SanDisk Secure Digital Card 
Product Manual 
Version 2.2 
Document No. 80-13-00169 
September 2004 
SanDisk Corporation   
Corporate Headquarters • 140 Caspian Court  • Sunnyvale, CA  94089 
Phone (408) 542-0500 • Fax (408) 542-0503 
www.sandisk.com 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SanDisk® Corporation general policy does not recommend the use of its products in life support applications where in a failure 
or malfunction of the product may directly threaten life or injury. Per SanDisk Terms and Conditions of Sale, the user of SanDisk 
products in life support applications assumes all risk of such use and indemnifies SanDisk against all damages. See “Limited 
Warranty and Disclaimer of Liability.” 
This document is for information use only and is subject to change without prior notice.  SanDisk Corporation assumes no 
responsibility for any errors that may appear in this document, nor for incidental or consequential damages resulting from the 
furnishing, performance or use of this material.  No part of this document may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in 
a retrievable manner or translated into any language or computer language, in any form or by any means, electronic, 
mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, manual or otherwise, without the prior written consent of an officer of SanDisk 
Corporation. 
SanDisk and the SanDisk logo are registered trademarks of SanDisk Corporation. 
Product names mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of 
their respective companies. 
© 2003/2004 SanDisk Corporation. All rights reserved. 
SanDisk products are covered or licensed under one or more of the following U.S. Patent Nos. 5,070,032; 5,095,344; 5,168,465; 
5,172,338; 5,198,380; 5,200,959; 5,268,318; 5,268,870; 5,272,669; 5,418,752; 5,602,987. Other U.S. and foreign patents 
awarded and pending. 
Lit. No. 80-13-00169  Rev. 2.2  06/2004 
Printed in U.S.A. 
Revision History 
•  Revision 1.0 dated 6/2001−initial release. 
•  Revision 1.1 dated 11/2001−minor editorial and technical changes. 
•  Revision 1.2 dated 6/2002−minor editorial and technical changes. 
•  Revision 1.3 dated 7/2002−minor editorial and technical changes. 
•   Revision 1.4 dated 11/2002—minor editorial change. 
•   Revision 1.5 dated 3/2003—  changed power requirements in Section 2.3, Table 2.3; updated addresses in Appendix A; 
adjusted footers and front matter. 
•   Revision 1.6 dated 8/2003—added 512- and 1024-Mb capacities; updated “Limited Warranty” appendix; added “Disclaimer 
of Liability” appendix. 
•   Revision 1.7 dated 9/2003—minor revisions; added appnote as Appendix A. 
•   Revision 1.8 dated 11/2003—changed VDD read/write values in Section 2 and Table 3-10. 
•   Revision 1.9 dated 12/2003—changed VDD read/write values in Table 3-10. 
•   Revision 2.0 dated 1/2004—changed value in Section 2.4 and 1.5.10.6. 
•   Revision 2.1 dated 4/2004—added two extra part numbers. 
•   Revision 2.2 dated 9/2004—added capacities; updated w/SDA Spec 1.10.
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SanDisk Secure Digital (SD) Card Product Manual, Rev. 2.2  © 2004 SANDISK CORPORATION 
 
