PCMCIA Memory Cards Specifications

Help with PCMCIA Memory Cards specifications:

Technology Standard

	Technology Standard:
	Your choices are...
	PC Card Standard 95		PC Card Standard 95 is the original PCMCIA device standard. It has a 68-pin interface with 16 bits of address and data.
	CardBus Technology		CardBus technology runs at 33 MHz and is for cards with 32 bits of address and data.
	Miniature Card Technology		Miniature card technology products are about one-fourth the size of PC Card Standard 95. These PCMCIA cards use StrataFlash® (Numonyx B.V.) technology, a multilevel cellular architecture; and µBGA, a type of ball grid array. Together, these two technologies provide a high-capacity flash card. Miniature cards have 60-pin connectors, and dimensions of 38 mm x 33 mm x 3.5 mm. They are 73% smaller than a full PC Card.
	CompactFlash® and CF+® Standard		CompactFlash® is a very small, removable, mass storage PCMCIA device. CF® cards weigh a half-ounce. They are the size of a matchbook, with a thickness that is less than one-half of a current PCMCIA Type II card. CF cards are also one-fourth the volume of a PCMCIA card. Instead of using the 68 pins in PC Card Standard 95, a CF card has 50 pins but still conforms to PCMCIA ATA specs. CF cads can be easily slipped into a passive 68-pin Type II adapter card that fully meets PCMCIA electrical and mechanical interface specifications. The CF+® specification adds additional card functionality over the original CompactFlash card, including magnetic disk drive data storage and I/O cards such as Ethernet, serial, fax/modem, digital phone, universal serial bus (USB), barcode scanner, etc. CF+ cards use flash technology, which is a non-volatile storage solution that does not require a battery to retain data indefinitely. CompactFlash, CF, and CF+ are registered trademarks of the CompactFlash Association.
	Other		Other unlisted technologies such as SmartMedia and CardBay. SmartMedia is about one-third the area of a conventional PC card with dimensions measuring 45.0 mm x 37.0 mm x 0.76 mm. Smart Bay adds USB features to the PC Card.
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Card Form Factor

	Card Form Factor:		The form Factor describes the size of the card and its pin configuration.
	Your choices are...
	Type I Card		Type I cards are 54 mm x 85.4 mm, and can be up to 3.3 mm thick. They are commonly used are used as memory cards (RAM, ROM, Flash RAM, etc.).
	Type II Card		Type II cards are 54 mm x 85.4 mm, and can be up to 5.5 mm thick. They are commonly used in I/O devices such as data/fax modems, and in LAN adapters and non-rotating mass storage devices.
	Type III Card		Type III cards are 54 mm x 85.4 mm, and can be up to 10.5 mm thick. They are commonly used as hard drives.
	Type IV Card		Type IV cards have not yet been ratified by the PCMCIA consortium; however, their size is expected to be 54 mm x 85.4 mm with a thickness of 18 mm. They will be used in large capacity hard drives.
	Other		Other unlisted form factors, such as SmartMedia Card (45mm x 37mm x 0.76mm) CompactFlash (43mm x 36mm x 3.3mm) Miniature Card (38mm x 3.5mm x3.5mm) Solid State Floppy Disk (SSFDC). This is the thinnest and one of the smallest form factor cards (about one-third the size of a credit card) MultiMediaCard (MMC) is approximately the size of a postage stamp.
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Memory Type

