Abstract: There is provided a technology to realize high speed data transfer while compatibility of a card type storage device comprising a nonvolatile memory is ensured. Namely, in the card type storage device comprising the nonvolatile memory, a plurality of data terminals are provided and an interface unit is provided with a circuit for determining levels of data terminals. Some or all of the plurality of data terminals are connected with pull-up resistors for pulling up to a power source voltage. When the determination circuit determines that the data terminals connected with the pull-up resistors are in an open condition, the determination circuit switches a bus width (number of bits) of data.

Abstract: A memory card (1) includes an electrically rewritable non-volatile memory (4), a data processor (3) having a function of executing instructions, and managing the allocation of file data in the non-volatile memory, an interface control circuit (2) having a function of establishing an external interface, for controlling the execution of instructions by the data processor in response to external commands and for controlling access to the non-volatile memory and a buffer memory (7) for temporarily storing the file data. The interface control circuit includes command control means for decoding a first command externally supplied and for instructing the data processor to fetch an instruction from the buffer memory and to operate.

Abstract: When a non-volatile memory write error occurs in a card storage device containing a non-volatile memory and an error correction circuit, write data is read from the non-volatile memory and a check is made if the error can be corrected by the error correction circuit. If the error can be corrected, the write operation is ended. If the error correction circuit cannot correct the error, substitute processing is performed to write data into some other area.

Abstract: There is provided a technology to realize high speed data transfer while compatibility of a card type storage device comprising a nonvolatile memory is ensured. Namely, in the card type storage device comprising the nonvolatile memory, a plurality of data terminals are provided and an interface unit is provided with a circuit for determining levels of data terminals. Some or all of the plurality of data terminals are connected with pull-up resistors for pulling up to a power source voltage. When the determination circuit determines that the data terminals connected with the pull-up resistors are in an open condition, the determination circuit switches a bus width (number of bits) of data.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to suppress data loss caused by power shut-down during a rewriting process and to shorten time required to make a depletion check. A nonvolatile memory apparatus includes a rewritable nonvolatile memory and a card controller. The nonvolatile memory has a physical address area corresponding to a logical address and a save area. In response to a data rewrite instruction on a required logical address, the card controller stores data in a predetermined physical address area corresponding to the logical address to the save area and rewrites the data stored in the physical address area. When rewriting of the physical address area is incomplete, the card controller rewrites the data in the physical address area with the data stored in the save area. Thus, data loss caused by the power shut-down can be suppressed by data backup, and it is sufficient to make the depletion check in two places of the save area and the physical address area.

Abstract: When a non-volatile memory write error occurs in a card storage device containing a non-volatile memory and an error correction circuit, write data is read from the non-volatile memory and a check is made if the error can be corrected by the error correction circuit. If the error can be corrected, the write operation is ended. If the error correction circuit cannot correct the error, substitute processing is performed to write data into some other area.

Abstract: A memory card and a microcomputer with nonvolatile memory wherein operation under two different types of power supply specifications is achieved are provided. A MultiMediaCard comprises a flash memory and a controller which controls the operation associated with the flash memory. When the controller judges the level of supply voltage supplied from host equipment, it operates as follows: the controller judges whether detecting point corresponding to the voltage level of 1.8V system has been exceeded. After the judgment of excess, the controller judges whether detecting point corresponding to the voltage level of 3.3V system has been exceeded. When the supply voltage is at the voltage level of 1.8V system, the controller causes the flash memory to operate in the 1.8V-system operation mode without driving regulators or level shifters. When the supply voltage is at the voltage level of 3.

Abstract: A memory card (1) includes an electrically rewritable non-volatile memory (4), a data processor (3) having a function of executing instructions, and managing the allocation of file data in the non-volatile memory, an interface control circuit (2) having a function of establishing an external interface, for controlling the execution of instructions by the data processor in response to external commands and for controlling access to the non-volatile memory and a buffer memory (7) for temporarily storing the file data. The interface control circuit includes command control means for decoding a first command externally supplied and for instructing the data processor to fetch an instruction from the buffer memory and to operate.

Abstract: A controller 3 of a memory card is a provided with a command decoding circuit 6 for decoding commands issued by a host HT, a command enable register 8 in which the validity or invalidity of the received command, and a command detection signal generating circuit 7 for detecting a valid command on the basis of the result of decoding by the command decoding circuit 6 and a value set by the command enable register 8. If the command enable register 8 receives a validly set command, the command detection signal generating circuit 7 will supply a detection signal to a control unit 4 to execute processing prescribed for each command the command enable register 8 receives an invalidly set command, no detection signal will be supplied, and the command will be ignored.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nonvolatile memory card in which a program is added, modified, changed, or the like by selecting arbitrary firmware on a flash memory from a plurality of pieces of firmware on flash memories. In a memory card, in addition to a program stored in a built-in ROM, firmware on flash memories as programs for adding, changing, modifying, or the like of a function such as a patch program are stored. Firmware on a flash memory which is desired to be made valid is set in a parameter sector or the like and is loaded into an external RAM, and the CPU of a control logic executes a process.

