BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for a memory device and a related controller, memory device and host, and more particularly, to a memory addressing method for a memory device and a related controller, memory device and host.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Along with the widespread use of digital communication devices or electronic devices for processing video data and/or music data, and the universalization of IA (Internet Appliance) products, various types of storage devices for storing digital data have been developed. Memory cards have become the mainstream product in the market because of the advantages of compact volume and low power consumption. The memory cards are quite suitable for use in various types of hosts/devices/systems, such as digital cameras, digital video cameras, MP3 players, mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDA) or global positioning system (GPS) devices.

Secure digital (SD) cards are popular memory cards in the market. However, since the address parameter or argument in a command for an SD card has only 32 bits, currently the maximum storage capacity an SD card can support is 2 terabytes (TB), which has become insufficient for the capacity requirements in various applications. It is desirable to have SD cards which can support a greater capacity, and there is also a need to provide addressing or accessing methods for such SD cards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Hence, one objective of the present invention is to provide an addressing method capable of accessing an SD card which supports a capacity greater than 2 TB, and provide related SD cards, controllers of the SD cards and hosts.

An embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for accessing a secure digital (SD) card, which includes a voltage supply pin for receiving voltage supply from a host, at least one ground pin, a clock pin for receiving a clock signal from a host, a command pin for receiving a command from a host, and four data pins for writing data into the SD card or reading data from the SD card. The method includes receiving, via the command pin, an address extension command including a first address from a host, receiving, via the command pin, an access command including a second address from a host, and accessing, via the data pins, at least a memory location of the SD card indicated by a third address, which is a combination of the first address and the second address. The access command indicates an access operation to be performed on the SD card selected from: a single read operation, a single write operation, a multiple read operation, a multiple write operation and an erase operation.

Another embodiment of the present invention discloses a controller of an SD card, which is configured to perform the above method.

Another embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for accessing an SD card, which includes a voltage supply pin for receiving voltage supply from the host; at least one ground pin; a clock pin for receiving a clock signal from the host; a command pin for receiving a command from the host; and four data pins for writing data into the SD card or reading data from the SD card. The method includes transmitting, via the command pin, an address extension command including a first address to the SD card; transmitting, via the command pin, an access command including a second address to the SD card; and accessing, via the data pins, at least a memory location of the SD card indicated by a third address, which is a combination of the first address and the second address. The access command indicates an access operation to be performed on the SD card selected from: a single read operation, a single write operation, a multiple read operation, a multiple write operation and an erase operation.

Another embodiment of the present invention discloses an SD card including a memory module, an input/output (I/O) interface, and a controller. The memory module includes a plurality of memory locations. The I/O interface includes a voltage supply pin for receiving voltage supply from the host, at least one ground pin, a clock pin for receiving a clock signal from the host, a command pin for receiving a command from the host, and four data pins for writing data into the SD card or reading data from the SD card. The controller is configured to: receive, via the command pin, an address extension command including a first address from the I/O interface; receive, via the command pin, an access command including a second address from the I/O interface; and access at least one of the plurality of memory locations indicated by a third address which is a combination of the first address and the second address. The access command indicates an access operation to be performed on the SD card selected from: a single read operation, a single write operation, a multiple read operation, a multiple write operation and an erase operation.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention discloses an electronic device capable of accessing an SD card. The SD card includes an I/O interface and a processor. The I/O interface includes a voltage supply contact for providing voltage supply to the SD card, at least one ground contact, a clock contact for providing a clock signal to the SD card, a command contact for providing a command to the SD card, and four data contacts for writing data into the SD card or reading data from the SD card. The processor is configured to: transmit, via the command contact, an address extension command including a first address to the SD card; transmit, via the command contact, an access command including a second address to the SD card; and access, via the data contacts, at least a memory location of the SD card indicated by a third address which is a combination of the first address and the second address. The access command indicates an access operation to be performed on the SD card selected from: a single read operation, a single write operation, a multiple read operation, a multiple write operation and an erase operation.

The objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.

