Information: PCMCIA Slot Specifications and Types

• Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.1, 3.11
• Microsoft Windows for Workgroups versions 3.1, 3.11

SUMMARY

This article contains a list of PCMCIA card sizes and types.

MORE INFORMATION

Physical Specifications

PCMCIA cards have one of the following standard physical dimensions:

Type I Card         54 mm by 85.6 mm by 3.3 mm
Type II Card        54 mm by 85.6 mm by 5 mm
Type III Card       54 mm by 85.6 mm by 10.5 mm

Certain Toshiba notebook computers and other machines have a non-standard, oversized slot for which there are non-standard, oversized cards ranging from 14.5 millimeter (mm) to 16 mm (or more) thick. These cards and slots are sometimes incorrectly referred to as "Type IV." This size card will probably not become part of the PCMCIA standard.

A Type II card has the same thickness as a Type I card along the long sides and connector end; this provides mechanical compatibility. A bubble 0.85 mm thick on the top and bottom surfaces increases the card's total thickness to 5 mm. A Type III card has a additional 5.5 mm on the top surface bubble for a total thickness of 10.5 mm.

The standard allows a maximum card length of 135.6 mm, which means the card can extend outside the host. This accommodates bulky devices such as batteries, oversized connectors, removable media, transceivers, and the antenna required by some devices.