TWI404051B - Data storage apparatus and method for storing data - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for storing data on storage cards includes: determining whether a first storage card is full; storing the data onto the first storage card if the first storage card is not full; determining whether a second storage card is full if the first storage card is full; storing the data onto the second storage card if the second storage card is not full. A related data storage apparatus for implementing the method is also provided.

Description

Data storage device and data storage method thereof

The present invention relates to a data storage device, and more particularly to a data storage device for storing data on a memory card and a data storage method thereof.

Thanks to the development of science and technology, more and more electronic devices are widely used in daily work and life, such as common digital cameras, mobile phones, digital video cameras and so on. Taking digital cameras as an example, as the number of photos that can be taken is getting higher and higher, the corresponding amount of photo data is getting larger and larger. In order to increase the number of photos that can be taken without degrading the quality of the photos, most digital cameras are equipped with a memory card slot for expanding the camera's storage capacity. Common memory cards include SD (Secure Digital) cards, MMC (Multi Media Card) cards, and MS (Memory Stick) cards. These memory cards are widely used in various electronic devices due to their small size and large capacity.

Traditional electronic devices only have one memory card slot, so only one memory card can be stored in the electronic device. In this way, if the memory card is full of photos and other data, no other data can be stored. At this point, the user needs to replace the memory card to continue taking photos or storing data. However, in some cases, replacing the memory card will waste some important moments, such as taking a fleeting picture.

In view of this, it is necessary to provide a data storage device that can expand the storage capacity of an electronic device.

In addition, it is also necessary to provide a data storage method that can expand the storage capacity of an electronic device.

A data storage device includes a connector, a first slot, a second slot, a switching circuit, and a controller; the switching circuit is respectively connected to the connector, the first slot, the second slot, and the controller, and the control The device is respectively connected to the connector, the first slot, the second slot, and the switching circuit; the connector is configured to be connected to an electronic device that needs to store data, and the first slot and the second slot are respectively used to place the first a memory card and a second memory card, the switching circuit is configured to enable the connector to be respectively connected to the first slot and the second slot, wherein the controller is configured to be connected according to the first slot and the second slot a state of the first memory card and the second memory card, controlling the switching circuit to selectively connect the connector to one of the first slot and the second slot, and storing the data in the storage space A memory card or a second memory card.

A data storage method includes the following steps: determining whether a first memory card is full of data; if the first memory card is not full of data, storing the data in the first memory card; if the first memory card is already stored The full data is used to determine whether the second memory card is full of data; if the second memory card is not full, the data is stored in the second memory card.

The above data storage device and data storage method can automatically store the data on another memory card after a memory card stores the full data, thereby expanding the storage capacity of the electronic device.

100‧‧‧Electronic equipment

102‧‧‧ memory card slot

200‧‧‧data storage equipment

202‧‧‧Connector

204‧‧‧First slot

206‧‧‧Second slot

208‧‧‧Switching circuit

210‧‧‧ Controller

212‧‧‧ indicator

300‧‧‧First memory card

400‧‧‧Second memory card

302~318‧‧‧ Data storage method process steps

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a data storage device connected to an electronic device according to a preferred embodiment.

2 is a schematic diagram of functional modules of the data storage device shown in FIG. 1.

3 is a flow chart of a data storage method according to a preferred embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1 , it is a schematic diagram of a data storage device 200 of a preferred embodiment connected to an electronic device 100 . The electronic device 100 is provided with a memory card slot 102 for placing a memory card such as an SD card for the electronic device 100 to read and write data. The electronic device 100 can be a digital camera or a mobile phone , digital video cameras, etc.

The data storage device 200 is configured to be connected to the electronic device 100, and provides a plurality of memory card slots for the electronic device 100 to facilitate the electronic device 100 to store data. The embodiment provides two memory card slots, and the data storage device 200 includes a connector 202, a first slot 204, and a second slot 206.

The connector 202 is configured to be connected to the electronic device 100 that needs to store data, so that the data storage device 200 can be electrically connected to the electronic device 100. The connector 202 can be formed in the shape of a memory card so that it can be inserted into the memory card slot 102.

