Patent ID: 8738827

Claim:
An interface circuit for providing communication between a memory card and a host device, comprising: a first plurality of pins connected to the interface circuit; a second plurality of pins connected to the interface circuit; and a control unit, coupled to the first and second pluralities of pins, that enables the first plurality of pins and disables the second plurality of pins when transferring a first plurality of signals between the host device and the memory card in a first mode via the first plurality of pins, and that disables the first plurality of pins and enables the second plurality of pins when transferring a second plurality of signals between the host device and the memory card in a second mode via the second plurality of pins, wherein the control unit transfers a clock signal of the second plurality of signals by differential signaling in the second mode via a clock pin of the second plurality of pins, and wherein a signal transfer in the second mode is at a greater speed than a signal transfer in the first mode.