Patent ID: 8162216

Claim:
A method for controlling a memory device the memory device supporting a small capacity format or a large capacity format which allows for storing larger information than the small capacity format, the method comprising: receiving a voltage identification command which includes a voltage range identification section, an error detection section, and a check pattern section, the voltage range identification section having a pattern which indicates a range of supply voltage supplied by a host device which issues the voltage identification command; issuing a response which includes a voltage range identification section and an error detection section or a check pattern section in response to the voltage identification command, the voltage range identification section having a pattern which indicates the same voltage range as the range of the supply voltage when the memory device is operable with the supply voltage, the error detection section having a pattern configured to enable the host device to detect errors in the response; allowing initialization of the memory device when the voltage range identification section of the response has the same pattern as a pattern of the voltage range identification section of the voltage identification command; and prohibiting initialization of the memory device when the voltage range identification section of the response has a pattern different from a pattern of the voltage range identification section of the voltage identification command.