Memory card adapter and memory apparatus

Memory card adapters and/or a memory apparatuses may be provided. For example, a memory card adapter including a main housing section that corresponds to a memory card socket of a first standard, the main housing section including a card housing section, the card housing section configured to house a memory card of a second standard different from the first standard therein, a first surface of the main housing section defining a through-hole, the through-hole configured to expose a connection pin of the memory card to be housed in the housing section to an outside of the housing section, and a second surface of the main housing section defining a card insertion hole, the second surface being different from the first surface, the card insertion hole configured to receive the memory card into the card housing section may be provided.

This application claims under 35 U.S.C. §119 priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0117248, filed on Aug. 20, 2015, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present inventive concepts relate to memory card adapters and memory apparatuses.

2. Description of the Related Art

External memory cards are easy to carry and support multiple standards. For example, the memory card may be manufactured as a full-size memory card or as a mini-size memory card having a smaller size than the full-size memory card, depending on the application. A host device equipped with a memory card socket may send and receive a data to and from the memory card inserted into the memory card socket. However, the memory card socket may vary depending on the host device. In order to use the same memory card (e.g., a mini-size memory card) between multiple host devices respectively equipped with the memory card sockets having different standards (e.g., in terms of form factor and/or supporting operation speed), techniques that enable the mini-size memory card to be inserted into the memory card socket to which the full-size memory card is inserted is desired.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present inventive concepts provides a memory card adapter for using a memory card compliant with a first standard in a memory card socket compliant with a second standard different from the first standard.

Another aspect of the present inventive concepts provides a memory apparatus for using a memory card compliant with a first standard in a memory card socket compliant with a second standard different from the first standard.

Aspects of the present inventive concepts are not restricted to those set forth herein. Other aspects that have not been mentioned will become more apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present inventive concept pertains from the following description.

According to an example embodiment, a memory card adapter includes a main housing section that corresponds to a memory card socket of a first standard, the main housing section including a card housing section, the card housing section configured to house a memory card of a second standard different from the first standard therein, a first surface of the main housing section defining a through-hole, the through-hole configured to expose a connection pin of the memory card to be housed in the housing section to an outside of the housing section, and a second surface of the main housing section defining a card insertion hole, the second surface being different from the first surface, the card insertion hole configured to receive the memory card into the card housing section.

According to an example embodiment, a memory card adapter includes a main housing section including a card housing section, the card housing section configured to receive a memory card inserted into one side surface of the main housing section, an upper surface of the main housing section defining a through-hole, the through-hole configured to expose a connection pin of the memory card therethrough. A distance between the upper surface of the main housing section and the card housing section may be less than a distance between a lower surface of the main housing section and the card housing section.

According to an example embodiment, a memory card adapter includes a main housing section that corresponds to a memory card socket of a first standard, the main housing section including a card housing section, the card housing section configured to house a memory card of a second standard different from the first standard therein, an upper surface of the main housing section defining a through-hole and a card insertion hole, the through-hole configured to expose a connection pin of the memory card therethrough, and the card insertion hole configured to receive the memory card into the card housing section.

According to an example embodiment, a memory apparatus includes a memory card including a plurality of connection pins on one surface thereof, and a memory card adapter configured to house the memory card through one of an upper surface and a side surface thereof, the memory card adapter including a through-hole, the through hole configured to expose the plurality of connection pins of the memory card therethrough.

According to an example embodiment, a memory card adapter being compliant with a memory card socket having a first form factor includes a card housing section configured to house a memory card, the memory card having a second form factor, the second form factor smaller than the first form factor, the memory card including a card connection pin, the card connection pin compliant with a first standard, a first surface of the memory card adapter defining a card insertion hole, the card insertion hole configured to receive the memory card into the card housing section, and a second surface of the memory card adapter defining a through-hole, the through-hole exposing the card connection pin of the memory card.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1is a schematic diagram for illustrating a memory card adapter according to an example embodiment of the present inventive concepts,FIG. 2Aa diagram illustrating a cross-section taken along line II-II′ in the example embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1, andFIG. 2Bis a diagram illustrating one side surface of the memory card adapter according to an example embodiment of the present inventive concepts.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2A, a memory card adapter100may include a housing section102, a through-hole110and a card insertion hole104.

