unit for realizing communication between the flash memory card and the processing unit, a method for producing high volume flash memory cards comprising the steps of: 
 (A) configuring options for card re-initialization on the PC;    (B) inserting at least one flash memory card into the card interface;    (C) receiving a start command from the PC and checking whether the inserted flash memory card is the same type as what selected in the configured option, and if it is, step (D) is executed;    (D) checking whether to erase code area of the flash memory card, and if selected, step (E) is executed, otherwise step (F) is executed;    (E) erasing the code area of the flash memory card;    (F) initializing the flash memory card by writing card information to the flash memory card;    (G) receiving firmware code from the PC interface, and saving the firmware code in the processing unit;    (H) writing the firmware code into the flash memory card and checking correction; and    (I) scanning and excluding bad blocks of the flash memory card.    
   
   
       19 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising a step of formatting the flash memory card.  
   
   
       20 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising a step of updating the firmware code by the processing unit.