Table of Contents 
  
1. Introduction to the SD Card ............................................................................................................................... 1-1 
1.1. Scope................................................................................................................................................. 1-2 
1.2. Product Models ................................................................................................................................. 1-2 
1.3. System Features................................................................................................................................. 1-2 
1.4. SD Card Standard.............................................................................................................................. 1-3 
1.5. Functional Description ...................................................................................................................... 1-3 
1.5.1. Flash Technology Independence............................................................................................. 1-4 
1.5.2. Defect and Error Management................................................................................................ 1-4 
1.5.3. Copyright Protection............................................................................................................... 1-4 
1.5.4. Endurance ............................................................................................................................... 1-5 
1.5.5. Wear Leveling......................................................................................................................... 1-5 
1.5.6. Using the Erase Command...................................................................................................... 1-5 
1.5.7. Automatic Sleep Mode............................................................................................................ 1-5 
1.5.8. Hot Insertion ........................................................................................................................... 1-5 
1.5.9. SD Card—SD Bus Mode ........................................................................................................ 1-6 
1.5.9.1. SD Card Standard Compliance .............................................................................. 1-6 
1.5.9.2. Negotiating Operation Conditions ......................................................................... 1-6 
1.5.9.3. Card Acquisition and Identification....................................................................... 1-6 
1.5.9.4. Card Status............................................................................................................. 1-6 
1.5.9.5. Memory Array Partitioning.................................................................................... 1-7 
1.5.9.6. Read and Write Operations.................................................................................... 1-9 
1.5.9.7. Data Transfer Rate................................................................................................. 1-10 
1.5.9.8. Data Protection in the Flash Card .......................................................................... 1-10 
1.5.9.9. Erase ...................................................................................................................... 1-10 
1.5.9.10. Write Protection................................................................................................... 1-10 
1.5.9.11. Copy Bit............................................................................................................... 1-10 
1.5.9.12. The CSD Register ................................................................................................ 1-10 
1.5.10. SD Card—SPI Mode............................................................................................................. 1-11 
1.5.10.1. Negotiating Operating Conditions ....................................................................... 1-11 
1.5.10.2. Card Acquisition and Identification..................................................................... 1-11 
1.5.10.3. Card Status........................................................................................................... 1-11 
1.5.10.4. Memory Array Partitioning.................................................................................. 1-11 
1.5.10.5. Read and Write Operations.................................................................................. 1-11 
1.5.10.6. Data Transfer Rate............................................................................................... 1-11 
1.5.10.7. Data Protection in the SD Card............................................................................ 1-11 
1.5.10.8. Erase .................................................................................................................... 1-12 
1.5.10.9. Write Protection................................................................................................... 1-12 
1.5.10.10. Copyright Protection.......................................................................................... 1-12 
2. Product Specifications........................................................................................................................................ 2-1 
2.1. System Environmental Specifications............................................................................................... 2-1 
2.2. Reliability and Durability.................................................................................................................. 2-1 
2.3. Typical Card Power Requirements.................................................................................................... 2-2 
2.4. System Performance.......................................................................................................................... 2-2 
2.5. System Reliability and Maintenance................................................................................................. 2-2 
2.6. Physical Specifications...................................................................................................................... 2-3 
3. SD Card Interface Description ........................................................................................................................... 3-1 
3.1. General Description of Pins and Registers........................................................................................ 3-1 
3.1.1. Pin Assignments in SD Card Mode ........................................................................................ 3-1 
SanDisk Secure Digital (SD) Card Product Manual, Rev. 2.2  © 2004 SANDISK CORPORATION 
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Table of Contents 
 
3.1.2. Pin Assignments in SPI Mode................................................................................................. 3-2 
3.2. SD Bus Topology.............................................................................................................................. 3-3 
3.2.1. Power Protection..................................................................................................................... 3-5 
3.3. SPI Bus Topology ............................................................................................................................. 3-5 
3.3.1. Power Protection..................................................................................................................... 3-6 
3.4. Electrical Interface ............................................................................................................................ 3-6 
3.4.1. Power-up................................................................................................................................. 3-7 
3.4.2. Bus Operating Conditions....................................................................................................... 3-8 
3.4.3. Bus Signal Line Load.............................................................................................................. 3-8 
3.4.4. Bus Signal Levels.................................................................................................................... 3-9 
3.4.5. Bus Timing.............................................................................................................................. 3-10 
3.5. SD Card Registers ............................................................................................................................. 3-11 
3.5.1. Operating Conditions Register (OCR) .................................................................................... 3-11 
3.5.2. Card Identification (CID) Register.......................................................................................... 3-12 
3.5.3. CSD Register........................................................................................................................... 3-13 
3.5.4. SCR Register........................................................................................................................... 3-19 
3.5.5. Status Register......................................................................................................................... 3-20 
3.5.6. SD Status................................................................................................................................. 3-23 
3.5.7. RCA Register .......................................................................................................................... 3-23 
3.5.8. SD Card Registers in SPI Mode.............................................................................................. 3-24 
3.6. Data Interchange Format and Card Sizes.......................................................................................... 3-24 
4. Secure Digital (SD) Card Protocol Description.................................................................................................. 4-1 
4.1. SD Bus Protocol................................................................................................................................ 4-1 
4.2. Protocol’s Functional Description..................................................................................................... 4-4 
4.3. Card Identification Mode .................................................................................................................. 4-5 
4.3.1. Reset........................................................................................................................................ 4-6 
4.3.2. Operating Voltage Range Validation ...................................................................................... 4-7 
4.3.3. Card Identification Process ..................................................................................................... 4-7 
4.4. Data Transfer Mode .......................................................................................................................... 4-8 
4.4.1. Wide Bus Selection/Deselection ............................................................................................. 4-10 
4.4.2. Data Read Format ................................................................................................................... 4-10 
4.4.3. Data Write Format .................................................................................................................. 4-11 
4.4.4. Write Protect Management ..................................................................................................... 4-13 
4.4.4.1. Mechanical Write Protect Switch .......................................................................... 4-13 
4.4.4.2. Card’s Internal Write Protection (Optional) .......................................................... 4-13 
4.4.5. Application Specific Commands............................................................................................. 4-13 
4.5. Clock Control.................................................................................................................................... 4-14 
4.6. Cyclic Redundancy Codes (CRC)..................................................................................................... 4-15 
4.7. Error Conditions................................................................................................................................ 4-17 
4.7.1. CRC and Illegal Command ..................................................................................................... 4-17 
4.7.2. Read, Write and Erase Time-out Conditions .......................................................................... 4-17 
4.8. Commands......................................................................................................................................... 4-17 
4.8.1. Command Types ..................................................................................................................... 4-18 
4.8.2. Command Format.................................................................................................................... 4-18 
4.8.3. Command Classes ................................................................................................................... 4-18 
4.8.4. Detailed Command Description.............................................................................................. 4-20 
4.9. Card State Transition Table............................................................................................................... 4-25 
4.10. Responses........................................................................................................................................ 4-26 
4.11. Timings ........................................................................................................................................... 4-28 
4.11.1. Command and Response....................................................................................................... 4-28 
4.11.2. Data Read.............................................................................................................................. 4-29 
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SanDisk Secure Digital (SD) Card Product Manual, Rev. 2.2  © 2004 SANDISK CORPORATION 
 