The memory card adapter100may house a memory card200therein and may be inserted into the memory card socket300. Here, the memory card socket300, for example, may correspond to a first standard to allow the insertion of the memory card compliant with the first standard, and be mounted on a host device that accesses the memory card200. The memory card200may comply with a second standard different from the first standard. For example, the memory card socket300, for example, may be manufactured for a full size memory card (e.g., Multimedia card) of 24 mm×32 min, and the memory card200, for example, may be a mini size memory card (e.g., microSD card) of 11 mm×15 mm. That is, the memory card adapter100may allow the memory card200(e.g., Universal Flash Storage (UFS) Card) having the external size compliant with the second standard to be used in the memory card socket300(e.g., SD card) compliant with the first standard. In some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, the memory card adapter100may be manufactured of an insulating material (e.g., plastic).

In some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, the memory card200may be a memory card that operates using a high-speed interface. For example, the memory card200may operate using at least one of a universal flash storage (UFS) interface, an ultra-high speed class 1 (UHS-1) interface and an ultra-high speed class 2 (LTHS-2) interfaces, but the scope of the present inventive concepts is not limited thereto. Meanwhile, in some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, the memory card20may include at least one of a secure digital (SD) card, a micro SD card, a multimedia card (MMC), a universal flash storage (UFS) card, a memory stick (MS), and an extreme digital (xD) card. Meanwhile, in some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, the memory card200may include a plurality of connection pins that is formed on one surface in plural rows. For example, the memory card200may include a plurality of connection pins210,212,220,222that are formed on one surface in two rows.

The housing section102may correspond to the memory card socket300, and include a card housing section103that houses the memory card200therein. That is, the housing section102may correspond to the memory card socket300compliant with the first standard, and the internal card housing section103may house the memory card200compliant with the second standard different from the first standard.

The through-hole110may be formed on a first surface of the housing section102, and expose the connection pins210,212,220,222of the memory card200housed in the housing section102to the outside of the housing section102. Here, the first surface of the housing section102, for example, may correspond to the upper surface or the lower surface of the housing section102, with respect to the ground. In this specification, for the convenience of explanation, the through-hole110may be formed on an upper surface of the housing section102. In some example embodiments, the through-hole110may also be formed on a lower surface of the housing section102.

When the memory card adapter100with the memory card200inserted thereto is inserted to the memory card socket300, the through-hole110of the card adapter100may house a part of the connection pins310,312of the memory card socket300therein. That is, the connection pins310,312of the memory card socket300may be partially disposed inside the through-hole110. The connection pins212,222of the memory card200exposed by the through-hole110may form a direct-contact (e.g., a direct physical contact) with the connection pins310,312of the memory card socket300. For example, when the memory card socket300having a first form factor receives the memory card adapter100including the memory card200having a second form factor, The connection pins212,222of the memory card200exposed by the through-hole110may form a direct-contact (e.g., a direct physical contact) with the connection pins310,312of the memory card socket300. Both the connection pins212,222of the memory card200and the connection pins310,312of the memory card socket300may be compliant with a first data transfer rate.

As described above, the memory card200compliant with the second standard may operate using a high-speed interface. For example, when the memory card200operates using a UFS interface, a data rate may range from approximately 1.5 Gbps to approximately 6 Gbps, or may reach approximately 12 Gbps. In view of the operating characteristics of the memory card200, the memory card adapter100, which can accommodate memory cards compliant with different external standards between the memory card socket300and the memory cards200, may provide a direct electrical connection (e.g., a direct physical contact) between the connection pins310,312of the memory card socket300and the connection pins212,222of the memory card200, using the through-hole110.

The card insertion hole104may be formed on a second surface of the housing section102, for example, on one side surface of the housing section102to insert the memory card200into the housing section102. For example, the card insertion hole104may be disposed to be deflected toward an upper surface of the housing section102so as to provide a direct electrical connection (e.g., a direct physical contact) between the connection pins212,222of the memory card200and the connection pins310,312of the memory card socket300described above in connection with the through-hole110. Referring toFIG. 2B, on one side surface of the housing section102, a distance d1between the upper surface of the housing section102and the card insertion hole104may be shorter than a distance d2between a lower surface of the housing section102and the card insertion hole104.

