PCMCIA

Abstract

The Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) interface allows small thin cards to be plugged into laptop, notebook or palmtop computers. It was originally designed for memory cards (Version 1.0) but has since been adopted for many other types of adapters (Version 2.0), such as fax/modems, sound-cards, local area network cards, CD-ROM controllers, digital I/O cards, and so on. Most PCMCIA cards comply with either PCMCIA Type II or Type III. Type I cards are 3.3 mm thick, Type II cards take cards up to 5 mm thick, Type III allows cards up to 10.5 mm thick. A new standard, Type IV, takes cards which are greater than 10.5 mm. Type II interfaces can accept Type I cards, Type III accept Types I and I1 and Type IV interfaces accepts Types I, II and III.