The first slot 204 and the second slot 206 are used to place the first memory card 300 and the second memory card 400, respectively. The first memory card 300 and the second memory card 400 may be the same type of memory card, for example, both SD cards and the like; or different types of memory cards, for example, the first memory card 300 is an SD card, and the second memory card 400 is used. For the MMC card.

When storing the data, the electronic device 100 may first store the data to the first memory card 300 through the data storage device 200. After the first memory card 300 is full of data, the data is stored on the second memory card 400. In the process of storing the data to the second memory card 400, the first memory card 300 can be replaced, and therefore, the material storage device 200 is equivalent to an infinite memory.

Please refer to FIG. 2 , which is a schematic diagram of functional modules of the data storage device 200 . The data storage device 200 also includes a switching circuit 208, a controller 210, and an indicator 212.

The switching circuit 208 is connected to the connector 202, the first slot 204, the second slot 206, and the controller 210, respectively, for enabling the connector 202 to be electrically connected to the first slot 204 and the second slot 206, respectively.

The controller 210 is connected to the connector 202, the first slot 204, the second slot 206, and the switching circuit 208, respectively, for using the first memory card 300 and the first port 204 and the second slot 206. In the state of the memory card 400, the control switching circuit 208 causes the connector 202 to be electrically connected to the first slot 204 or the second slot 206, respectively, to store the data in the first memory card 300 or the second storage having the storage space. Card 400.

The indicator 212 is coupled to the controller 210 for displaying the status of the memory card in the first slot 204 and the second slot 206 under the control of the controller 210.

When the data storage device 200 is in operation, that is, when the electronic device 100 needs to store the data on the memory card through the data storage device 200, the controller 210 first checks the state of the first memory card 300 in the first slot 204, if the first storage The card 300 also has a storage space, and the controller 210 controls the switching circuit 208 to turn on the connector 202 and the first slot 204. Thereby, the electronic device 100 stores the material on the first memory card 300 through the material storage device 200. When the controller 210 detects that the data of the first memory card 300 is full, the control switching circuit 208 turns on the connector 202 and the second slot 206, so that the data can be stored in the second memory card 400. In the process of storing the data to the second memory card 400, the user can replace the first memory card 300, so that after the data of the second memory card 400 is full, the controller 210 detects that the replaced first memory card 300 can continue. When storing the data, the controller 210 can again control the switching circuit 208 to store the data on the replaced first memory card 300. In the data storage process, the indicator 212 can display the status of the memory card. For example, the indicator 212 can be a state in which the two light emitting diodes respectively correspond to the memory cards in the first slot 204 and the second slot 206. The first state of the light emitting diode, for example, extinguishing indicates that there is no memory card in the card slot; the second state, for example, green indicates that the memory card in the card slot has remaining storage space; and the third state, for example, orange indicates the memory card in the card slot Working; the fourth state, for example, red indicates that the memory card in the card slot is full.

The data storage device 200 is provided with a first slot 204 and a second slot 206 for placing two memory cards. After a memory card stores full data, the data can be automatically stored on another memory card, thereby expanding The storage capacity of the electronic device can also be stored when the user replaces the memory card. In addition, the data storage device 200 can also set more memory card slots, for example, three, four, five, etc., when the data storage device 200 stores the data, after one of the memory cards stores the full data, the data storage device 200 can automatically The data is stored on the next memory card.

A data storage method for storing data on a plurality of memory cards includes the following steps: Step 302: Determine whether the first memory card is full of data. If the data is not full, proceed to step 304 to store the data in the first memory card. If the data is already full, proceed to step 306.

Step 306, prompting that the first memory card is full of data. For example, the light-emitting diode corresponding to the first memory card is displayed in red.

Step 308: Determine whether the second memory card is full of data. If the data is not full, the data is stored in the second memory card (step 310); if the data is already full, then step 312 is entered.

Step 312, prompting that the second memory card is full of data. For example, the light-emitting diode corresponding to the second memory card is displayed in red.

Step 314: Determine whether the first memory card has been replaced with a storage space memory card. If it has been replaced, return to step 304 to store the data in the replaced first memory card; if not, proceed to step 316.

Step 316: Determine whether the second memory card has been replaced with a storage space memory card. If it has been replaced, return to step 310 to store the data in the replaced second memory card; if not, proceed to step 318.

