JPH0281244A - Module type storage medium, its protecting system and read-out/write device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a breakdown of the storage contents and a mulfunction of the system at the time of attaching and detaching a storage medium to and from a device by starting a feed to the storage medium, and thereafter, making a data line between the storage medium and the device active electrically, at the time of loading the storage medium to the device. CONSTITUTION:When a connector terminal 108d and 108e of a card 100 are engaged to a connector terminal 202d and 202e of a device 200, respectively, both of them are short-circuited, and a power source Vcc appears in the connector terminal 202e, and a signal CDET is inputted to a system control part 210. The system control part 210 controls a power source 211 by a control line 214, outputs the power source from its output 212, and executes a feed to each circuit containing a RAM 102 of the card 100. Subsequently, when a prescribed time elapses, the system control part 210 makes a control output DCNT active, and a transmitter-receiver 112 of the card 100 is energized first, and becomes an operable state. In such a way, a breakdown of the storage contents and a malfunction of the system at the time of attaching and detaching a storage medium to and from the device are prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a memory protection method, particularly a modular storage medium having a memory protection function and a protection method thereof, and further relates to a read/write method for such a storage medium. Regarding equipment.

For example, there is a memory card in which a storage element such as a RAM is mounted on a card-like support and is removably connected to other devices such as a writing and/or reading device. Some memory cards incorporating such a RAM have an auxiliary power source mounted on the support body in order to retain the stored contents even when separated from other devices. When a memory card is inserted into another device, power is supplied from that device, and signal lines such as a data bus and control lines are interconnected between the connector terminals of both devices, completing the circuit connection between the memory card and the device. do.

When inserting or removing the memory card from/to the reading/writing device,
There are transient conditions in which all required connector terminals are not fully connected. In this transient state, for example, when loading a memory card into a device, the bus electrical connections are completed prior to providing sufficient power to the card.
The memory contents stored in the RAM may be destroyed or the system may malfunction. A similar problem may occur when removing a card from the device. To solve this problem, some conventional technologies include a control function that disables the exchange of signals between the memory card and the device. However, in reality, a signal line connection is established before this control function operates properly, and data may be destroyed.

Therefore, in a pending patent application filed by the same applicant as the present applicant, Patent Application Sho (00-4025??), a terminal for detecting the loading of a memory cartridge is connected after a connector terminal for transmitting and receiving data is connected. Furthermore, a method has been proposed in which the latter is separated after the former is separated, and data transfer is controlled in response to the state of this detection terminal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the drawbacks of the prior art, and provides a modular storage medium that prevents the storage contents from being destroyed and the system from malfunctioning when the modular storage medium is attached to and removed from a reading/writing device. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a protection method and a read/write device for the same.

According to the present invention, in a protection method for a modular storage medium mounted with a storage element and detachably connected to a device having read/write functions for the modular storage medium,
When loading a storage medium into the device, first, power supply to the storage medium is started, and then a data line between the storage medium and the device is electrically activated.

Also according to the invention. A reading/writing device for a modular storage medium to which a modular storage medium equipped with a storage element is removably connected and reads/writes the storage medium includes a connector means for connecting a connection line of the storage medium to the device. , a detection means for detecting connection by the connector means, a power supply means for supplying power to the storage medium via a connection line of the connector means, and a power supply means for controlling the power supply means and a read/write circuit of the storage medium in response to the detection means. The connection line includes a first connection line that controls a read/write circuit of the storage medium, a second connection line that sends and receives data to the read/write circuit, and a control means that supplies power to the storage element. and a third connection line, the control means first controls the power supply means to start supplying power to the third connection line when the detection means detects the connection of the storage medium to the connector means; First, the read/write circuit is controlled through the first connection line to enable data to be exchanged through the second connection line.

According to the present invention, the modular storage medium removably connected to the device having a module storage medium read/write aflll= includes storage means for storing data and read/write of the storage means. A read/write means, a support carrying the storage means and the read/write means, a first connection line for controlling the read/write means, a second connection line for sending and receiving data to and from the read/write circuit, and a memory. connector means for connecting a third connecting line to said device for supplying power to said device; said reading/writing means said to connect said device to said device by said third connecting line; After power supply is started, control is performed through the first connection line to enable data transmission and reception through the second connection line.

