microSD Now Interfaces With Any Microcontroller

This is a simple MicroSD adapter card. It allows you to interface with any micro-controllers. It is perfect for mass storage, WAV/MP3 player and data logging. The adapter breaks out the MicroSD socket to a standard 0.1″ 8-pin header. It can be plug directly into breadboards. This adapter features innovations that set it apart from other SD card adapter. Innovations feature like on-board card detect LED, Push-Push socket, and 3.3V regulator. Which mean either 3.3V or 5.0V micro-controller can be connected directly with the board. You can even use this 3.3V to power external circuits up to 250mA. MicroSD cards offer an inexpensive, flexible and reliable way to bring data logging and data storage solutions to your electronic design projects. Pinout:
  • VIN: Input power to the SD card (3.3V to 6.0V)
  • GND: Common (Connects to the housing of the SD socket)
  • 3V3: Output voltage from the on-board 3.3V regulator (250mA) 
  • CS: Chip select 
  • DI: Serial input data 
  • SCK: Serial clock 
  • DO: Serial output data 
  • CD: Card detect (active low)
Features:
  • On-board 3.3V regulator
  • Connect directly to 3.3V or 5.0V microcontroller
  • Card detect LED
  • Include 8-pin male header
  • Board dimension: 1.4”x0.8”
Source:  Gravitech. Continue Reading 1 Comment

microSD Card Integrated with NFC Technology From Netcom

Netcom is a Chinese company which is trying to carve out a niche market for themself by developing a NFC [Near Field Communication] chipset inside a microSD card. The technology gives the microSD card the ability to communicate via NFC as well as provide memory storage for the user.  The NFC chip sits inside the microSD slot of the host. The idea is bringing NFC technology for payment terminals to older phones which don’t have the NFC chipset or technology currently in them. The Netcom solution does require a bit of attention to make it all work.  First, the microSD slot of the host must be made of plastic.  Most are, but it’s worth noting to look before you buy. Next, the NFC chipset does require a small app loaded on the host so that communication can take place between the NFC chip itself and the host it’s sitting in.  Which makes sense, as typically that app is embedded on the phone RAM when spec’d out during production for a “certified NFC” device. Last, is the antenna coil required to sit inside the microSD card might be a bit small/short for communication of a distance more than 20mm from the terminal receiver.  Again, not a big deal as we are talking about NEAR field communication, but worth noting before buying. Source [image as well] Engadget.com. Continue Reading 2 Comments

Four Port 3.0 Host Controller From Renesas

Renesas is the spin off company from NEC who’s already making waves with their newest announcement of a USB 3.0 host controller which supports four downstream ports. This means the chip will provide more USB 3.0 ports to a motherboard, PCI card or embedded system applications.  In addition the new controller reduces it’s power consumption and increases performance. Renesas claims a 40% increase with this new controller, and I hate to say it, but that is a big jump from previous controllers – so I’m not totally convinced.  So it’ll need to be one of those “guilty until proven innocent” situations. Continue Reading

SuperSpeed USB Duplicator Introduced by Nexcopy

USB hard drives have become increasingly popular over the years due to their versatility, portability, and affordability. They offer users a convenient way to expand storage capacity, back up data, and transport files between devices.

USB duplicator, 3.0 speed

If it is needed to duplicate a set of USB hard drives, how would you do it?

The USB Duplicator from Nexcopy will solve those data loading problems. Using high speed 3.0 technology the USB160PC can data load 1GB of data to all targets in under one minute. This means a 100GB data load will take just over 1.5 hours. If that doesn’t sound fast enough, then you’ve got to better understand how USB works.

USB stands for Universal Serial Bus and the key word there is serial. This means USB does not work in parallel where multiple things happen at the same time, but rather serial. With that in mind, taking this 16 target system into consideration, the duplicator is actually copying 1.6TB of data in about 1.5 hours. Said another way, USB must stream 100GB of data to each socket. So the amount of data is 100GB x 16 sockets or 1.6TB of data. Now doesn’t that sound a bit faster!

Why consider a USB duplicator for USB hard drive duplication?

Portability: USB hard drives are compact and lightweight, making them easy to carry around. This portability is particularly appealing to users who need to access their data on the go or share files between multiple devices.

