memory stick reader/writer

I have in mind to store a lot of data acquired by an autonomous
measurement board build around a MSP430, on a removable memory stick.
If possible in a "disk" format, readable on some laptop.
Did somebody realize it? Do you know about an application note about
that ?
Thanks for any information and help
p.

> I have in mind to store a lot of data acquired by an autonomous
> measurement board build around a MSP430, on a removable memory stick.

I suggest you do not use Memory Stick, because the format is
proprietary and the documentation is no longer made freely available
(though I can give you some, which Sony made freely available "back in
the day"; it is enough information to access basic storage devices but
not MagicGate).

CompactFlash is a better choice, because it is closer to being an open
standard; at any rate, the full specification is freely available. It
has the disadvantage of requiring a fairly large I/O budget.

MMC is also a reasonably good choice, because the baselevel
specification is freely available, and it has the advantage of
requiring only a very small I/O budget (SPI, basically).

"Lewin A.R.W. Edwards" <larwe@larwe.com> wrote in message
news:608b6569.0404300616.2a566c94@posting.google.com...
> > I have in mind to store a lot of data acquired by an autonomous
> > measurement board build around a MSP430, on a removable memory stick.
>
> I suggest you do not use Memory Stick, because the format is
> proprietary and the documentation is no longer made freely available
> (though I can give you some, which Sony made freely available "back in
> the day"; it is enough information to access basic storage devices but
> not MagicGate).
>
> CompactFlash is a better choice, because it is closer to being an open
> standard; at any rate, the full specification is freely available. It
> has the disadvantage of requiring a fairly large I/O budget.
>
> MMC is also a reasonably good choice, because the baselevel
> specification is freely available, and it has the advantage of
> requiring only a very small I/O budget (SPI, basically).

Why not use USB and only implement the Mass Storage class?

On 30 Apr 2004 07:16:38 -0700, Lewin A.R.W. Edwards <larwe@larwe.com> 
wrote:

> MMC is also a reasonably good choice, because the baselevel
> specification is freely available, [...]

Any pointers?  MMCA offers the spec for mere $500.

   Vadim

Glen Atkins wrote:
> Why not use USB and only implement the Mass Storage class?
> 

The embedded device would need to be a USB master to write the media.

I have been looking for this type of device for a while.
It is much more difficult to implement than a CF or MMC device.

If you have any ideas on this subject, please share your resources.

  hamilton

"hamilton" <hamilton@deminsional.com> wrote in message
news:4092b715$1_1@omega.dimensional.com...
>
>
> Glen Atkins wrote:
> > Why not use USB and only implement the Mass Storage class?
> >
>
> The embedded device would need to be a USB master to write the media.
>
> I have been looking for this type of device for a while.
> It is much more difficult to implement than a CF or MMC device.
>
> If you have any ideas on this subject, please share your resources.
>
>   hamilton
>

It depends on if you already have an embedded controller in your design,
what your price point is, etc.  There are a variety of embedded processors
that have USB host functionality.  There are several USB Host interface
devices around too - those that hook to PCI, those that hook to 'generic' 16
and 32 bit buses as well.

NEC, Phillips, Cypress (who I would avoid) are among the major players for
add-in devices.

Glen

> > > I have in mind to store a lot of data acquired by an autonomous
> > > measurement board build around a MSP430, on a removable memory stick.
> 
> Why not use USB and only implement the Mass Storage class?

Because that's about three orders of magnitude more work than
implementing a direct flash media interface, and it's also more
expensive. MMC is four GPIOs and a connector. USB is a host interface
chip, a complicated software stack, and endless testing headaches.

Thanks Glen, and all
the device has to run completely alone, with a 128MB to 256MB storage
on that memory (or the kind - we'll find the specs or documentation
about). It's planed to simply visit the station from time to time and
to exchange the full stick with an empty one.
Keep running  ! Thanks !
panagiotis triandafilidis
==============================================================
"Glen Atkins" <glen_atkins@nospamagilent.com> wrote in message news:<1083337379.515377@cswreg.cos.agilent.com>...
> "Lewin A.R.W. Edwards" <larwe@larwe.com> wrote in message
> news:608b6569.0404300616.2a566c94@posting.google.com...
> > > I have in mind to store a lot of data acquired by an autonomous
> > > measurement board build around a MSP430, on a removable memory stick.
> >
> > I suggest you do not use Memory Stick, because the format is
> > proprietary and the documentation is no longer made freely available
> > (though I can give you some, which Sony made freely available "back in
> > the day"; it is enough information to access basic storage devices but
> > not MagicGate).
> >
> > CompactFlash is a better choice, because it is closer to being an open
> > standard; at any rate, the full specification is freely available. It
> > has the disadvantage of requiring a fairly large I/O budget.
> >
> > MMC is also a reasonably good choice, because the baselevel
> > specification is freely available, and it has the advantage of
> > requiring only a very small I/O budget (SPI, basically).
> 
> Why not use USB and only implement the Mass Storage class?

On Fri, 30 Apr 2004 16:11:56 +0100, Vadim Borshchev 
<vadim.borshchev@127.0.0.1> wrote:

> Any pointers?

Never mind, I've found it (and even more).

   Vadim