The SD Association announced
today it has defined a new, dual-row pin memory card design achieving bus interface
speeds of up to 300 megabytes per second for SDXC and SDHC devices and memory
cards. It is fully backwards compatible, allowing equipped devices full use of any SD,
SDHC and SDXC memory cards.
New high speed interface signals will be assigned on the second row of pins of select
SDXC and SDHC memory cards offering the new speed. This option will be available in
both full-size and micro form factors and does not change the physical size or shape of
the cards. This design will be part of the forthcoming SD 4.0 specification, expected in
early 2011.
“Our innovative dual-row pin design ultimately lets consumers using equipped products
to manage the massive storage capacity found on SDXC memory cards at incredible
speeds,” said Norm Frentz, chairman of the SD Association. “SD can now support high
definition video from Hollywood movie studios, television broadcasts, or HD videos taken
on your latest vacation. SD is a very popular, extremely portable and easy-to-use
storage medium that has enhanced the enjoyment and portability of music, photos and
data. The Association remains committed to helping consumers maintain the value,
usefulness and longevity of all of their SD products.”
At IFA, the Association is displaying new and exciting products based on SDXC, its
latest standard. Attendees will see more than 40 products from 18 different global
brands including memory cards, HD digital cameras, HD video cameras, HD televisions,
e-books, card readers, controllers and developer kits.
Several of the products on display feature the recently announced Ultra High Speed
(UHS) UHS-I and UHS Speed Class high-speed capabilities. UHS-I technology is found
exclusively on SDXC and SDHC products. It offers faster bus-interface speeds, with
data transfer speeds up to 104 megabytes per second. The new UHS Speed Class 1
technology offers a performance option designed to support real-time video recording.
Consumers can realize the full potential of these technologies by pairing their devices
and memory cards.