Plug-and-Play Convenience: USB hard drives typically utilize the plug-and-play functionality, allowing them to be easily connected to computers and other devices without the need for additional power sources or complex setup procedures. This convenience makes them accessible to users of all technical skill levels.

Storage Capacity: USB hard drives are available in a wide range of storage capacities, from a few gigabytes to several terabytes. This flexibility allows users to choose a drive size that meets their specific storage needs, whether it’s for basic file storage or large media libraries.

Compatibility: USB is a widely supported standard across various devices, including computers, laptops, gaming consoles, media players, and smart TVs. As such, USB hard drives can be used with a diverse range of devices, regardless of their operating system or manufacturer.

The USB160PC is the first SuperSpeed USB duplicator we’ve seen in the market.   Nexcopy is reporting that 1GB of data can be copied to all targets in under 1 minute. Just imagine how much time that will save for the promotional guys or the corporate IT guys who need to deploy loads of data on USB.

Over the past several years, the price of USB 3.0 flash drives has experienced a notable decline due to various factors, including advancements in technology, increased competition among manufacturers, and economies of scale.

As technology has advanced, manufacturing processes have become more efficient, leading to lower production costs for USB 3.0 flash drives. Manufacturers have been able to produce flash drives with higher capacities and faster speeds at reduced costs, contributing to overall price drops.

With the proliferation of digital data and the increasing need for portable storage solutions, USB flash drives have become a staple accessory for many consumers. As a result, manufacturers have focused on optimizing production processes and streamlining supply chains to meet growing demand while keeping prices competitive.

Given the proliferation of USB media in the market today it has become more important to have equipment to manage those devices. The Nexcopy company is focused on solid state memory solutions and the USB160PC is one USB duplicator which will save time and money for any corporation or business.

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For Real? 1.7 Billion USB 3.0 Devices Slated for 2011

If forecasting is to be believed, we are looking at 1.7 billion [with a B] USB 3.0 devices to be shipped during 2011. With the world population at just 6.8 billion, this means that nearly 1 in 5 will have a USB 3.0 product. Hmm does that number sound right? In-Stat seems to think they’ve got their numbers right, but I challange them.

USB 3.0 cable

With USB 3.0 being a slow start given that Intel wont even include the drivers in their chipset, it’s hare to believe OEMs will generate that much demand. Traditionally, OEMs lean on Intel to provide built in drivers to reduce overall cost of integration of new devices. Without the native driver, this forces integrators to go out and find solutions, like the NEC 3.0 chip. Here is a quick snap shot at some numbers for USB 3.0 and it’s related family of products:
  • USB 3.0 spec up to 5 GHz data transfer rate – about 500MB/s
  • Microsoft has not provided a native set of drivers for Windows as of yet
  • NEC shipped 3 million controllers in 2010 and expected to ship 20 million for 2011
  • USB-IF has tested nearly 120 USB 3.0 devices as of Dec 2010
  • Intel will finally provide support for USB 3.0 in it’s Sandy Bridge chipset sometime in 2011
  • Even in 2014 USB 2.0 will carry the bulk of sales for USB devices
  • By 2014 In-Stat is forecasting USB 3.0 to be in 225 million USB flash drives, seven million set-top boxes and nearly 40% of all digital media players.
Source: EETimes https://tinyurl.com/2eldj2x Continue Reading 9 Comments

Difference Between SD and MMC Flash Cards

Flash memory is a basic necessity of any electronic device these days.  Today we will talk about MultiMedia Cards [MMC] and Secure Digital [SD] cards. First, a bit of history.  The MMC format was developed by SanDisk and Siemens back in 1997.  SD media was developed, jointly, by SanDisk, Panasonic and Toshiba.  The SD standard was developed to improve upon the MMC format. The two memory card types look the same.  They are both about 24mm x 32mm x 2.1mm in size, or about the size of a US postage stamp.  The one obvious, physical difference between the two is the Lock/Unlock switch on the left side of SD media.  MMC does not have a sliding switch.  The switch is meant for users to put the media into a Write Protected state.  A condition where the user could read from the card, but could not write to it, or delete content off it. The other physical difference between MMC and SD media is on the bottom side of the flash card.  The MMC has 7 copper connectors and SD had 9 copper connectors.  MMCPlus has 14 connectors on it.  For a more technical reason please read here. The MMC media has a transfer rate of around 9MB/s.  The SD media is much faster with write speeds of 10MB/s and higher [always improving]. Both MMC media and SD media, are for the most part, interchangeable when being used in electronic devices.  Of course it is always best to check with the manufacturer of your device, but it’s a general rull of thumb, both are interchangeable.  With MMC media, it is more likely a customized piece of hardware, like GPS or medical equipment will require the MMC format, where-as most MP3 players, cameras, and “retail” electronics will take both types. Continue Reading 1 Comment