Next, a specific embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a memory card will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.Referring to FIG. The apparatus 200 includes a memory card 100 mounted on a support of the memory card 100 and another apparatus 200 into which it is removably loaded.
It has a read function to read memory contents stored therein from the AM 102 and/or a write function to write data to it. Therefore, for illustrative purposes, the device 20
0 is referred to as a "card read/write device." Of course, the device 200 may also form part of a device that performs the intended function, such as an image reproduction device, but the figure shows that the device 200 is not necessary for a card reading/writing device but is a part of the present invention. Circuit elements that are not directly related to understanding are omitted from illustration and explanation to avoid complicating the diagram.

In this embodiment, the memory card 100 has a RAN 100, which is mounted on a card-like support. In the figure, this card-like support is also conceptually indicated by a dashed dotted line 100 indicating a memory card 100. RAM 1
00 is a memory device that stores digital data in a rewritable manner, and in this embodiment, it is constantly powered by an auxiliary DC power supply 104 in order to retain its stored contents.
The RAM 100 has a power supply terminal 106 that is supplied with power from the outside, and this is connected to the connector of the card 100! 08 terminal 1
Memory card 10 of this embodiment connected to 08a
0 has a RAM as a storage element, but in view of the spirit of the present invention, this storage element does not necessarily have to be a RAM and may be a ROM.

The RAM 100 has a plurality of, for example, 16-bit data lines and address lines for reading and writing data in parallel, one of which is designated by the reference numeral 110 in the figure. ing. Data terminal 110 is connected to bidirectional data line 114 via a transceiver 112 as shown, the latter being connected to connector 108.
is connected to the terminal 108b of. The transceiver 112 is
It has a control terminal 11G as shown in the figure, and when the control terminal 112 is activated, the data line 114 and the RAM 1
It becomes possible to transmit and receive signals with the data terminal 110 of 02.

When the transceiver 112 is not operated, that is, is made inactive, the control terminal 11B is set in a floating state. This control terminal 11θ is connected to a terminal 108c of the connector 108. The memory card 100 has 18 such bus circuits in this embodiment, which are mounted on the card-like support 100.

Connector 108 of memory card 100 engages a corresponding connector 202 of card read/write device 3200 to establish a connecting wire mechanical and electrical connection therebetween. The memory card 100 is a read/write device 200
When loaded into the automatic loading mechanism of the device, the connection is automatically established.

In order to detect the connection, in this embodiment, the two terminals 108d and 108e of the connector 10B are short-circuited by a connecting line ttS.

The card read/write device 200 has an automatic loading mechanism for the card 100, which conceptually in FIG. and a drive circuit 206 for driving the same, and the mechanical link between the two is indicated by the dotted line 20.
It is conceptually shown in . The drive wheel 204 is driven by the system control unit 210 via the drive circuit 206, and by transporting the memory card 100 in the direction of arrow A, the card 100 is inserted into or ejected from the storage 21200. In the loaded state, connectors +08 and 202 are connected.

The card reading/writing device 200 is a system control unit 21
0, which, in addition to controlling the read and/or write functions of the card 100 by the intermediary@200,
In particular, the functions related to the present invention are a control circuit that controls the protection of the storage contents of the RAM 102 when the card 100 is attached or removed, and the function of preventing malfunction of the system. Control unit 210 is advantageously realized by a processing system. An ejection key 222 for inputting an instruction for ejecting the card 100 is connected to the system control unit 210 .

Card read/write device 200 has a power supply 211 . The power supply 211 has a power output line 212 connected to the terminal 202a of the connector 202, and supplies power to each circuit mounted on the memory card 100 when the connectors 108 and 202 are connected to each other. be. The power supply 211 has a control terminal 214 connected to the system control unit 210, and turns on/off the power supply from its output 212 in response to the control terminal 214.

The connector 202 of the card reading/writing device 200 is
Data line 114 and control line 11 of memory card 100
Data lines 21Ei for 16 bits each corresponding to B
and a control line 218, one of which is representatively shown in the figure. Data line 21B is connector 20
2, and the terminal 202b engages with the corresponding connector terminal 108b. Similarly, control line 218
is connected to connector terminal 202c, and terminal 202C engages with corresponding connector terminal 108c.

The data line 21B is connected to an internal circuit (not shown) of the device 200 that handles the data, and the control line 218 is connected to the output DCNT of the system control unit 210. Device 200 has 16 units of such bus circuits.

The connector 202 of the card reading/writing device 200 is
Connector terminals 108d and 10 of memory card 100
8e, the former has a terminal 202d that engages with the power supply Vcc.
The latter is connected to the input CD of the system control unit 210.
It is connected to ET and grounded through a resistor 220.

