Patent ID: 6857038

Claim:
A common connector for memory cards and switching arbitration method for the shared Pins of the connector, i.e., a common connector which allows many different types of memory cards to be inserted in and fixed at different times, wherein, a plurality of rows/sets of different types of Pins and card detection switches are devised on one side of a single baseboard of the common connector to detect the memory cards inserted; the common connector comprising a row/set of shared Pins, being among the different types of pins; a controller, further comprising of I/O elements to control and support signals from a SD/MMC card interface and a SM card interface; a first switching arbitration circuit, being coupled between the controller and the common connector to switch a SD/MMC card and its interface signals; and a second switching arbitration circuit, being coupled between the controller and the common connector to switch a SM card and its interface signals; whereby, When the jacks of a SD/MMC card or a SM card contact the Pins, the corresponding memory card detection switches will switch the circuit to the correct SD/MMC card interface signals or SM card interface signals under the control of the first switching arbitration circuit or the second switching arbitration circuit.