To all our customers Regarding the change of names mentioned in the document, such as Hitachi Electric and Hitachi XX, to Renesas Technology Corp. The semiconductor operations of Mitsubishi Electric and Hitachi were transferred to Renesas Technology Corporation on April 1st 2003. These operations include microcomputer, logic, analog and discrete devices, and memory chips other than DRAMs (flash memory, SRAMs etc.) Accordingly, although Hitachi, Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Semiconductors, and other Hitachi brand names are mentioned in the document, these names have in fact all been changed to Renesas Technology Corp. Thank you for your understanding. Except for our corporate trademark, logo and corporate statement, no changes whatsoever have been made to the contents of the document, and these changes do not constitute any alteration to the contents of the document itself. Renesas Technology Home Page: http://www.renesas.com Renesas Technology Corp. Customer Support Dept. April 1, 2003 Cautions Keep safety first in your circuit designs! 1. Renesas Technology Corporation puts the maximum effort into making semiconductor products better and more reliable, but there is always the possibility that trouble may occur with them. Trouble with semiconductors may lead to personal injury, fire or property damage. Remember to give due consideration to safety when making your circuit designs, with appropriate measures such as (i) placement of substitutive, auxiliary circuits, (ii) use of nonflammable material or (iii) prevention against any malfunction or mishap. Notes regarding these materials 1. These materials are intended as a reference to assist our customers in the selection of the Renesas Technology Corporation product best suited to the customer's application; they do not convey any license under any intellectual property rights, or any other rights, belonging to Renesas Technology Corporation or a third party. 2. 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Renesas Technology Corporation assumes no responsibility for any damage, liability, or other loss rising from these inaccuracies or errors. Please also pay attention to information published by Renesas Technology Corporation by various means, including the Renesas Technology Corporation Semiconductor home page (http://www.renesas.com). 4. When using any or all of the information contained in these materials, including product data, diagrams, charts, programs, and algorithms, please be sure to evaluate all information as a total system before making a final decision on the applicability of the information and products. Renesas Technology Corporation assumes no responsibility for any damage, liability or other loss resulting from the information contained herein. 5. Renesas Technology Corporation semiconductors are not designed or manufactured for use in a device or system that is used under circumstances in which human life is potentially at stake. Please contact Renesas Technology Corporation or an authorized Renesas Technology Corporation product distributor when considering the use of a product contained herein for any specific purposes, such as apparatus or systems for transportation, vehicular, medical, aerospace, nuclear, or undersea repeater use. 6. The prior written approval of Renesas Technology Corporation is necessary to reprint or reproduce in whole or in part these materials. 7. If these products or technologies are subject to the Japanese export control restrictions, they must be exported under a license from the Japanese government and cannot be imported into a country other than the approved destination. Any diversion or reexport contrary to the export control laws and regulations of Japan and/or the country of destination is prohibited. 8. Please contact Renesas Technology Corporation for further details on these materials or the products contained therein. ADE-503-014 Q&A on Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Application Note Notice When using this document, keep the following in mind: 1. Hitachi neither warrants nor grants licenses of any rights of Hitachis or any third partys patent, copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights for information contained in this document. Hitachi bears no responsibility for problems that may arise with third partys rights, including intellectual property rights, in connection with use of the information contained in this document. 2. Products and product specifications may be subject to change without notice. Confirm that you have received the latest product standards or specifications before final design, purchase or use. 3. Hitachi makes every attempt to ensure that its products are of high quality and reliability. However, contact Hitachis sales office before using the product in an application that demands especially high quality and reliability or where its failure or malfunction may directly threaten human life or cause risk of bodily injury, such as aerospace, aeronautics, nuclear power, combustion control, transportation, traffic, safety equipment or medical equipment for life support. 4. Design your application so that the product is used within the ranges guaranteed by Hitachi particularly for maximum rating, operating supply voltage range, heat radiation characteristics, installation conditions and other characteristics. Hitachi bears no responsibility for failure or damage when used beyond the guaranteed ranges. Even within the guaranteed ranges, consider normally foreseeable failure rates or failure modes in semiconductor devices and employ systemic measures such as fail-safes, so that the equipment incorporating Hitachi product does not cause bodily injury, fire or other consequential damage due to operation of the Hitachi product. 5. This product is not designed to be radiation resistant. 6. No one is permitted to reproduce or duplicate, in any form, the whole or part of this document without written approval from Hitachi. 