microdrive with ZIF 35 pins connector - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: legacy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2019, 02:31:39 pm
content: so I have to use a bunch of 6 and 8Gbyte microdrive units and they come with a ZIF connector where there are 35 contacts in a staggered 18+17 layout, and of course, this 35-pin is not compatible to any 40-pin ribbon cable used, and the pinout is not compatible to regular 40-pin ZIF-ATA.I cannot find any documentation from Hitachi or Seagate: anyone?

author: krho
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2019, 04:39:16 pm
content: And this is not a CompactFlash card interface? Which did have ATA mode.

author: legacy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2019, 07:42:59 pm
content: not clear, but it should be ATA_CE interface on a custom connector.

author: tsman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2019, 07:47:30 pm
content: Pinout + connector part number. Making a FPC adapter for these microdrives seem like a lot of hassle for only 8GB when CF cards have surpassed that.Supposedly some of these microdrives have non-standard firmware on them so only the CE versions have a PATA interface.

author: legacy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2019, 08:07:16 pm
content: Quote from: tsman on January 29, 2019, 07:47:30 pmflash is no good for certain applications, and I don't want to use flashQuote from: tsman on January 29, 2019, 07:47:30 pmthe firmware should be pATA.Anyway, at the moment I have bought also a bunch of 4 GByte micro-drives. They have a common CF+ interface and pATA protocol. But ... they are only of 4Gbyte of capacity for the application so I am trying to adapt the application software.6Gbyte was the minimal, 8Gbyte was really helpful.Anyway, I cannot understand WHY Seagate and Hitachi did that weird ZIF custom interface.For what? Cameras are *ALL* CF+, MP3 Players are *ALL* based on Flash, so ... it makes no sense.

author: legacy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2019, 08:10:26 pm
content: but the real point is: really isn't there any public documentation for that?weird, but it really seems so because I cannot find it

author: tsman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2019, 08:19:13 pm
content: Quote from: legacy on January 29, 2019, 08:07:16 pmSeagate definitely did CF interface 8GB microdrives. I used to have some of them but they all failed at one point or another.Quote from: legacy on January 29, 2019, 08:07:16 pmIt is just smaller. Seagate offered CF, 40 pin ZIF and 35 pin ZIF on their microdrives. Hitachi did something similar.Quote from: legacy on January 29, 2019, 08:07:16 pmThis is going back years now but that isn't true. There were quite a few devices back then which had microdrives even though CF was around. Several high end DSLRs, some MP3 players and some PDAs all had microdrives in them. There were a bunch of portable USB drives that had microdrives in them also. They used the ZIF connectors and/or locked down firmware to discourage people from buying the cheaper portable drive and removing the microdrive inside for camera usage.

author: tsman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2019, 08:28:34 pm
content: Quote from: legacy on January 29, 2019, 08:10:26 pmWhat documentation do you need? The small PDF above has the pinout + connector. The full datasheet for a Hitachi 3K8 is far too big to upload to the forum.

author: legacy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2019, 10:19:40 pm
content: Quote from: tsman on January 29, 2019, 08:19:13 pmwhich model? edit: perhaps the Seagate ST1.2 8GB ST68022CF?The Seagate ST1.3 08GB ST612708DE Microdrive has the same interface as the Hitachi HMS361008M5CE00: ZIF

author: legacy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2019, 10:28:35 pm
content: Good Microdrives (tested):Hitachi HMS360606D5CF00, 6GB, CF: does not even work in PCMCIA-ATA mode, it works with ATA hostsHitachi HMS360404D5CF00, 4GB, CF: does work in both PCMCIA-ATA mode and with ATA hostsWestern Digital WD60WP-32LPV0, 6GB, CF: does not work in PCMCIA-ATA mod, it works with ATA hosts

author: legacy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2019, 10:30:23 pm
content: This one was used by Apple in their iPod line. Weird but it works with ATA hosts

author: legacy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2019, 10:48:07 pm
content: Verbatim Store'n'Go 12GBZIF35 microdrive, it's unknown if the firmware is locked or not

author: tsman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2019, 11:02:56 pm
content: Quote from: legacy on January 29, 2019, 10:19:40 pmYeah. That was it. The later ST1.3 range which were higher capacity were all DE which is ZIF.