SPI to SD Card Chip – IS3910

Seamless Data Logging with the IS3910 SPI to SD Card Chip

The IS3910 is an efficient and robust controller designed to simplify the integration of Secure Digital (SD) and MicroSD cards into your embedded systems. By acting as a bridge, the SPI to SD Card Chip manages the complex physical layer of the SD card protocol, translating it into simple, high-speed commands over the popular Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI). This eliminates the need for complex, resource-heavy firmware, allowing developers to focus on core application logic.

Why Choose the IS3910 for External Storage?

Integrating SD card storage is often crucial for data-intensive projects. The IS3910 makes this process manageable for any host microcontroller, from entry-level 8-bit devices to advanced 32-bit platforms. It significantly lowers the barrier to high-capacity storage. This versatility makes it ideal for a wide array of applications, including portable instrumentation, IoT data loggers, and firmware update systems.

Key benefits of using this SPI to SD Card Chip include:

• Simplified Interface: Requires only four standard SPI lines (MOSI, MISO, SCK, CS) plus power and ground, ensuring minimal pin usage.

• Universal Compatibility: Supports standard SD and MicroSD cards in SPI mode, offering high capacity and low cost.

• Enhanced Reliability: Built-in protocol handling ensures reliable data transfer, reducing the risk of data corruption.

Achieving High-Speed Data Acquisition

For applications requiring continuous, high-volume data recording, the performance of the interface is paramount. The IS3910 is optimized for maximum throughput in SPI mode, ensuring that your data logging tasks—such as recording sensor readings or audio streams—are executed without bottlenecks. This level of efficiency is typically difficult to achieve when trying to bit-bang the SD card protocol directly.

If your design requires a different kind of fast memory access, you may be interested in our high-performance Serial Flash Memory products. Furthermore, you can deepen your understanding of the communication standard by visiting the Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) Wikipedia page.

Technical Specifications for the IS3910

The IS3910 provides a powerful and complete SD card solution. It is compatible with multiple voltage levels, making it simple to integrate into both 3.3V and 5V systems through a proper level-shifting circuit. The ability to use the widely supported FAT16 or FAT32 file systems is integral to its utility, ensuring recorded data is easily accessible by standard computers. Choose the IS3910 for reliable, streamlined SD card functionality.