Referring to FIG. 2, card reading/writing device i! t
The system control unit 210 of the system 200 performs initial settings 300 of the system in response to the power being turned on to the device 200 .

In the initial setting 300, each part of the device 200 is set to an initial state. In the initial setting 300, the part related to the present invention is to turn off the power supply 211 via the control line 214 and to set the output DCNT to a floating state.

The system control unit 301 then connects the connector terminal 202e
A transition is made to a state 301 in which the signal CDET from is monitored.

Since the terminal 202e is open in this state, the signal CDET is at the earth level through the resistor 220.

When the card 100 is inserted into the automatic loading mechanism of the loading M2O0 with the connector 108 of the memory card 100 facing the connector 202 of the device 200, both connectors 108 and 2
Mechanical and electrical connections are established during 02. As a result, connector terminals 108d and 10 of card 100
When 8e engages with connector terminals 202d and 202e of device 200, respectively, a short circuit is created between the two. Therefore, power supply Vcc appears at connector terminal 202e,
A signal CDET is input to the system control section 210. Therefore, the system control unit 210 controls the power supply 211 through the control line 214 and outputs the power from its output 212 (302), thereby causing the RA of the card 10G to
For the first time, each circuit including M 102 is powered from power supply 211 through power line 10B. At this stage, control line 2
Since 18 remains floating, transceiver 112 of card 100 is not operational.

The system control unit 210 then starts counting for a predetermined period of time, for example about 100 milliseconds (303).
, In the meantime, we'll meet up. When this predetermined period of time has elapsed, the system control unit 210 activates the control output DCN. As a result, the transceiver 11 of the card 100
2 is energized for the first time and becomes active or operational. At this stage, the card 100 is transferred to the device 200 for the first time.
This means that the device is connected to the device in an operable state, and data can be exchanged between the two. In other words, the system control unit 2
10 can write data to and read data from RAM 102 via data line 216.

Referring to Figure fJIJ3, the system control unit 210 also has a The state of the ejection key 222 is constantly monitored (310
), when the eject key 222 is operated, the system control unit 21
In response, 0 first turns off the control output DCNT, that is, puts it in a floating state (311), thereby deactivating the control line 11G of the transceiver 112 of the card 100,
When the transceiver 112 becomes inoperable, the system control unit 210 turns off the power supply 211 via the control line 214 (312), thereby removing the RAM 1 of the card 100.
Power supply to internal circuits such as 02 is cut off. Furthermore, RAM
The auxiliary power supply 104 continues to supply power to the memory 102, and its stored contents are retained. Therefore, the system control unit 210
Drive wheel 204 is driven through drive circuit 208 to eject memory card 100 from the automatic loading mechanism of device 200 (313).

In this way, the present embodiment prevents the memory contents of the RAN 102 from being destroyed by giving time to the establishment and disconnection of electrical connections for specific terminals of the connectors 10B and 202 when the card 100 is attached to and detached from the device 20G. This prevents the system from malfunctioning. card 100
When loading the card 100, power is applied to the card 100 after the connectors 108 and 202 are engaged.

The transceiver 112 is enabled after a predetermined time delay. In the case of ejecting the card 100, the transceiver 11
After disabling the operation of the card 100, the power supply to the card 100 is stopped, and then the ejecting operation is performed.

Referring to FIG. 4, another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.
This embodiment differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that the device 200 is configured to be loaded manually. In the same figure, elements similar to those shown in FIG. The time difference is realized by the position of the pin engaging portion of the connector 202.

In this embodiment, there are three types of pin engagement positions of the connector 202 of the connector 2t200.
02b is the longest and has an engagement length of length Ll, connector terminal 202a has an intermediate engagement length of length L2,
Connector terminals 202f and 202g are the shortest and have an engagement length of length L3. In this embodiment, connector 10
The lengths of the 8 terminals are the same.

Power line 101 to RAM 102 of memory card 100
3 is connected to connector terminal 108a and engages mating connector terminal 202a of device 200. Connector terminal 202a is connected to voltage Vcc. R.A.
Data line 110 of M 102 is a data write line or addressing line in this example and is connected to the output of receiver 130. The input of the receiver 130 is the data line 11
4 and is connected to the connector terminal TOAB. Connector terminal 108b engages a corresponding connector terminal 202b of device 200. Connector terminal 202b is connected to the output of transmitter 230 as shown.