7. Contact Hitachis sales office for any questions regarding this document or Hitachi semiconductor products. i Preface This is a technical document in which we respond to technical inquiries received from customers who are designing systems using Hitachis CompactFlash (CF) and PC/ATA (ATA) cards in a question-andanswer format. Please read this document and the relevant datasheets thoroughly before designing a system in which Hitachis CF and ATA cards are used. This document is for system designers who are using Hitachis CF and ATA cards. Note that some of the descriptions are not intended for the end users of the cards, such as those referring to the delivery specifications. ii Abbreviations, terms, and format of descriptions in this document: Items Description CFA Abbreviation of CompactFlash Association. PCMCIA Abbreviation of Personal Computer Memory Card International Association. CF card Abbreviation of CompactFlash card. ATA card Abbreviation of PC-card/ATA. T-IDE Abbreviation of True IDE, which is defined by the CFA. B Byte. Hexadecimal H is added as a suffix to hexadecimal numbers, e.g., 0256FH. In memory-dump listings, numbers without this suffix are hexadecimal. -XX An active-low signal. High/low, 1/0 Voltage levels on each of the pins are described as high and low. Values in registers and of data are described as 1 or 0 or in hexadecimal. Throughout this document, the high level is a logical 1 and the low level is a logical 0. Hi-Z The high-impedance state. Word In this document, two bytes. Sector The minimum unit for access to a card. Its size is 512 bytes. Block The unit for erasing and writing to the flash memory. Its size is 2 kbytes. One block consists of four sectors. Cluster The minimum unit for access to a card through the FAT file system. The size of a cluster differs according to the type of card. Pin/terminal Both have the same meaning in this document. Card The CF card and ATA card are both referred to as cards in this document. CE mark Confirmation that a product satisfies the requirements of the EU directive. Others Abbreviations, terms, and descriptive formats other than those given above are based on the datasheets or the CFA standard. Trademarks: CompactFlash is a trademark of SanDisk Corp. MS-DOS is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the U.S. and in other countries. Windows XP is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the U.S. and in other countries. iii Contents iv v Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA001 Category Standard Item CF Card Standard Question: Which standard do the Hitachis CF cards conform to? Answer: Hitahis CF cards conform to the CF+ and CompactFlash Specification, Revision 1.4, from the CFA. They have also passed the CFAs compliance test*. Note: The compliance test is defined by the CFA. Only products that have passed the compliance test are permitted to use the CompactFlash logo. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? √ HB28xxxxC5 HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x HB28xxxxA8H 1 Series Name Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA002 Category Standard Item ATA Card Standard Question: Which standard do Hitachis ATA cards conform to? Answer: Hitachis ATA cards basically conform to the Release 7 of the PCMCIAs PC Card Standard. However, the HB28xxxxC5/A5 and the HB28xxxxC6/A6 Series are not compliant to some of the specifications. The following table shows the items on which the cards do not conform to the standard. PC Card Standard Release 7 Hitachis ATA Cards Min. Typ. Max. Min. Typ. Max. Unit tsu (RESET) 20 100 ms ts (Hi-ZRESET) 0 100 ms tsu (VCC) 20 100 ms Item Symbol Reset setup time Reset pulse width -CE setup time Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? √* HB28xxxxC5 HB28xxxxA5 √* HB28xxxxC6 HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x HB28xxxxA8H Note: Applicable when the CF card is in a PC-card adapter. 2 Series Name Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA003 Category Standard Item Qualification for the CE Mark Question: Are Hitachis CF and ATA cards qualified for the CE mark by Hitachi or by an external qualification facility? Answer: TUV Rheinland Product Safety GmbH qualifies Hitachis CF and ATA cards for the CE mark. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 3 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA004 Category Specifications Item Limitation on the number of times rewriting is possible Questions: 1. Is there a limit on the number of times the contents of CF and ATA cards can be rewritten? 2. If so, how many times can the contents of CF and ATA cards be rewritten? 3. What is the definition of the number of times rewriting is possible? Answers: 1. Yes, there is a limit. 2. For the CF and ATA cards according to Hitachis standard specifications, rewriting up to 10,0000 times is possible. Note, however, that the actual maximum number of times varies from product to product. Please refer to the delivery specifications and datasheets for the individual products. If the description in the delivery specifications differs from that in the datasheet, the delivery specifications have the correct description. When there is no description in the delivery specifications but there is a description on the datasheet, the datasheet gives the correct description. 3. Please refer to Q & A No. CA102 for the definition of the number of rewriting operations. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 4 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA102 Category Specifications Item Definition of the number of rewriting operations (C8x/A8H) Question: What is the definition of the number of rewriting operations for the HB28xxxxC8x and the HB28xxxxA8H Series? Answer: The number of times given in the delivery specifications or the datasheet indicates the number of times data can be written to each block is possible. In the case of these devices, Rewriting times: 300,000 per block means that rewriting of each block 300,000 times is possible. For writing in sectors, please refer to Q & A No. CA506. Note: In CF and ATA cards, the flash memory is erased and written to in units of blocks. One block consists of 2 kbytes or 4 sectors (one sector is 512 bytes). Applicability: Applica ble? √ Series Name Applica ble? Series Name HB28xxxxC5 HB28xxxxA5 HB28xxxxC6 HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x 5 HB28xxxxA8H Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA103 Category Specifications Item When the number of possible rewriting operations is exceeded Question: What happens when the number of rewriting operations exceeds the upper limit? Answer: The operation of the card cannot be guaranteed; this includes blocks that were not rewritten. This situation may also lead to the following problems: • • • • Write errors Read errors Decreased data-retention time Damage to the card and loss of data Please take care not to exceed this upper limit. