SDI Technologies SDIO Card manual General Description, Sdio Features, Primary Reference Document

©Copyright 2000-2007 SD Card Association

SDIO Simplified Specification Version 2.00

1.General Description

The SDIO (SD Input/Output) card is based on and compatible with the SD memory card. This compatibility includes mechanical, electrical, power, signaling and software. The intent of the SDIO card is to provide high-speed data I/O with low power consumption for mobile electronic devices. A primary goal is that an SDIO card inserted into a non-SDIO aware host shall cause no physical damage or disruption of that host or it’s software. In this case, the SDIO card should simply be ignored. Once inserted into an SDIO aware host, the detection of the card proceeds via the normal means described in this specification with some extensions. In this state, the SDIO card is idle and draws a small amount of power (15 mA averaged over 1 second). During the normal initialization and interrogation of the card by the host, the card identifies itself as an SDIO card. The host software then obtains the card information in a tuple (linked list) format and determines if that card’s I/O function(s) are acceptable to activate. This decision is based on such parameters as power requirements or the availability of appropriate software drivers. If the card is acceptable, it is allowed to power up fully and start the I/O function(s) built into it.

1.1SDIO Features

•Targeted for portable and stationary applications

•Minimal or no modification to SD Physical bus is required

•Minimal change to memory driver software

•Extended physical form factor available for specialized applications

•Plug and play (PnP) support

•Multi-function support including multiple I/O and combined I/O and memory

•Up to 7 I/O functions plus one memory supported on one card.

•Allows card to interrupt host

•Operational Voltage range: 2.7-3.6V (Operational Voltage is used for Initialization)

•Application Specifications for Standard SDIO Functions.

•Multiple Form Factors:

•Full-Size SDIO

•miniSDIO

1.2Primary Reference Document

This specification is based on and refers extensively to the SDA document:

SD Memory Card Specifications

Part 1 PHYSICAL LAYER SPECIFICATION Version 2.00 May 9, 2006

The reader is directed to this document for more information on the basic operation of SD cards. In addition, other documents are referenced in this specification. A complete list can be found in appendix B.1.

This specification can apply to any released versions of Physical Layer Specification after Version 2.00.

1.3Standard SDIO Functions

Associated with the base SDIO specification, there are several Application Specifications for Standard SDIO Functions. These common functions such as cameras, Bluetooth cards and GPS receivers have a standard register interface, a common operation method and a standard CIS extension. Implementation of the standard interfaces are optional for any card vendor, but compliance with the standard allows the use of standard drivers and applications which will increase the appeal of these cards to the consumer. Full information on these standard interfaces can be found in the Application Specifications for Standard SDIO Functions maintained by the SDA.

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