A data line 21B from the internal circuit of the fi 20G is connected to the input of the transmitter 230.

The transmitter 230 of the card read/write device 200 has a control terminal 232 that becomes operational when it reaches a predetermined reference level, for example the ground level. The control terminal 232 is connected to the power supply Vc through a resistor 234 as shown.
It is pulled up to c and also.

It is also connected to the connector terminal 202f. Connector terminal 2Q2f engages with mating connector terminal 108f of memory card 100, the latter being grounded as shown. The receiver 130 of the memory card 100 similarly has a control terminal 132 and becomes operational when it reaches a predetermined reference level, such as the ground level. The control terminal 132 is connected to the auxiliary mold [104] through a resistor 134, and is also connected to the connector terminal 108g.

Connector terminal 108g is similarly engageable with corresponding connector terminal 202g of device 200, which is also grounded. In this example, data lines 114 and 21B are unidirectional transmission lines from device 200 to card 100. The connectors IO8 and 282 are provided with a plurality of sets of transmission lines in the above transmission direction and transmission lines in the opposite transmission direction, for example, for 18 bits.

When the memory card 100 is separated from the device 200, the terminal 108g is open, so the card 10
0 receiver! 30 control terminals 132 are pulled up by the power supply 104. Similarly, the transmitter 230 of the device 24200 has its terminal 202f open and its control terminal 2
32 is pulled up to the voltage @Vcc. Therefore, as shown in the first line of FIG. 5, power is not supplied from the device 200 to the card 100, and the
30 does not operate, and in the figure, rZJ is in a floating state.

When the memory card 100 is manually loaded into the loading mechanism of the loading fi 200, the connector terminal tosb of the card 100 is first mechanically connected to the connector terminal 202b of the device 200 having the longest engagement length Ll. However, in this state, since the other connector terminals are not connected, the data lines 114 and 21G are electrically disabled even though they are mechanically connected, as shown in the second row of FIG. held, and there is no change in its control state.

As the loading operation continues, the connector terminal 202a of the device 200 having a medium connection length L2 connects to the card 100.
mating connector terminal 108a. This causes the card 100 to
Power supply to the RAM 102 is started from the power supply Vcc of the device 200. However, data lines 114 and 21El
remains electrically disabled.

When the card 100 is then inserted into the mount M2O0 to its final position, the connector terminals 202f and 202g of the device 200 having the shortest connection length L3 engage the corresponding connector terminals 108f and 108g of the card 100, respectively. This causes the control terminal 232 of the transmitter 230 of the device 200 to
Similarly, the control terminal 132 of the receiver 130 of the card 100 is grounded through the connector terminal 108F of the card 100.
It is grounded through the 0 connector terminal 202g.

Transceivers 130 and 230 are therefore enabled, respectively, and data can be written from device 200 to card 100 through data lines 114 and 21B. Although not shown, the data read line from card 100 to device 200 is similarly activated.

Similarly, when card 100 is manually removed from device 200, a time lag for removal is provided between predetermined terminals of connectors 108 and 202. In this case, the time difference takes the order shown by the arrow "extraction" in FIG. In more detail, first connect the connector terminals 108f and 108g with
02f and 202g are disconnected from each other, and the bus state is made floating.
02a is separated, and power supply to the RAM 102 from the device 200 side is stopped. Finally, connector terminals 108b and 202b are disengaged, thereby mechanically separating data lines 1 and 21G.

In this way, in the embodiment shown in FIG.
pin engagement position, thereby ensuring that the RAM
This prevents destruction of the memory contents of 102 and malfunction of the system.

In this embodiment, unlike the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, the system control section 210 is not provided with a time difference guarantee function. The engagement length Ll of the connector terminal 202b may be substantially the same as the engagement length L2 of the connector terminal 202a.In short, as long as it is inserted, the transmission and reception can be performed at the latest after the power supply connectors 108a and 202a are connected. Connector terminals 108F and 108g are connected to connector terminals 202F and 20 before operation activation of devices 130 and 230
It suffices if 2g is connected in a straight line. Of course, when disconnecting, the opposite is true.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the time difference is realized depending on the engagement position of the connector 202 of the device 200, but it is also possible to create a difference in the engagement length of the connector 108 of the memory card 100 without doing this. Further, the engagement lengths of both the connectors 108 and 202 may be different. Also, the shapes of the connectors 108 and 202 in the illustrated embodiment are conceptual for explaining the present invention, and are not intended for the purpose of the present invention. The idea of the invention is not limited thereto, but in any other manner that provides a time difference in the mechanical engagement of the connector terminals, such as, for example, mating connector terminals of different lengths abutting a spring-loaded connector terminal. will also be realized.