In other words, the distance between the upper surface of the housing section102and the card housing section103may be shorter than the distance between the lower surface of the housing section102and the card housing section103. Meanwhile, when the memory card adapter200with the memory card100inserted thereto is inserted into the memory card socket300, the distance between the upper surface of the memory card adapter100and the upper surface of the memory card200housed in the memory card adapter100may be shorter than the distance between the lower surface of the memory card adapter100and the lower surface of the memory card200housed in the memory card adapter100.

FIG. 3Ais a schematic diagram for illustrating a memory card adapter according to an example embodiment of the present inventive concepts,FIG. 3Bis a diagram illustrating a cross-section taken along line III-III′ in the example embodiment illustrated inFIG. 3A, andFIG. 3Cis a diagram illustrating one side surface of a memory card adapter according to an example embodiment of the present inventive concepts.

Referring toFIGS. 3A to 3B, these example embodiments are different from the example embodiments ofFIGS. 1, 2A and 2Bin that a through-hole110is formed to extend to one side of the memory card adapter100such that the memory card200is located close to the upper surface of the card adapter100as much as possible. As the through-hole110is formed to extend to one side of the memory card adapter100, a portion of the card adapter100may be used to secure the memory card200. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 3A, the card adapter100may be formed to partially protrude or extend over the memory card200by thicknesses a1, a2, a3. A thickness d3of the protrusion (i.e., a distance between the upper surface of the housing section102and the memory card200) may be less than a thickness d4of the protrusion (i.e., a distance between the lower surface of the housing section102and the memory card200).

FIGS. 4 and 5are schematic diagrams for illustrating a memory card adapter according to some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts,FIG. 6is a diagram illustrating a cross-section taken along line VI-VI′ in the example embodiment illustrated inFIG. 4, andFIG. 7is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 6and illustrating a cross-section taken along line VII-VII′ in the example embodiment illustrated inFIG. 4.

Referring toFIG. 4, this example embodiment is different from the example embodiment ofFIG. 1in that a memory card adapter100further includes a cover120. The cover120may be formed on the second surface of the memory card adapter100in which a card insertion hole104is formed, thereby opening and closing the card insertion hole104. Thus, the cover120may prevent the unintentional release of the memory card200housed in a housing section102.

Referring toFIGS. 5 and 6, the cover120may be a sliding cover that opens and closes the card insertion hole104in a sliding manner along the second surface of the memory card adapter100. The cover120may include a cover coupling section122for coupling the cover120with the housing section102on its one surface (e.g., the second surface). The cover coupling section122may be coupled to a cover guide section124formed on the second surface of the housing section102, and may guide the movement of the cover120(e.g., guiding the sliding cover to slide on the second surface of the housing section102). In some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, the cover guide section124may be provided on the second surface of the memory card adapter100over a first area I and a third area III, and may not be formed in a second area II in which the card insertion hole104is provided.

Referring toFIG. 7the cover guide section124may be formed over the first area I to the third area III on the second surface of the memory card adapter100at a position vertically lower than a position of the card insertion hole104. In such cases, the second area II on the second surface of the memory card adapter100may include both of the card insertion hole104and a part of the cover guide section124. According to some example embodiments of the inventive concepts, the cover guide section124may also be formed over the first area I to the third area III on the second surface of the memory card adapter100at the position vertically higher than the position of the card insertion hole104.

The shapes of the cover120, the cover coupling section122and the cover guide section124illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6, and the vertical positions of the cover coupling section122and the cover guide section124are only examples for the explanation of the present inventive concepts. The specific shapes of the cover120, the cover coupling section122and the cover guide section124, and the specific vertical positions of the cover coupling section122and the cover guide section124may vary depending on their applications and manufacturing environments.

FIG. 8is a schematic diagram for illustrating a memory card adapter according to an example embodiment of the present inventive concepts.

Referring toFIG. 8, a memory card adapter100may include an inclined card housing section103. Thus, the card housing section103may allow the memory card200to be obliquely housed on the lower surface of a housing section102. In some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, a contact surface106, on which the interior of the housing section102and the lower surface of the memory card200come into contact with each other, may be formed to form an acute angle θ with the lower surface of the housing section102. Thus, the physical distance between connection pins212,222of the memory card200and connection pins310,312of a memory card socket300may be reduced, thereby enhancing the direct electrical connection.