	Flash Memory:
	Your choices are...
	ATA Flash Memory		ATA flash memory cards are credit card sized devices that are packaged in a metal case for maximum ruggedness. Their solid-state construction offers shock resistance, and their low power usage makes them an ideal storage solution for digital cameras and other electronic consumer devices. ATA flash memory uses flash technology and supports both 3.3 V and 5 V operations.
	CompactFlash Memory		CompactFlash is a very small, removable, mass-storage memory technology. CompactFlash cards are approximately half the size of ATA cards, but can have extremely high MB capacities.
	Linear Flash Memory		Linear flash cards are high-performance, low power-consumption devices that do not require a battery for data retention. They support the PCMCIA 2.x / JEIDA 4.x standard. Linear flash cards are used in palmtop computers, hand-held devices, PDAs, instrumentation and control products, and embedded systems.
	StrataFlash® Memory		StrataFlash® (Numonyx B.V.) memory uses StrataFlash technology, a multilevel cellular architecture that provides much greater capacities, easier usage, and cost-effective prices (reduced costs per meg.) StrataFlash cards are ideal for many applications, ranging from mobile systems and PDAs to embedded industrial systems. StrataFlash memory can be found in Type I or Type II PCMCIA cards.
	Other		Other unlisted, specialized, or proprietary memory cards such as Miniature Cards, MultiMediaCards (MMC), Epson Photo Memory, SmartMedia PhotoReader, etc.
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	DRAM and SRAM:
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	DRAM Memory		Dynamic RAM (DRAM) stores each bit of data in a separate capacitor. DRAM is dynamic because it must be refreshed periodically. Because of how memory cells are constructed, the reading action refreshes the contents of the memory. DRAM loses its data when the power supply is removed.
	SRAM Memory		Static RAM (SRAM) is more expensive than DRAM, but faster and more reliable. There are two types: synchronous and asynchronous. Synchronous SRAM is synchronized with the system clock. Asynchronous SRAM is not. Unlike DRAM, SRAM does not need to be refreshed constantly. Rather, SRAM is refreshed only when a write command is performed. SRAM is used most commonly in the L2 cache for PCs.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.
	ROM Memory:		Read-Only Memory (ROM) is a type of memory on which data has been prerecorded onto the memory chip. ROM retains its contents even when the computer is turned off. ROM is referred to as being nonvolatile, whereas RAM is volatile. A variation of a ROM is a PROM (programmable read-only memory). PROMs are manufactured as blank chips on which data can be written with a special device called a PROM programmer. There are many types of PROM.
	Your choices are...
	Mask ROM		Mask ROM is a type of static, read-only memory (ROM) that is programmed during the manufacturing process. Often, manufacturers that produce high volumes of semiconductors use MASK ROM because it is the most cost-effective ROM available.
	OTP-ROM		One time programmable read-only memory (OTP-RPM) can be programmed once, but never erased.
	EPROM		Erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) is a type of PROM that can be erased through exposure to ultraviolet light and then reprogrammed.
	EEPROM		Electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) is a type of PROM that can be erased electrically and then reprogrammed.
	Other		Other unlisted ROM memory cards.
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Storage Capacity and Performance

	Main Capacity		Main capacity is the card's common memory.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value.
	Access Time		Access time is the amount of time that the card needs to read or write on a data request. Normally, access time is measured in nanoseconds (ns).
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value less than or equal to the specified value.
	Data Bus Width:
	Your choices are...
	8-bit		The width of the card's data bus is 8 bits. This is a lower-cost version of the standard PCMCIA card, which normally uses 16 bits, or the 32 bits of CardBus technology.
	16-bit		The data bus width is 16 bits.
	32-bit		The data bus width is 32 bits.
	Other		Other unlisted data bus widths.
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Power Requirements

	Operating Voltage:
	Your choices are...
	3.3 V		The card's operating voltage is 3.3 V.
	5 V		The card's operating voltage is 5 V.
	Dual Voltage (3.3 V & 5 V)		The card can operate with 3.3 V or 5 V.
	Other		Other unlisted operating voltages.
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Other Specifications

	Replaceable Battery?		For SRAM memory, the battery can be replaced.
	Search Logic:		"Required" and "Must Not Have" criteria limit returned matches as specified. Products with optional attributes will be returned for either choice.
	Operating Temperature		This is the full-required range of ambient operating temperature.
	Search Logic:		User may specify either, both, or neither of the limits in a "From - To" range; when both are specified, matching products will cover entire range. Products returned as matches will meet all specified criteria.
	CE / FCC Certified?		The card bears the European Union's CE Mark, or is certified by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
	Search Logic:		"Required" and "Must Not Have" criteria limit returned matches as specified. Products with optional attributes will be returned for either choice.

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