O2micro International Limited

Maishi Electronic (Shanghai) Ltd.

Miki Takahashi

Katsutoshi Akagi

An interface circuit provides communication between a memory card and a host device. The interface circuit includes first and second sets of pins and a control unit. The control unit enables the first set of pins and disables the second set of pins when transferring a first set of signals in a first mode via the first set of pins, and disables the first set of pins and enables the second set of pins when transferring a second set of signals in a second mode via the second set of pins. The control unit transfers a clock signal of the second set of signals by differential signaling in the second mode via a clock pin of the second set of pins. A signal transfer in the second mode is at a greater speed than a signal transfer in the first mode.

Circuits and methods for providing communication between a memory card and a host device

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide devices and methods for operating two memory cards. In one embodiment, an electronic device includes a host controller, a first socket in communication with the host controller, for receiving a first memory card and a second socket, and a second socket in communication with the host controller, for receiving a second memory card. The physical pin arrangement of the second socket is in an order reversed from the physical pin arrangement of the first socket. The host controller transmits power to the first memory card and cuts off power to the second memory card during a first time period, and cuts off power to the first memory card and transmits power to the second memory card during a second time period. The first socket and the second socket transmit and receive same set of data signals.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Miki Takahashi