FIG. 9is a schematic diagram for illustrating a memory card adapter according to an example embodiment of the present inventive concepts, andFIG. 10is a diagram illustrating a cross-section taken along line X-X′ in the example embodiment illustrated inFIG. 9.

Referring toFIGS. 9 and 10, a memory card adapter100includes a housing section102, a through-hole112and a card insertion hole114.

The housing section102corresponds to a memory card socket302, and includes a card housing section103that houses a memory card200therein. That is, the housing section102corresponds to a memory card socket300compliant with a first standard, and the internal card housing section103houses the memory card200compliant with a second standard different from the first standard.

A through-hole112may be formed on the upper surface of the housing section102to expose connection pins210,212,220,222of the memory card200housed in the housing section102to the outside of the housing102. In some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, the housing section102may include a first long side extending in a first direction in which the memory card adapter100is inserted into the memory card socket302, and a second long side spaced apart from the first long side, and includes a first short side extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a second short side spaced apart from the first short side. A distance d3between the first short side and the through-hole112may be longer than a distance d4between the through-hole112and the second short side.

The card insertion hole114may be formed on the upper surface of the housing section102to insert the memory card200into the card housing section103from the upper surface of the housing section102. In some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, the housing section102may include a card insertion guide section113such that the memory card200can be inserted through the card insertion hole114in a sliding manner. Here, the card insertion guide section113may have an inclined shape such that the memory card200can be obliquely inserted through the card insertion hole114. Meanwhile, in some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, the card insertion hole114may be formed between the first short side and the through-hole112.

FIG. 11is a schematic diagram for illustrating a memory card adapter according to an example embodiment of the present inventive concepts, andFIG. 12is a diagram illustrating a cross-section taken along line XII-XII′ in the example embodiment illustrated inFIG. 11.

Referring toFIGS. 11 and 12, a memory card adapter100may be inserted into a memory card socket304which includes first connection pins310,312configured to transfer data through a first interface, and a second connection pin330configured to transfer data through a second interface different from the first interface. In this case, a through-hole110of the card adapter100may connect connection pins210,212,220,222of the memory card.200housed in a housing section102to the first connection pins310,312for the first interface of the memory card socket304.

In some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, the first interface corresponds to a high-speed interface, and the second interface may correspond to a low-speed interface as compared to the first interface. For example, the first interface supports a data rate of 1.5 Gbps or more, and the second interface may support a data rate lower than the first interface. Thus, in the memory card socket304which supports the two interface for supporting different data rates, the memory card adapter100may connect the connection pins210,212,220,222(which is compliant with a first data transfer rate) of the memory card200housed in the housing section102to the first connection pins310,312(which is compliant with a first data transfer rate) for the first interface of the memory card socket304, through the through-hole110. In this case, the second connection pin330for the second interface of the memory card socket304may be damaged by collision or friction with the memory card adapter100, while the memory card adapter100is inserted into or separated from the memory card socket304.

In order to avoid this problem, the memory card adapter100according to this embodiment may further include an insulating coating film130formed at a position where the housing section102and the second connection pin330come into contact with each other on the upper surface of the housing section102. In some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, the insulating coating film130may be formed of plastic or polymer compound equivalent thereto to reduce an influence due to the friction or collision between the memory card adapter100and the second connection pin330. In some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, the insulating coating film may be formed at a location corresponding to a location for a connection pin compliant with a second data transfer rate. The connection pin compliant with the second data transfer rate may refer to the second connection pin330of the memory card socket300, a connection pin (not shown) of the memory card adopter100that is complaint with the second data transfer rate, or both. According to some example embodiments, the insulation coating film130and the through-hole110may be provided on a same surface of the memory card adapter100, while being spaced apart from each other.

FIG. 13is a schematic diagram for illustrating a memory card adapter according to an example embodiment of the present inventive concepts,FIG. 14is a diagram illustrating a cross-section taken along line XIV-XIV′ in the example embodiment illustrated inFIG. 13, andFIG. 15is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the example embodiment illustrated inFIG. 14.

