Specifications

ManualsBrandsSD Association ManualsGPSSD-501

Physical Layer Simplified Specification Version 4.10

1. General Description

SD Memory Card is a memory card that is specifically designed to meet the security, capacity,

performance, and environment requirements inherent in newly emerging audio and video consumer

electronic devices. The SD Memory Card will include a content protection mechanism that complies

with the security of the SDMI standard and will be faster and capable of higher Memory capacity. The

SD Memory Card security system uses mutual authentication and a "new cipher algorithm" to protect

against illegal usage of the card content. A Non-secure access to the user's own content is also

available.

SD memory cards may also support a second security system based on commonly used standards,

such as ISO-7816, which can be used to interface the SD memory card into public networks and other

systems supporting mobile e-commerce and digital signature applications.

In addition to the SD Memory Card, there is the SD I/O (SDIO) Card. The SDIO Card specification is

defined in a separate specification named: "SDIO Card Specification" that can be obtained from the SD

Association. The SDIO Specification defines an SD card that may contain interfaces between various

I/O units and an SD Host. The SDIO card may contain memory storage capability as well as its I/O

functionality. The Memory portion of SDIO card shall be fully compatible to the given Physical Layer

Specification. The SDIO card is based on and compatible with the SD Memory card. This compatibility

includes mechanical, electrical, power, signalling, and software. The intent of the SD I/O card is to

provide high-speed data I/O with low power consumption for mobile electronic devices. A primary goal

is that an I/O card inserted into a non-SDIO aware host will cause no physical damage or disruption of

that device or its software. In this case, the I/O card should simply be ignored. Once inserted into an

SDIO aware host, the detection of the card will be via the normal means described in the given Physical

Layer Specification with some extensions that are described in the SDIO Specification.

The SD Memory Card communication is based on an advanced 9-pin interface (Clock, Command,

4xData and 3xPower lines) designed to operate in at maximum operating frequency of 50 MHz and low

voltage range. The communication protocol is defined as a part of this specification.

The SD Specifications are divided into several documents. The SD Specifications documentation

structure is given in Figure 1-1.

Figure 1-1: SD Specifications Documentation Structure

• Audio Specification:

This specification, along with other application specifications, describes the specification of a specific

application (in this case - Audio Application) and the requirements to implement it.

• File System Specification:

The specification describes the specification of the file format structure of the data saved in the SD

Memory Card (in User Area and Protected Area).

Application Specifications

Part 4 Audio Part 8 Video Other Applications

Part 3 Security

Part 2 File System

Part 1 Physical Layer

UHS-II Addendum

Mechanical Addenda

eSD Addendum (Embedded)

Part A1

Advanced

Security SD

Extension

Part E1 SDIO