Although an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a memory card has been described,
The present invention is not limited to this, but can also be effectively applied to other forms of modular storage media in which, for example, an IC package equipped with a storage element is removably connected to an IC socket. In this specification, the term "modular storage medium" is used to generically refer to such removable storage media.

Effects As described above, the present invention provides reading/reading of a modular storage medium.
A time difference is given to the connection and disconnection of a specific terminal of the connector with respect to other terminals when the connector is attached to and detached from the writing device. This effectively prevents the storage contents from being destroyed and the system from malfunctioning when the modular storage medium is attached to and removed from the device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a memory card and its read/write device. FIGS. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram similar to FIG. 1 showing another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 3 is a logic diagram illustrating an example of control logic in the illustrated embodiment. 112,. 13G. 200. 204,. 208,. 210,. 211,. 230,. Transmitter/receiver Receiver Card read/write device Drive wheel drive circuit System control unit Power transmitter

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. In a protection method for a modular storage medium that is removably connected to a device having read/write functions for the modular storage medium and is equipped with a storage element, the method includes: when loading the storage medium into the device; A protection method for a modular storage medium, characterized in that first, power supply to the storage medium is started, and then a data line between the storage medium and the device is electrically activated. 2. 2. The method according to claim 1, when separating the storage medium from the device, first electrically inactivating a data line between the storage medium and the device;
Next, a protection method for a modular storage medium is characterized in that power supply to the storage medium is stopped. 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the device has control means for controlling the operation of the device, and the control means controls the start of the power supply and the activation of the data line. A protection method for modular storage media. 4. 3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the device has a control means for controlling the operation of the device, and the control means controls inactivation of the data line and stopping of the power supply. A protection method for modular storage media. 5. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the storage medium and the device are removably connected by connector means, the connector means determining the order of initiation of the power supply and activation of the data line by engagement of the terminals. A protection method for a modular storage medium characterized by specifying the difference in position. 6. 6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the storage medium and the device each include a transmitting/receiving means detachably connected to the data line via the connector means and transmitting/receiving signals via the data line; / A protection system for a modular storage medium, characterized in that activation of the receiving means is controlled by connection of the connector means. 7. 3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the storage medium and the device are removably connected by connector means, and the connector means determines the order in which the data line is inactivated and the power supply is stopped. A protection method for a modular storage medium characterized by defining a difference in engagement positions. 8. 8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the storage medium and the device each include a transmitting/receiving means detachably connected to the data line via the connector means and transmitting/receiving signals via the data line; / A protection system for a modular storage medium, characterized in that the reception means is controlled to be inactivated by connection of the connector means. 9. In a read/write device for a modular storage medium to which a modular storage medium equipped with a storage element is removably connected and reads/writes to the storage medium, the device comprises: connecting a connection line of the storage medium to the device. a connector means for connecting; a detection means for detecting a connection by the connector means; a power supply means for supplying power to the storage medium via the connection line of the connector means; a first connection line for controlling the read/write circuit of the storage medium and a control means for controlling the read/write circuit of the storage medium; The control means includes a second connection line for transmitting and receiving data, and a third connection line for feeding power to the storage element, and when the detection means detects connection of the storage medium to the connector means, the control means first detects the connection of the storage medium to the connector means. , controlling the power supply means to start supplying power to the third connection line, and then controlling the read/write circuit through the first connection line to enable data transmission and reception through the second connection line. A reading/writing device for a modular storage medium, characterized in that: 10. In a modular storage medium that is removably connected to a device having read/write functions for the modular storage medium, the storage medium includes a storage means for storing data, and a read/write device for reading/writing the storage means. means, a support carrying the storage means and read/write means, a first connection line for controlling the read/write means, a second connection line for sending and receiving data to and from the read/write circuit, and connector means for connecting a third connecting line for supplying power to the storage means to the device; After power supply to the storage means is started, the module is controlled through a first connection line to enable data to be sent and received through a second connection line. 11. The storage medium according to claim 10, wherein reading/
The writing means is controlled through the first connection line to write the second connection when the storage medium is separated from the device by the connector means, before the power supply to the storage means is stopped by the third connection line. A modular storage medium characterized in that it is impossible to send and receive data through connection lines.