Enable microSD Slot in XOOM by Motorola

It’s been said Motorola rushed their shipments of XOOM tablet products to make an early claim in the market for iPad like solutions.  The problem is that some of the OS features and hardware accessories don’t work.  For example, the XOOM from Motorola has a microSD slot for increased capacity, but the damn slot doesn’t work. Motorol assured users the slot will be enabled not to long, but for many – they want access now.  With tablet sizes between 16GB and 32GB I can see the immediate need for increased storage space.  Granted, the space would be required more by a user looking to store large movie video files and not the typical user of tablet games, email clients and browsers, but never the less, it’s important for users to have the option.  The option for more storage. Tiamat came up with a solution.  They have released an updated Linux kernel which enables the microSD slot.  I’m not sure what other snibits of code are included with the kernel [caution] but if you desperately need the Continue Reading 44 Comments

Encrypted microSD Card Enables Visa To Have Mobile CC Payments

Visa started a four week trial period where mobile phones can not make touch-less payment transactions.  This means you can now wave your phone in front of a terminal to make a purchase.
 
For purchases under $100 no PIN or signature is required and the customer has the option of receiving a receipt. The technology is compatible with existing contact-less payment terminals already installed at more than 20,000 retail outlets across Australia, including fast food restaurants, electronic stores, book stores, sporting stadiums, clothing stores and vending machines.
 
Visa is calling this program the payWave technology and will pave the way for new banking methods using mobile devices.  You can manage your account and make transfers, receive real time offers from merchants, fraud notices and you can even deactivate your card number through the mobile device.
 
This technology runs on an encrypted microSD card.  Fifty participants from the Sydney and Melbourne offices of ANZ and Visa will been given a special protective iPhone case with a secure microSD memory card that allows them to turn their phone into a virtual wallet.
 
This solution seems ideal for a pilot program, but I’m sure the final product will incorporate a solution where an additional case is not required. For more information, check out the following Visa YouTube video.
 
 
Continue Reading 1 Comment

64GB and 128GB Lexar SDXC Cards

Digital SLR cameras are eating up flash memory like there’s no tomorrow.  With common DSLRs like the Nikon D90 from Costco you’ll find the average JPEG is 11MBs big.  You switch to RAW format and that will triple.  These examples are for a standard DSLR camera, now consider the high resolution of a professional series like the D5000 or D3X. This is why photographers will be rejoiced to hear Lexar’s new line of SD media is topping the range of 64GB and 128GB.  Granted the price isn’t cheap, but if you truly care about these higher capacities and can see how it will benefit YOU, then you’re probably a photographer who doesn’t care as much about price as you do about functionality and performance. The 64GB and 128GB SDXC cards guarantee a transfer rate of 133x or about 20MB+ per second. The Lexar branded SD media isn’t available until Feb or Mar so it’ll give you enough time to save up the money for Continue Reading 2 Comments

WiFi SD Card – Free Your Camera From Tethered Downloading

Trek 2000 Ltd introduces a wifi SD card where by the user could transfer files from a device, like a camera, to a computer without the need for cables or internet access.

We’ve seen this card before called the Eye-Fi card so we’ve been here before. What I like to see is the concept adopting on and more vendors are making such a device.

SD wifi card

Trek 2000 has a bit of unique name for their SD wifi card; the “FluCard.” The FluCard was aptly named because Trek 2000 is hoping the product name will be contagious and easily remember by users. Of course, this naming idea is like “Kleenex” or “Google” where it just becomes a house-hold name. Trek has done this before, apparently the owner of Trek 20 coined the phrase “Thumb Drive” and we all know what that is!

The FluCard is a wifi device and does not need internet access to work. You could be in the middle of the Sudan and transfer files from your digital camera to your phone or computer. The wifi is license free.

The FluCard is comprised of a NAND flash chip for memory and an IC controller which has built in wifi capability.

To learn more, visit Trek 2000.

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