Referring toFIG. 13, a memory card adapter100may include a recess area140aand a non-recess area140b. As described above in connection withFIGS. 11 and 12, the second connection pin330for the second interface of the memory card socket304may be damaged by collision or friction with the memory card adapter100while the memory card adapter100is inserted into or separated from a memory card socket304. In order to prevent or mitigate this problem, the memory card adapter100according to this example embodiment may include the recess area140awhich spaces the housing section102from the second connection pin330of the memory card socket304.

In some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, as illustrated inFIG. 14, the recess area140amay be formed so that a corner of the housing section102has a chamfered shape. In some other example embodiments of the inventive concepts, as illustrated inFIG. 15, the recess area140amay be formed to have a step from the upper surface of the non-recess area140b. In some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, the recessed area140amay be formed at a location corresponding to a location for a connection pin compliant with a second data transfer rate or a second standard. The connection pin compliant with the second data transfer rate or the second standard may refer to the second connection pin330of the memory card socket300, a connection pin (not shown) of the memory card adopter100that is complaint with the second data transfer rate or the second standard, or both. According to some example embodiments, the recess area140aand the through-hole110may be spaced apart from each other.

According to various example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, a memory card socket supporting (e.g., compliant with) different standards (e.g., SD card, MicroSD Card, UFS) may house a memory card compliant with a high-speed interface (e.g., UFS) while stably maintaining data rate supported by the high-speed interface.

FIG. 16is a block diagram of an electronic system including a host device that uses the memory card adapter according to the example embodiments of the present inventive concepts.

Referring toFIG. 16, an electronic system1100may include a controller1110, an input/output (I/O) device1120, a memory device1130, an interface1140, and a bus1150. The controller1110, the I/O device1120, the memory device1130and/or the interface1140may be connected to one another through the bus1150. The bus1150corresponds to a path through which the data are moved.

The controller1110may include at least one of a microprocessor, a digital signal processor, a microcontroller, and logic devices capable of performing similar functions to the elements. The I/O device1120may include a keypad, a keyboard and a display device. The memory device1130may store data and/or commands. The interface1140may serve to transmit data to or receive data from a communication network. The interface1140may be a wired or wireless interface. For example, the interface1140may include an antenna or a wired or wireless transceiver.

Although not shown in the drawing, the electronic system1100may include an operating memory for improving the operation of the controller1110. For example, the electronic system1100may further include a high-speed DRAM or SRAM.

The electronic system1100may be applied to a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable computer, a web tablet, a wireless phone, a mobile phone, a digital music player and a memory card, or all types of electronic products capable of transmitting or receiving information in a wireless environment.

The electronic system1100may include a host device that can transmit and receive the data to and from the memory card, using the memory card adapter according to the above-mentioned example embodiments of the present inventive concepts.

FIGS. 17 to 19are example semiconductor systems to which the memory card adapter according to some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, and the memory card socket using the same are applicable.

FIG. 17illustrates a tablet personal computer (PC)1200,FIG. 18illustrates a laptop computer1300, andFIG. 19illustrates a smartphone1400. At least one of the memory card adapter according to the example embodiments of the present inventive concepts and the memory card socket using the same may be used in the tablet PC1200, the notebook computer1300, and/or the smartphone1400.

Further, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the memory card adapter according to some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts and the memory card socket using the same may also be applied to other IC devices other than those set forth herein. That is, while only the tablet PC120, the notebook computer1300and the smartphone1400have been described above as the application examples according to the example embodiment of the present inventive concepts, but application examples are not limited thereto. In some example embodiments of the present inventive concepts, the semiconductor system equipped with the memory card adapter and the memory card socket using the same may be provided as a computer, an ultra-mobile PC (UMPC), a work station, a net-book computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable computer, a wireless phone, a mobile phone, an e-book, a portable multimedia player (PMP), a portable game console, a navigation device, a black box, a digital camera, a 3-dimensional television set, a digital audio recorder, a digital audio player, a digital picture recorder, a digital picture player, a digital video recorder, a digital video player, etc.

While the present inventive concepts have been particularly illustrated and described with reference to some example embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present inventive concepts as defined by the following claims. The disclosed example embodiments should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.