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 6 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA104 Category Specifications Item -WAIT Signal Question: The datasheets of the CF and ATA cards say that the -WAIT signal is always at a high level. Isnt this a violation of the standard? Answer: This is not a violation of the standard. The WAIT signal becomes low when the data (Dout) cannot be output from the card within 125 ns during a read operation where the cycle time is 125 ns or longer. With Hitachis CF and ATA cards, the data is always output within 125 ns, so the condition where the WAIT signal should be at its low level never arises; therefore, the WAIT signal is always left at its high level. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 7 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA105 Category Specifications Item PIO Mode and DMA Mode Question: Do Hitachis CF and ATA cards support the PIO and DMA modes? Answer: • Mode 1 of the PIO modes is supported. • The DMA mode is not supported. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 8 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA201 Category State at Shipment Item Format and Capacity at Shipment Questions: 1. What is the format of Hitachis CF and ATA cards at shipment? 2. What is the capacity at shipment? Answers: 1. Hitachis standard specification is for the CF and ATA cards at shipment to be in the MS-DOS format. 2. The available values for capacity of the data area at shipment are listed in the table below. These values apply to both CF and ATA cards according to Hitachis standard specifications. Card Type Capacity of Data Area (Bytes) 12 MB 16,007,168 32 MB 31,950,848 64 MB 63,934,464 128 MB 127,903,744 160 MB 160,043,008 256 MB 255,909,888 384 MB 383,991,808 512 MB 511,148,032 640 MB 639,746,048 1 GB 1,024,655,360 2 GB 2,050,129,920 Notes: 1. A given product series does not necessarily include all of the card types. Also, card types other than those listed above may be included in some of the series. 2. The values for capacity above are for units as shipped by Hitachi. When a card is reformatted with a formatting tool, etc., the capacity may have some value other than those listed above. 3. The values for capacity given above are not guaranteed values and may be subject to change without notice. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 9 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA202 Category State at Shipment Item Length of the FAT and Size of Clusters at Shipment Questions: What are the length of the FAT and the size of the clusters in an as-shipped CF or ATA card from Hitachi? Answers: The length of the FAT and size of the clusters in an as-shipped card vary with the type of card. The values given below are common to both CF and ATA cards. Card Type Length of FAT Size of Cluster 12 MB 12 bits 4 kB 32 MB 16 bits 2 kB 64 MB 16 bits 2 kB 128 MB 16 bits 2 kB 160 MB 16 bits 4 kB 256 MB 16 bits 4 kB 384 MB 16 bits 8 kB 512 MB 16 bits 8 kB 640 MB 16 bits 16 kB 1 GB 16 bits 16 kB 2 GB 16 bits 32 kB Notes: 1. A given product series does not necessarily include all of the card types. Also, card types other than those listed above may be included in some of the series. 2. The lengths of the FAT and sizes of clusters given above are the values at shipment from Hitachi. After a card has been reformatted with a formatting tool, etc., the values may differ from those given above. 3. The values above are not guaranteed and may be subject to change without notice. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 10 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA301 Category Power Supply Item Applying Voltage to the Pins before Supplying Power Question: Will a problem arise if a voltage is applied to a pin other than the power-supply pin when power is not being supplied to the card? Answer: Yes. Applying a voltage to any pins other than the CD1, or CD2 pins before power is supplied to the card may lead to latch-up, and thus to a failure of card functions. A system must be designed so that voltage is not applied to pins other than the power-supply pin, -CD1, and CD2 pins before power is supplied. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 11 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA302 Category Power Supply Item Timing of Power-On Question: Does power have to be supplied to the card when both the CD1 and CD2 pins are at the low level? Answer: Yes. Power must only be supplied to the card after both the CD1 and CD2 pins are at the low level. Normally, the CD1 and CD2 pins of the connector on the card-slot side are shorter than the other pins, and are used to detect insertion of the card. That is, when the card is inserted such that the other pins are in contact with the connector on the card-slot side, the CD1 and CD2 pins are driven low to indicate that the card has been inserted. After that, power is supplied to the card. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 12 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA303 Category Power Supply Item Power-Supply Sequence Question: What is the procedure for supplying power, reading, and writing? Answer: The following flowchart is the general procedure for using Hitachis CF and ATA cards in in contiguous mode as I/O cards with Vcc of 3.3 V. The error handling when conditions in the table have not been satisfied has been omitted. Flowchart: Start CD1 = -CD2 = low? Is operation at Vcc = 3.3 V possible? Supply Vcc = 3.3 V Wait for the period tsu (VCC) *1 BSY = 1? Read CIS Is entry to the I/O card mode possible? INDEX bits 5 to 0*2 are 000001 Error processing Enter the required commands Descriptions: Detect insertion of the card Use the voltages on the VS1 and VS2 pins to determine this (this procedure is omitted with Hitachis cards). When the BSY bit of the status register is 0, the reset is completed (this procedure is omitted with Hitachis cards). Select I/O card contiguous mode. Notes: 1. 100 ms for HB28xxxxC5/A5 and HB28xxxxC6/A6 20 ms for HB28xxxxC8x/A8H 2. Bits 5 to 0 of the configuration options register Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 13 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA304 Category Power Supply Item Switching between 3.3 V and 5 V Question: Is it possible to switch the power-supply voltage for the card from 5 V to 3.3 V or from 3.3 V to 5 V without turning off the power? Answer: The power must always be turned off before the power-supply voltage is switched. After the voltage has been switched off, turn on the power supply at the new level. Switching the voltage while power is being supplied may damage the card by inducing latch-up. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 14 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA305 Category Power Supply Item Resuming Operation from System Suspension Question: I am designing a host system in which the supply of power to the card will be turned off in a suspended mode. What is the procedure for accessing the card after resuming normal operation? Answer: The procedure is the same as that when power is initially supplied to the card. Please refer to Q & A No. CA303. