SmartMedia
| Storage medium SmartMedia Card
|
|
|
|
| General | |
|---|---|
| Type | Memory card , semiconductor memory |
| capacity | up to 4 MB (5V version) up to 128 MB (3.3V version) |
| size | 45.0 x 37.0 x 0.76 mm |
| use | Digital camera , MP3 player , keyboard , sequencer , groove box |
| origin | |
| developer | Toshiba |
| idea | 1996 |
| successor | xD-Picture Card |
SmartMedia ( SM , rarely also Solid State Floppy Disk Card , SSFDC ) is a digital storage medium in Flash technology that was used in digital cameras , MP3 players , keyboards , sequencers , groove boxes and for digital recording devices. The storage capacity is between 0.5 and 128 MB. SmartMedia are no longer produced, but there are still some stocks left in stores.
The SmartMedia Card was developed by Toshiba in 1996 .
properties
With this type of memory card, the controller is not included on the card, but must be in the drive , i.e. H. in the digital camera or z. B. the PCMCIA adapter. The controllers built into the devices usually only support cards up to a certain size. In a few cases a firmware update can increase the maximum supported capacity. In addition, only cards with the supported supply voltage can be used (new: 3.3 V, old: 5 V).
The card is 45 mm × 37 mm × 0.76 mm in size, weighs around 2 grams and has 22 contacts. The data transfer speed is 0.8 MB / s. The operating voltage of the smart media card was 5 V at the beginning, newer models are operated with 3.3 V. The 5 V version was available with a storage capacity of up to 4 MB, the 3.3 V version was available with a storage volume of up to 128 MB. The 5-volt cards can be recognized by the beveled corner at the top left. In the case of the 3.3 volt cards, this is in the top right.
Multi-card readers automatically adjust to 3.3 V as well as 5 V memory cards. With a switch, they detect which corner is beveled and check whether contact 17 (top center, LVD, English: Low Voltage Detect) is conductively connected to contacts 12 (top left) and 22 (top right).
The xD-Picture Card can be seen as the successor to the SmartMedia card , as it was largely propagated by the same device manufacturers as the SmartMedia card. The lack of production of SmartMedia cards resulted in a certain price increase despite the low demand, while common memory cards have fallen massively in price in recent years.
More and more current card readers only support the 3.3 volt version. The 5-volt version can no longer be inserted correctly into such devices.
ID SmartMedia cards were mainly used in MP3 players. They were necessary because of the copy protection interests of the music industry. Cards with the ID imprint are 3.3 volt SmartMedia cards and contain a hidden, one-off, permanently programmed media ID that can be used for copy protection, digital watermarks or encryption applications.
The SSFDC Forum standardized electrical requirements as well as data formats to ensure compatibility and readability with other SmartMedia devices.
Susceptibility to failure
Due to the large, unprotected contacts on the top, the SmartMedia card is relatively sensitive to electrostatic discharges . Avoid touching the contacts with your fingers, rubbing with a woolen cloth, and other occasions where static electricity can be generated or transmitted. Contact with surfaces in any form also leads to invisible soiling, which can manifest itself in strange read / write errors or even loss of data. Cleaning that has become necessary due to contamination also harbors the risk of damage from electrostatic discharge.
At the time when SmartMedia cards were a common storage medium, there was frequent data loss and writing or reading errors when using the card in a memory card reader . Problems then arose with the low level format that could not be further explained . A recovery should be possible with the help of special programs or procedures, although it is questionable whether these programs still work with today's operating systems.
In order to avoid such dangers, it is better not to operate the card in card readers, but to connect the peripheral device directly to the computer and read the card in this way, if possible.
Specifications
- Weight: 2 g
- Size: 45.0mm × 37.0mm × 0.76mm
- Available capacities: 0.5, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 MB
- NAND flash memory chips
- Connection terminal with 22 pins
- 8-bit I / O interface (sometimes also 16-bit I / O interface)
- Data transfer rate: 2 MB / s
- Number of guaranteed write cycles per logical block: 1,000,000
- Data retention without power supply: at least 10 years
- Write protection can only be activated via metalized stickers on the contacts
Individual evidence
- ↑ Read Embedded Flash Chips . In: uCHobby - Making things with Micro-controllers, May 5, 2007; Accessed March 16, 2020.
- ^ A b Toshiba Corporation (ed.): TC58V12BDC . (Data Sheet). November 7, 1998, p. 14 (English, dataman.com [PDF; 1,2 MB ; accessed on March 16, 2020]).
- ↑ Joseph Troeszter: Fujifilm digital cameras 1997-2008 - technical information. In: troeszter.net. Retrieved March 16, 2020 .
- ^ Christine: Smart Media Repair Instructions . October 2, 2005 (English, archive.org ( Memento from September 3, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) [PDF; 239 kB ; accessed on March 16, 2020]).
- ^ Dennis van Hall: SEGA Digio SJ-1 (1996). In: digitalkameramuseum.de. Dennis von Hall, accessed on March 16, 2020 : "Anand 0.5 MB"
Web links
- SmartMedia format introduction (PDF; 273 kB)
- SmartMedia card pinout