Table of Contents 
4.11.3. Data Write............................................................................................................................. 4-30 
4.11.4. Timing Values....................................................................................................................... 4-33 
5. SPI Protocol Definition ...................................................................................................................................... 5-1 
5.1. SPI Bus Protocol ............................................................................................................................... 5-1 
5.1.1. Mode Selection ....................................................................................................................... 5-1 
5.1.2. Bus Transfer Protection .......................................................................................................... 5-2 
5.1.3. Data Read................................................................................................................................ 5-2 
5.1.4. Data Write............................................................................................................................... 5-3 
5.1.5. Erase and Write Protect Management..................................................................................... 5-4 
5.1.6. Read CID/CSD Registers........................................................................................................ 5-4 
5.1.7. Reset Sequence ....................................................................................................................... 5-5 
5.1.8. Clock Control.......................................................................................................................... 5-5 
5.1.9. Error Conditions...................................................................................................................... 5-6 
5.1.9.1. CRC and Illegal Commands .................................................................................. 5-6 
5.1.9.2. Read, Write and Erase Time-out Conditions ......................................................... 5-6 
5.1.10. Memory Array Partitioning................................................................................................... 5-8 
5.1.11. Card Lock/Unlock................................................................................................................. 5-8 
5.1.12. Application Specific Commands........................................................................................... 5-8 
5.1.13. Copyright Protection Commands.......................................................................................... 5-8 
5.2. SPI Command Set ............................................................................................................................. 5-8 
5.2.1. Command Format.................................................................................................................... 5-8 
5.2.2. Command Classes ................................................................................................................... 5-9 
5.2.2.1. Detailed Command Description............................................................................. 5-9 
5.2.3. Responses................................................................................................................................ 5-12 
5.2.3.1. Format R1 .............................................................................................................. 5-13 
5.2.3.2. Format R1b ............................................................................................................ 5-13 
5.2.3.3. Format R2 .............................................................................................................. 5-13 
5.2.3.4. Format R3 .............................................................................................................. 5-14 
5.2.3.5. Data Response ....................................................................................................... 5-15 
5.2.4. Data Tokens ............................................................................................................................ 5-15 
5.2.5. Data Error Token .................................................................................................................... 5-16 
5.2.6. Clearing Status Bits................................................................................................................. 5-16 
5.3. Card Registers ................................................................................................................................... 5-16 
5.4. SPI Bus Timing Diagrams................................................................................................................. 5-16 
5.4.1. Command/Response................................................................................................................ 5-17 
5.4.2. Data Read................................................................................................................................ 5-18 
5.4.3. Data Write............................................................................................................................... 5-18 
5.4.4. Timing Values......................................................................................................................... 5-19 
5.5. SPI Electrical Interface...................................................................................................................... 5-19 
5.6. SPI Bus Operating Conditions .......................................................................................................... 5-19 
5.7. Bus Timing........................................................................................................................................ 5-19 
Appendix A. Application Note............................................................................................................................... A-1 
Host Design Considerations:  NAND MMC and SD-based Products 
Introduction.............................................................................................................................................. A-1 
Timing...................................................................................................................................................... A-1 
Timing specifications ............................................................................................................................... A-1 
Read access and program times................................................................................................................ A-1 
Interface.................................................................................................................................................... A-2 
Read/Write Mode Selection ..................................................................................................................... A-4 
Power and Clock Control......................................................................................................................... A-4 
Initialization Algorithm............................................................................................................................ A-5 
SanDisk Secure Digital (SD) Card Product Manual, Rev. 2.2  © 2004 SANDISK CORPORATION 
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File System Support ................................................................................................................................. A-5 
Appendix B. Ordering Information ........................................................................................................................ B-1 
Appendix C. SanDisk Worldwide Sales Offices.................................................................................................... C-1 
Appendix D. Limited Warranty.............................................................................................................................. D-1 
Appendix E. Disclaimer of Liability ...................................................................................................................... E-1 
 