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 15 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA306 Category Power Supply Item Power Shutdowns during Card Access Question: Does a problem arise if the card is removed from the slot or the supply of power to the card is cut off during access (read or write) to the card? Answer: Yes, problems do arise. A card may be damaged if it is removed from the slot or the power is turned off while the card is in the busy state. Ensure that the status register of the card holds 50H*1 before removing the card from the slot or turning off the power. Depending on the degree of the damage, a card that has been damaged by a power-supply shutdown*2 may be recovered by formatting or writing to the sector which is in the read-error state. However, the data in the sector (block) which was written to and the nearby sectors (blocks) when power-supply shutdown occurred may be lost. Notes: 1. Indicates the state where the card has no errors and is in the idle state waiting for a command. 2. Indicates a state where the power supply is turned off while the card is in the busy state, lowering the power-supply voltage below the operating range, or the card is removed from the slot or withdrawn from the connector. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 16 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA307 Category Power Supply Item Precautions with Regard to Turning Off the Power Supply Question: Are there any precautions with regard to turning off the power supply? Should the hardware be reset before the power supply is turned off? Answer: 1. Please refer to Q & A No. CA306. 2. A hardware reset before turning off the power is not essential In a hardware reset, the reset operation starts on the rising edge of the RESET signal and makes the card enter the busy state. The power supply must not be turned off while the card is in the busy state, so you must wait until the reset operation has been completed. The card need not be reset in any way before the power is turned off. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 17 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA401 Category Reset Item Differences between the Various Types of Reset Question: What are the differences between the power-on, hardware, software, and ATA software resets? Answer: The following is a list of the differences between the various types of reset. Reset Types Method of Reset Cancelling the Reset Range of Reset Power-on reset Turning on the power supply Automatically cancelled on completion of the reset (specific cancellation not required) • Card operation • All registers In memory mode and I/O mode: 1 RESET pin* = high In memory mode and I/O mode: automatically cancelled on completion of reset (specific cancellation not required) • Card operation • All registers Hardware reset In T-IDE mode 2 RESET pin* = low In T-IDE mode: 2 RESET pin* = high Software reset ATA software reset SRSET bit of the configuration option register = 1 SRSET bit of the configuration option 4 register = 0* • Card operation • All registers SRST bit of the device control register = 1 SRST bit of the device 4 control register = 0* • Card operation • All registers except the 3 configuration registers* Notes: 1. Asserted on the rising edge of the RESET signal in memory mode and in I/O mode. 2. Asserted when the RESET signal is low in the T-IDE mode. In the T-IDE mode, the reset state continues as long as the RESET signal stays low. 3. Indicates the task-file register. 4. These bits must be cleared to 0 during the reset. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 18 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA402 Category Reset Item Description of the Types of Reset Question: You mentioned four types of reset in Q & A No. CA401. Could you describe them for me? Answer: • Power-on reset: The card incorporates a power-supply-voltage detection IC. This IC resets the whole card when it detects the supply of power to the card. Processing of this reset differs from that of the other types in that the controller is reset by hardware. If the cards operation becomes abnormal, applying a power-on reset by turning the power off and then on often recovers normal operation for the card. • Hardware reset: When assertion of the RESET or RESET signal is detected, various operations and registers are reset by the controller. Since the configuration register is also reset, the same processing as for a power-on reset is required after the reset state has been cancelled. Use the hardware reset when the whole system requires a reset. • Software reset: This is basically the same as the hardware reset, except for the differences in the way the reset is applied and cancelled. This reset is useful when you want to reset the systems software. The software reset is not available in the T-IDE mode. • ATA software reset: The configuration register is not reset. This is useful for warm starts of the system. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 19 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA403 Category Reset Item Checking the Completion of Reset Question: How do I check that the resets listed in Q & A No. CA401 are completed? Answer: The method differs with the cards mode of operation. Check the level of the RDY/-BSY signal, or the BSY bit of the status register or alternate status register, as indicated in the following table. Reset Types Memory Mode All Modes Power-on reset RDY/-BSY changes from high to low The BSY bit* changes from 1 to 0. Hardware reset As above As above Software reset As above As above ATA software reset As above As above Note: The BSY bit of the status register. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 20 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA404 Category Reset Item Reset during Command Execution Question: What happens when a reset is applied while a command is being executed? Answer: • Execution of the command is terminated, and reset processing commences (an error flag is not set.) During the reading of multiple sectors: Enters the busy state on application of the reset, stops reading data, and starts the reset operation. During the writing of data: Transfer of the write data is terminated, and the reset operation starts. Writing to a block to which data was being written on entry to the reset state might not be possible. • When a HB28xxxxC5/A5 Series device is in use, and a reset is applied during a write operation, the subsequent busy state may continue until the power is turned off. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 21 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA405 Category Reset Item Hardware Reset after Power-On Reset Question: Hitachis datasheet seems to indicate that a hardware reset is required after each power-on reset. Is this so? Answer: No, a power-on reset does not have to be followed by a hardware reset. Item 4 in the timing chart below indicates the width of the reset pulse when the host applies a hardware reset to the card for some reason. (1) The host places the RESET line in the Hi-Z state. Since the RESET pin is being pulled up to the Vcc level inside the card, the level of the RESET signal rises with the voltage, and the power-on reset starts. (2) A power-on reset of the system is in progress. The RESET signal must be driven low. (3) Access to the status register is enabled. During the reset, the BSY bit of the status register is 1. When the status register holds 50H, the reset has been completed. Operation of the card can commence. (4) Input a hardware reset as required by the host side. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 22 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA406 Category Reset Item Timeout of Reset Question: I would like to design a system where the BSY bit of the status register is checked polled to detect the completion of a reset. Are there any specifications for timeout? If not, do you have any recommendations? Answer: There is no specification for timeout. In using Hitachis CF and ATA cards in the PC card mode, we recommend that the timeout be no less than 100 ms, regardless of the type of reset. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 23 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA501 Category Card Operation (Common) Item Management of Sectors and Files Question: The data is written directly from the application software to the sectors of the card. 1. Is the data on this card readable by an MS-DOS system? 2. Are the FAT and directories of the card updated automatically? Answer: 1. Data on the card is not readable as an MS-DOS file unless file management information has also been written to the card, even if the data for the file are directly written to sectors. 2. The card simply provides storage for data. The FAT and directory entries are not updated automatically. For data to be read as an MS-DOS file, the application software must handle the writing of file-management information, i.e., the FAT and directory entries, to the card. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 24 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA502 Category Card Operation (Common) Item Accessing the Data Registers in the Memory-Card Mode Question: How do I use the data register in the memory-card mode? Answer: In the memory-card mode, the data registers are assigned to the addresses from 400H to 7FFH in the way shown below. -REG A10 A9 to A4 A3 A2 A1 A0 -OE = low -WE = low 1 0 * 0 0 0 0 Data register Data register 1 1 * * * * 0 Even data register Even data register 1 1 * * * * 1 Odd data register Odd data register *: Dont care. In reading from the data register, its address (000H) must be accessed once for every byte of data; for example, in reading two sectors at once, this address must be accessed 1024 times. There is only one even data register and one odd data register, but since bits A1 to A9 are ignored, these registers are shadowed at alternate locations in the address range from 400H to 7FFH (i.e., over a 1-kbyte range). By using this function, for example in the reading of two sectors, the host can read 1-kbyte of data continuously from the addresses 400H to 7FFH (each address must only be read from once). After the first sector has been read, the status register indicates the BSY state (D0H*1); wait until the value in the status register becomes 58H*2 before reading the next sector. Notes: *1.The busy state without an error. *2.The ready for data-transfer state. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 25 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA503 Category Card Operation (Common) Item Identifying Cards Question: How do I identify individual cards when more than one card is used in a system? Answer: The serial number of a CF or ATA card from Hitachi is included in the ID (Identify Drive) field; this is useful since it makes individual cards identifiable. The serial number is recorded in ASCII code from word 10 to word 19 of ID. You can check whether or not a CF and ATA card is from Hitachi by referring to the CIS (Card Information Structure), where the following hexadecimal data is entered in the Manufacturer Name String of the Version/Product Info Tuple: 48 49 54 41 43 48 49 (HITACHI in ASCII code) In CF and ATA cards from Hitachi, this data is placed in the range between offsets of 034H and 040H from the top of the CIS. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 26 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA504 Category Card Operation (Common) Item Formatting under Windows XP Question: When I format a CF or ATA card under Windows XP, the card becomes unrecognizable by systems other than PCs. Why is that? Answer: When a card is formatted under Windows XP, the FAT32 file system is applied. The FAT12 or FAT16 file system is used in many systems that handle CF and ATA cards; the card is not recognized by such systems. When a card is for use in a system other than a PC, do not format the card under Windows XP. If you have done this, reformat the card on the primary system, such as a digital still camera, where the card is to be used. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 27 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA505 Category Card Operation (Common) Item Speed in Erasing and Writing and Number of Sectors Question: 1. Is there any relationship between the speed of erasing and writing and the number of sectors? 2. How can I set the number of sectors to 256? Answer: 1. Yes. There is a relationship between speed in erasing and writing and the number of sectors, which is shown in the figure below. Set a large number for fast writing. 2. To select any sector number from 1 to 255, specify values from 01H to FFH. To set 256, specify 00H. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 28 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA506 Category Card Operation (Common) Item Writing in Sector Units Question: What precautions should I take when writing in sector units? Answer: 1. The number of sectors should be a multiple of four. Four sectors make up one block, which is the unit for erasing and writing of the flash memory in Hitachis CF and ATA cards. Accordingly, in writing to four sectors in one-sector units, the whole block may be erased and written to as many as four times. On the other hand, when writing is in four-sector units, and starts from the top sector of the block, the block is only erased and written to once. If four sectors to be rewritten start from the middle of a block, writing will run across two blocks, but each block will only have to be erased and written to once. The blocks are thus erased and written to fewer times than when writing is in one-sector units. 2. When using the HB28xxxxC5/A5 or HB28xxxxC6/A6, take care to ensure that erasing and writing are not concentrated on specific blocks. Erasing and rewriting should be spread evenly over the blocks of the card. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 29 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA507 Category Card Operation (Common) Item Assertion of the IREQ Signal Question: 1. Is the IREQ signal asserted once each time a command is issued? 2. Is the IREQ signal asserted in response to every command? Answer: 1. For commands that do not involve the transfer of sectors, the IREQ signal is asserted once on completion of the command. In reading by sectors, the IREQ signal is asserted once before the start of each sector transfer. In writing to sectors, the IREQ signal is asserted once after the completion of each sector transfer. 2. Yes. The IREQ signal is asserted at least once per command. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 30 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA508 Category Card Operation (Common) Item Writing from the Middle of a Sector Question: Is it possible to write data from the middle of a sector (512-byte unit)? Answer: No, it is not possible. Writing must be in sector units. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 31 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA509 Category Card Operation (Common) Item Erasing before Writing Question: Is it necessary to erase a sector before writing data to it? Answer: No. In Hitachis CF and ATA cards, a sector is automatically erased before data is written to it. Use of the Erase Sector command is not required. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 32 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA510 Category Card Operation (Common) Item Differences in Access by the CHS and LBA Question: Are there any differences in access according to whether the CHS or LBA is used? Answer: 1. The two forms of access are equivalent on Hitachis CF and ATA cards. 2. This equation converts a CHS into an LBA: LBA = (C x (number of heads per cylinder) + H) x (number of sectors per track) + S 1 The numbers of heads per cylinder and of sectors per track vary with the cards types and series. Please refer to the datasheet for the card you are using. 3. This equation converts an LBA into a CHS: C = Quotient of (LBA)/((number of heads per cylinder) x (number of sectors per track)) H = Modulo of ((LBA)/(number of sectors per track)) / (number of heads per cylinder) S = Modulo of (LBA)/(number of sectors per track) + 1 4. No sectors of Hitachis CF and ATA cards are addressable by the LBA but not by the CHS (i.e., there are no orphan sectors). Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 33 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA601 Category Card Operation (T-IDE) Item Precautions to be Taken when Operating in the T-IDE Mode Question: What precautions should I take when operating a card in the T-IDE mode? Answer: 1. Please refer to Q & A Nos. CA603 and CA605. 2. A reset takes longer (400 to 450 ms) in the T-IDE mode than in other modes (100 ms or shorter). The hardware and software on the host side must be designed to allow sufficient time until the first access after a reset. 3. When the card is used as a stand-alone master, the DASP and PDIAG pins must be pulled up to Vcc. 4. The output on the card side is at CMOS levels. When a high level is output and there is no load, the voltage is close to Vcc (5 V). Select an ATA interface IC on the host side that has an input withstanding voltage of at least 5 V. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 34 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA602 Category Card Operation (T-IDE) Item Master and Slave Operation Question: Is it possible to connect Hitachis CF and ATA cards to the ATA interface as either master or slave devices? Answer: Yes. Hitachis CF and ATA cards can be used as either master or slave devices. When the CSEL signal is at the GND level, the card acts as a master, and when the CSEL pin is open-circuit, the card acts as a slave. For details on the settings, refer to the datasheet. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 35 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA603 Category Card Operation (T-IDE) Item Fixing the OE Pin Question: In the T-IDE mode, when and for how long must the value on the OE pin be fixed? Answer: In the T-IDE mode, the OE pin must be fixed to GND throughout the cards period of operation, i.e., from the time power is first supplied until the time it is turned off. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 36 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA604 Category Card Operation (T-IDE) Item Operation and Handling of the IOIS16 Pin Question: What does the IOIS16 pin do and how should it be handled? Answer: The IOIS16 signal goes low in word mode. 1. Currently, switching between the byte and word modes is handled by the host, so the signal is essentially unnecessary. 2. Since the signal is on an open-drain terminal, the IOIS16 pins output may be unstable. We recommend that you do not use this pin, since the signal was defined in old standards and has been omitted from standards subsequent to ATA-3. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 37 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA605 Category Card Operation (T-IDE) Item Inserting and Removing Live Lines Question: Is it possible to insert or remove a live line in the T-IDE mode? Answer: No. The card may be damaged if a live line is inserted or removed in the T-IDE mode. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 38 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA606 Category Card Operation (T-IDE) Item Difference between the IDE and the T-IDE Question: What is the difference between the IDE (ATA) and T-IDE interfaces? Answer: The T-IDE mode of operation was defined by the CFA. The signals specified for the T-IDE mode are equivalent to those for the IDE interface. Accordingly, fixing the OE signal to the low level and turning on the power supply puts the device in an operating mode similar to the IDE. Note however, that in connection to an IDE interface, a conversion adapter is required to make the connection between the ATA card (68 pins) and the ATA interface (40 pins). Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 39 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA607 Category Card Operation (T-IDE) Item 8-Bit Access Question: How do I select the 8-bit-access mode and what is the order of data-readout in this mode? Answer: 1. The cards enter the 8-bit access mode when the Set Feature command (EFH) is used to set the feature register to 01H. 2. Input and output is on pins D0 to D7; data from even and then odd addresses is placed on these pins. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 40 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA608 Category Card Operation (T-IDE) Item Countermeasures against Noise Question: What countermeasures against malfunctions due to noise should I apply to the ATA interface cable? Answer: 1. Take the impedance of the cable into consideration, and insert damping resistors on the host and card sides of the cable. Ensure that the values of these resistors are within a range such that the signals are not degraded. The following table is a list of signal lines where such damping resistors should be inserted and reference values for the damping resistor to be attached where the line is terminated on the card side. Do not insert damping resistors for the other signals. Adjust the resistance values to suit the driving ability of the driver and the impedance of the boards wiring. 2. Using an 80-core or flat cable instead of a 40-core cable is a further effective measure. Signal Name End of the Card Side -IORD 82 Ω -IOWR 82 Ω -CE1, -CE2 82 Ω A0 to A2 82 Ω -REG 82 Ω D0 to D15 33 Ω -INPACK 22 Ω INTRQ 22 Ω IORDY 22 Ω -RESET 82 Ω Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 41 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA609 Category Card Operation (T-IDE) Item Example of Connection with the ATA Interface Question: Can you give me an example of the connection of a Hitachi CF or ATA card in the T-IDE mode to replace a 3.5-inch HDD? Answer: The connections between the ATA card in the T-IDE mode and the host side are listed in the following table. The signal names of a CF card are the same as those of an ATA card but the pin numbers are different. Please refer to the circuit diagram if you intend to connect a CF card in this way. ATA-Card Side Host Side Pin Signal Pin Signal ATA-Card Side Host Side Pin Signal Pin Signal 1 GND 18 NC 2 D3 11 DD3 19 NC 3 D4 9 DD4 20 NC 4 D5 7 DD5 21 NC 5 D6 5 DD6 22 A7 6 D7 3 DD7 23 A6 *1 7 -CE1 37 -CS0 24 A5 *1 8 A10 *1 25 A4 *1 9 -ATASEL *1 26 A3 *1 10 NC 27 A2 26 DA2 *1 11 A9 *1 28 A1 22 DA1 12 A8 *1 29 A0 25 DA0 13 NC 30 D0 17 DD0 14 NC 31 D1 15 DD1 15 -WE 32 D2 13 DD2 16 INTRQ 31 INTRQ 33 -IOIS16 32 -IOIS16 17 Vcc 34 GND Note *2 Notes: 1. Fixed to a low level on the card side. 2. Pull the signal up to Vcc on the card side. 42 Note Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A ATA-Card Side Host Side Pin Signal Pin Signal ATA-Card Side Host Side Pin Signal Pin Signal 35 GND 52 36 -CD1 53 37 D11 10 DD11 54 38 D12 12 DD12 55 39 D13 14 DD13 56 -CSEL 28 CSEL 40 D14 16 DD14 57 -VS2 41 D15 18 DD15 58 -RESET RESET 42 -CE2 38 -CS1 59 IORDY IORDY 43 -VS1 60 -INPACK DMARQ 44 -IORD 25 -DIOR 61 -REG -DMACK 45 -IOWR 23 -DIOW 62 -DASP 46 63 47 48 49 50 51 Vcc Note Note *1, *2 *2 -PDIAG -PDIAG *2 64 D8 DD8 65 D9 DD9 66 D10 67 -CD2 68 GND DD10 Notes: 1. We recommend that a jumper which allows selection from among Vcc, GND, and CABLE be included. 2. Use a 10-kΩ resistor to pull this signal up to Vcc. An example of the circuit for a conversion adapter that connects an ATA cable with the card is given on the next page. The jumpers in the diagram (terminals A to D of the ATA cable connector) allow the selection of master-slave operation for the CF or ATA cards. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 43 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Notes: 1. For the damping resistors of this circuit, refer to Q & A No. CA608. 2. This circuit diagram is a typical example of the connection of CF and ATA cards with the ATA interface, but the circuits operation is not guaranteed. If the circuit is applied, its operation with the actual system must be confirmed. 3. This circuit diagram does not guarantee or give the right to implement patent or any other rights, such as intellectual property rights, held by Hitachi or any third party. 44 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA610 Category Card Operation (T-IDE) Item INTRQ Operation Question: When the card is read multiple times, the INTRQ signal becomes active (high) for 0.8-µs periods. What is this interrupt signal used for? Answer: The number of sectors which is set in the sector-count register can be read with a single read command. For example, when the sector-count register is set to 3 and the read command is set in the command register, the host must carry out three one-sector-unit (256-word) read operations. When the data is ready in the card, 58H is set in the status register, and an interrupt is output to indicate this to the host. On receiving this interrupt, the host checks the status register, finds the value 58H, and starts to read the data register. While the data register is being read (256 words), the value in the status register remains at 58H. When the reading of one sector of data is complete, the value in the status register changes to D0H until the next data is ready. Therefore, the value in the status register changes in the following way, and the interrupt is generated at the three points where the value changes from D0 to 58H. 50H → D0H → 58H → D0 → 58 → D0H → 58H → 50H When the write command is used, the same interrupt signal is generated after data or a command has been transmitted and processed, indicating that the card is ready to accept the next command or data. When the number of sectors is 3, the value in the status register changes in the following way, and the interrupt is generated at the three points where D0H changes to 58H or 50H. 50H → 58H → D0H → 58H → D0H → 58H → D0H → 50H Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 45 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA701 Category Command Item Procedure for Setting the Registers when a Command Is Issued Question: When issuing a command, in what order should I set the related registers? Answer: Start by setting, in any order, the registers other than the command register which are necessary for execution of the command. Set the command register last. After the command register has been set, the card starts to execute the command. The set of registers for which settings are required varies with the command. Please refer to the datasheet. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 46 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA702 Category Command Item Operation of the Format Track and Wear Level Commands Question: Is it possible to use the Format Track command or the Wear Level command with Hitachis CF and ATA cards? What are the cards operations in response to these commands? Answer: While Hitachis CF and ATA cards accept the Format Track command and the sector data, the cards dont actually do anything in response. Data is not written over the existing sectors. The cards also do nothing in response to the Wear Level command. The value 00H is returned in the sector-count register . Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 47 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA703 Category Command Item When a Write Command Is Issued During Write Operation Question: What is the cards operation when a further write command is issued (ignoring the busy state) while the card is executing a write command? Answer: The write command which is in progress is terminated. The data in the sectors (blocks) that were being written to are not guaranteed. The new write command is valid. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 48 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA704 Category Command Item Read Long Sector and Write Long Sector Question: 1. What is the difference between the Read Long Sector and Read Sector commands? 2. What is the difference between the Write Long Sector and Write Sector commands? Answer: 1. In response to a Read Sector command, 512 bytes of data are transferred; with a Read Long Sector command, 4 bytes of ECC data are added to the 512 bytes of data, and 516 bytes are transferred to the host. However, the 4 bytes of ECC data from our cards are not a valid ECC. So, ignore these 4 bytes on the host side. An ECC check is carried out inside the cards, so you dont need to use the Read Long Sector command. 2. In response to a Write Sector command, 512 bytes of data are transferred; with a Write Long Sector command, 4 bytes of ECC data are added to the 512 bytes of data, and 516 bytes are transferred to the host. However, the 4 bytes of ECC data are ignored and not recorded by Hitachis CF and ATA cards. An ECC check is carried out inside the cards, so you dont need to use the Write Long Sector command. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 49 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA801 Category Others Item Using an OS other than MS-DOS Question: Is it possible to use Hitachis CF and ATA cards with an operating system other than MS-DOS? Answer: Yes. The combinations of model and compatible OS are given at the following URL on Hitachis website: http://www.hitachisemiconductor.com/sic/jsp/japan/jpn/PRODUCTS/FLASHCARD/index.html If you do not find the information at the above URL, search from Hitachis homepage at the URL given below. http://www.hitachi.co.jp Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 50 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA802 Category Others Item Restrictions on Using the Card in the T-IDE Mode in a Linux System Question: What are the restrictions on using the Hitachis CF and ATA cards in T-IDE mode in place of a HDD (connected via an ATA interface) on a Linux system? Answer: 1. A CF or ATA card from Hitachi can be connected as the primary or secondary master device when no other device is present. However, if a CF card, ATA card, or any other drive is connected on the slave side, the system may not boot-up normally. This is because the Linux kernel does not permit masterslave operation where the combination includes removable media. 2. The parameters for the kernel can be changed to allow the use of Hitachis CF and ATA as master or slave devices. For details on this, contact your nearest Hitachi sales office. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 51 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA803 Category Others Item PCs and Other Systems for which Operation has been Confirmed Question: With which systems has correct operation of Hitachis CF and ATA cards been confirmed? Answer: Yes. The combinations of model and compatible OS are given at the following URL on Hitachis website: http://www.hitachisemiconductor.com/sic/jsp/japan/jpn/PRODUCTS/FLASHCARD/index.html If you do not find the information at the above URL, search from Hitachis homepage at the URL given below. http://www.hitachi.co.jp Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 52 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA804 Category Others Item Applying FDISK to the Card when Inserted in a PC-Card Slot Question: Is it possible to apply FDISK to a card which is inserted in a PC card slot? Answer: It depends on the PC. Please contact the PC manufacturer. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 53 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q & A No. CA805 Category Others Item Processing for Pins that are Not Used Question: How should I treat pins that are not used? Answer: Take the following steps with pins that are not used. 1. Leave pins that are pulled up to Vcc or connected to GND inside the card unconnected. These pins are pulled up inside the card: -CE1, -CE2, -OE/-ATASEL, -WE, -IORD, -IOWR, -REG, RESET/-RESET, -CSEL, BVD1/-STSCHG/-PDIAG, and BVD2/-SPKR/-DASP. These pins are connected to GND inside the card: -VS1, -CD1, and CD2. 2. Connect the address pins to GND. 3. Pull down the data pins. 4. Leave the VS2 pin unconnected or connect it to GND. 5. Handle the other pins as follows. (a) Fix the levels on input-only pins and I/O pins by pulling them up (active-low pins) or down (active-high pins). (b) Leave the output-only pins unconnected. Applicability: Applica ble? Series Name Applica ble? Series Name √ HB28xxxxC5 √ HB28xxxxA5 √ HB28xxxxC6 √ HB28xxxxA6 √ HB28xxxxC8x √ HB28xxxxA8H 54 Hitachi CF and ATA Cards Q&A Q8A on Hitachi CF and ATA Card Application Note Publication Date: 1st Edition, December 2002 Published by: Business Operation Division Semiconductor & Integrated Circuits Hitachi, Ltd. Edited by: Technical Documentation Group Hitachi Kodaira Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Copyright Hitachi, Ltd., 2002. All rights reserved. Printed in Japan. 55