In step 318, an alert is issued indicating that no memory card is available to store the data. For example, controlling the blinking of the light emitting diode or the like.

The above data storage method can automatically store the data on another memory card after storing the full data on one memory card, thereby expanding the storage capacity of the electronic device. In addition, the user can also store data when replacing the memory card.

The working process of the data storage device 200 is exemplarily described below by taking an SD card as an example. The nine pin functions of the SD card are shown in the following table: After power-on, the controller 210 detects the SD card in the first slot 204 through the pin 1, and if the SD card in the first slot 204 has a storage space, the control switching circuit 208 turns on the connector 202 and the first slot. 204, thereby electrically connecting the electronic device 100 with the SD card in the first slot 204. The switching circuit 208 can employ a Single Pole Double Throw (SPDT) electronic switch, such as the ADG791A of Analog Devices. After the switching circuit 208 is turned on, the electronic device 100 initializes the SD card through the pin 2 and issues an instruction for data transmission. After the controller 210 detects that the SD card in the first slot 204 stores the full data, the control switching circuit 208 electrically connects the electronic device 100 with the SD card in the second slot 206, so that the data can be stored in the second plug. On the SD card in slot 206.

In summary, the present invention complies with the requirements of the invention patent and submits a patent application according to law. However, the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and equivalent modifications or variations made by those skilled in the art of the present invention should be included in the following claims.

302~318‧‧‧ Data storage method process steps

Claims (13)

A data storage device includes a connector, a first slot, a second slot, a switching circuit, and a controller; the switching circuit is respectively connected to the connector, the first slot, the second slot, and the controller, and the control The device is respectively connected to the connector, the first slot, the second slot, and the switching circuit; the connector is configured to be connected to an electronic device that needs to store data, and the first slot and the second slot are respectively used to place the first a memory card and a second memory card, wherein the switching circuit is configured to turn on the first slot and the second slot of the connector, and the controller is configured to connect to the first slot and the second slot according to the first slot and the second slot a state of a memory card and a second memory card, controlling the switching circuit to selectively connect the connector to one of the first slot and the second slot to store data in the first storage space On the memory card or on the second memory card. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to detect a state of the first memory card in the first slot, and if the first memory card has a storage space, the controller controls The switching circuit turns on the connector and the first slot to store data in the first memory card. The data storage device of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to control the switching circuit to turn on the connector and the second slot after detecting that the data of the first memory card is full, and store the data Go to the second memory card. The data storage device of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to control the switching circuit to store data when detecting that the second memory card is full of data and the first memory card can continue to store data. On the first memory card. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein the data storage device further includes an indicator connected to the controller for displaying states of the first memory card and the second memory card. The data storage device of claim 5, wherein the indicator comprises two light emitting diodes respectively corresponding to the state of the memory card in the first slot and the second slot, and the first of the light emitting diodes The status indicates that there is no memory card in the card slot, the second state indicates that the memory card in the card slot has remaining storage space, the third state indicates that the memory card in the card slot is working, and the fourth state indicates that the memory card in the card slot is full. . The data storage device of claim 1, wherein the connector is in the shape of a memory card so that it can be inserted into a memory card slot of the electronic device. A data storage method includes the following steps: determining whether a first memory card is full of data; if the first memory card is not full of data, storing the data in the first memory card; if the first memory card is already stored The full data is used to determine whether the second memory card is full of data; if the second memory card is not full, the data is stored in the second memory card. The data storage method of claim 8, further comprising the step of prompting that the first memory card is full of data. The data storage method of claim 8, wherein if the second memory card is already full of data, the method further includes the step of prompting that the second memory card is full. The data storage method of claim 8, wherein if the second memory card is full of data, it is determined whether the first memory card has been replaced with a storage space memory card, and if it has been replaced, the data is Stored in the replaced first memory card. The data storage method of claim 11, wherein if the first memory card is not replaced, determining whether the second memory card has been replaced with a storage space memory card, if the second memory card has been replaced If there is a storage space card, the data is stored in the replaced second memory card. The data storage method of claim 12, wherein if the second memory card is not replaced, an alert is issued to indicate that no available memory card can store the data.