 
 
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SanDisk Secure Digital (SD) Card Product Manual, Rev. 2.2  © 2004 SANDISK CORPORATION 
 
1. Introduction to the SD Card 
The Secure Digital Card is a flash-based memory card that is specifically designed to meet the security, capacity, 
performance and environmental requirements inherent in newly emerging audio and video consumer electronic 
devices. The SD Card includes a copyright protection mechanism that complies with the security of the SDMI 
standard, and is faster and capable of higher Memory capacity. The SD Card security system uses mutual 
authentication and a “new cipher algorithm” to protect from illegal usage of the card content. A non-secured access 
to the user‘s own content is also available. The physical form factor, pin assignment and data transfer protocol are 
forward compatible with the SD Card, with some additions. 
The SD Card communication is based on an advanced nine-pin interface (Clock, Command, 4xData and 3xPower 
lines) designed to operate in a low voltage range. The communication protocol is defined as part of this 
specification. The SD Card host interface supports regular MultiMediaCard operation as well. In other words, 
MultiMediaCard forward compatibility was kept. Actually the main difference between SD Card and 
MultiMediaCard is the initialization process. The SD Card specifications were originally defined by MEI 
(Matsushita Electric Company), Toshiba Corporation and SanDisk Corporation. Currently, the specifications are 
controlled by the Secure Digital Association (SDA). The SanDisk SD Card was designed to be compatible with the 
SD Card Physical Specification. 
The SD Card interface allows for easy integration into any design, regardless of microprocessor used. For 
compatibility with existing controllers, the SanDisk SD Card offers, in addition to the SD Card interface, an 
alternate communication protocol, which is based on the SPI standard. 
The current SD Card provides up to 1024 million bytes of memory using flash memory chips, which were designed 
especially for use in mass storage applications. In addition to the mass storage specific flash memory chip, the SD 
Card includes an on-card intelligent controller which manages interface protocols, security algorithms for copyright 
protection, data storage and retrieval, as well as Error Correction Code (ECC) algorithms, defect handling and 
diagnostics, power management and clock control. 
SD Bus/SPI Bus
Interface
SanDisk
Single Chip
Controller
Data In/Out
Control
Flash
Modules
SanDisk SD Card
 
Figure 1-1.  SD Card Block Diagram 
SanDisk Secure Digital (SD) Card Product Manual, Rev. 2.2  © 2004 SANDISK CORPORATION 
1-1 
Introduction to the SD Card 
1.1. Scope 
 
This document describes the key features and specifications of the SD Card, as well as the information required to 
interface this product to a host system. 
1.2. Product Models 
The SD Card is available in the capacities shown in Table 1-1. 
Table 1-1.  SD Card Capacities 
Model No. 
Capacities 
SDSDB-16 
SDSDJ-32 
SDSDJ-64 
SDSDJ-128 
SDSDJ-256 
SDSDH-256 
SDSDJ-512 
SDSDH-512 
SDSDJ-1024 
SDSDJ-2048 
16 MB 
32 MB 
64 MB 
128 MB 
256 MB 
256 MB 
512 MB 
512 MB 
1024 MB 
2048 MB 
SDSDB = Binary NAND technology. 
SDSDJ = Multi Level Cell (MLC) NAND technology. 
SDSDH = Ultra SD Card 
1.3. System Features 
The SD Card provides the following features: 
•  Up to 2-GB of data storage. 
• 
• 
• 
SD Card protocol compatible. 
Supports SPI Mode. 
Targeted for portable and stationary applications for secured (copyrights protected) and non-secured 
data storage. 
•  Voltage range: 
−  Basic communication (CMD0, CMD15, CMD55, ACMD41): 2.0-3.6V. 
−  Other commands and memory access: 2.7-3.6V. 
•  Variable clock rate 0-25 MHZ. 
•  Up to 25 MB/sec data transfer rate (using 4 parallel data lines). 
•  Maximum data rate with up to 10 cards. 
•  Correction of memory field errors. 
•  Copyrights Protection Mechanism—Complies with highest security of SDMI standard. 
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SanDisk Secure Digital (SD) Card Product Manual, Rev. 2.2  © 2004 SANDISK CORPORATION