FLASHTOASTER FOR READING SEVERAL TYPES OF FLASH MEMORY CARDS WITH OR WITHOUT A PC

摘要

A flash memory card reader comprises a plurality of connectors (62, 64, 66, 68) each having a respective slot adapted to removably receive a flash memory card; a converter chip (40) connected to the connectors and adapted to convert signals from a flash-memory card currently inserted in one of said connectors to read data from the flash-memory card; the converter chip having an interface (100) for outputting data read from the flash-memory card. A first connector (62) has a parallel data bus and control signals for parallel data transfer from a parallel card type of flash-memory card providing parallel data access. A second connector (64) has a serial data pin and a clock pin for controlling serial data transfer from a serial card type of flash-memory card providing serial data access. The converter chip controls serial data transfer for serial cards and parallel data transfer for parallel cards, whereby multiple types of flash-memory card can be read by the card reader using the converter chip. The converter chip has a shifter (98) connected to data and clock signals (DATA; CLK) from the second connector and which clocks in one bit of data for each clock pulse when the serial card (28) is of a first type providing bit by bit data access and to clock in one word of data for each clock pulse when the serial card (26) is of a second type providing word by word data access.