Abstract: In a card storage device containing a non-volatile memory and a buffer memory, the buffer memory includes a plurality of banks. Data is transferred sequentially from a host CPU to the banks of the buffer memory, data is transferred to the non-volatile memory from a bank that becomes full, a write operation is started when one unit of data to be written into the non-volatile memory at a time has been transferred and, without waiting for the data to be written, the next write data is transferred from the host CPU to a bank from which write data has been transferred.

Abstract: There is provided a technology to realize high speed data transfer while compatibility of a card type storage device comprising a nonvolatile memory is ensured. Namely, in the card type storage device comprising the nonvolatile memory, a plurality of data terminals are provided and an interface unit is provided with a circuit for determining levels of data terminals. Some or all of the plurality of data terminals are connected with pull-up resistors for pulling up to a power source voltage. When the determination circuit determines that the data terminals connected with the pull-up resistors are in an open condition, the determination circuit switches a bus width (number of bits) of data.

Abstract: A memory card is provided in which power consumption is reduced by the pull-up resistor of an input terminal and a misoperation induced by the pull-down resistor of a host apparatus is prevented. The memory card has a select terminal connected to the pull-up resistor. When the mode of the memory card is determined based on an input from the select terminal, a relatively low resistance value is selected for the pull-up resistor of the select terminal before a determination timing and the pull-up resistor is restored to an initial resistance value after the mode determination. A relatively high resistance value reduces a leakage current consumed by the pull-up resistor of the select terminal. When a pull-down resistor is connected to the terminal of a memory card host to which the memory card is attached, if the resistance value of the pull-up resistor is excessively high, it is influenced by the drawing in of a current by the pull-down resistor.

Abstract: A semiconductor storage device that determines the cause of an error at the time of the error correction of data read out from a non-volatile semiconductor memory, on the basis of a previously recorded error correction count, and selects a data refresh processing or a substitute processing to perform. When the error is detected, the corrected data is rewritten back for preventing reoccurrence of error due to accidental cause. If it is determined that the reoccurrence frequency of the error is high and the error is due to degradation of the storage medium, based on the error correction count, the substitute processing is performed.

Abstract: In a card storage device containing a non-volatile memory and a buffer memory, the buffer memory includes a plurality of banks. Data is transferred sequentially from a host CPU to the banks of the buffer memory, data is transferred to the non-volatile memory from a bank that becomes full, a write operation is started when one unit of data to be written into the non-volatile memory at a time has been transferred and, without waiting for the data to be written, the next write data is transferred from the host CPU to a bank from which write data has been transferred.

Abstract: A memory card (1) including an electrically rewritable non-volatile memory (4), a data processor (3) having a function of executing instructions, managing the allocation of file data in the non-volatile memory, an interface control circuit (2) having a function of establishing external interface, for controlling the execution of instructions by the data processor in response to external commands and for controlling access to the non-volatile memory and a buffer memory (7) for temporarily storing the file data, wherein the interface control circuit includes command control means for decoding a first command supplied externally and for instructing the data processor to fetch an instruction from the buffer memory and to operate.

Abstract: When a non-volatile memory write error occurs in a card storage device containing a non-volatile memory and an error correction circuit, write data is read from the non-volatile memory and a check is made if the error can be corrected by the error correction circuit. If the error can be corrected, the write operation is ended. If the error correction circuit cannot correct the error, substitute processing is performed to write data into some other area.

Abstract: In the conventional nonvolatile memory, it is not possible to determine the cause of the error is accidental or due to the degradation when the error is detect at the time of data read. Therefore, unnecessary substitute processing is performed, resulting in the exhaustion of the substitute area to shorten the life of the storage device.

Abstract: A memory card (1) includes an electrically rewritable non-volatile memory (4), a data processor (3) having a function of executing instructions and managing the allocation of file data in the non-volatile memory, an interface control circuit (2) having a function of establishing an external interface, for controlling the execution of instructions by the data processor in response to external commands and for controlling access to the non-volatile memory and a buffer memory (7) for temporarily storing the file data. The interface control circuit includes command control means for decoding a first command externally supplied and for instructing the data processor to fetch an instruction from the buffer memory and to operate.

Abstract: When a non-volatile memory write error occurs in a card storage device containing a non-volatile memory and an error correction circuit, write data is read from the non-volatile memory and a check is made if the error can be corrected by the error correction circuit. If the error can be corrected, the write operation is ended. If the error correction circuit cannot correct the error, substitute processing is performed to write data into some other area.