Memory Device

• US 20080209510A1
• Filed: 02/21/2008
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Ito, Masafumi
• Granted Patent: US 8,365,309 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2143 Clearing memory, e.g. to prevent the data from being stolen

Abstract

A memory device that has a function used to continue or disrupt a supply of electric power used to retain data stored in a recording medium or a supply of operating electric power of a circuit used to read out data stored in a storage medium, using personal identification information is provided. When the recording medium is formed of a volatile memory, this memory device has a power supply used to manage a supply of electric power that is used for retention of the stored data using the personal identification information and to retain or erase stored data by continuation or disruption of a supply of electric power by use of the personal identification information.

Claims

1. A memory device comprising:

a recording medium including a volatile memory in at least a part thereof;

a recording media controller configured to control operations of writing of data to the volatile memory, reading out of data from the volatile memory, and erasing of data of the volatile memory;

an accumulator configured to supply electric power to retain data that is recorded in the volatile memory;

an authenticator configured to determine whether the accumulator is to be charged or not after personal identification information is input; and

a charging circuit configured to perform charging of the accumulator when authorization of the authenticator is obtained.

2. The memory device according to claim 1, further comprising a memory in which time data specifying a period during which data of the volatile memory is read out is recorded,

wherein the memory is electrically connected to the authenticator.

3. The memory device according to claim 1,

wherein the authenticator is electrically connected to the recording media controller;

and

wherein the personal identification information is output from the recording media controller to the authenticator.

4. The memory device according to claim 1,

wherein the personal identification information is a personal identification number.

5. The memory device according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor section comprising a fingerprint sensor, a retina sensor, or a facial image sensor,

wherein the personal identification information is a signal input to the authenticator from the sensor section.

6. The memory device according to claim 1, further comprising an antenna configured to receive electromagnetic waves used to perform charging of the charging circuit.

7. The memory device according to claim 6,

wherein a frequency band of the electromagnetic waves is from 30 kHz to 30 GHz.

8. An electronic device comprising the memory device according to claim 1,

wherein the memory device is removable.

9. A memory device comprising:

a recording medium including a nonvolatile memory;

a recording media controller configured to control operations of writing of data to the recording medium, reading out of data from the recording medium, and erasing of data of the recording medium;

an accumulator configured to supply driving electric power to the recording media controller;

an authenticator configured to determine whether the accumulator is to be charged or not after personal identification information is input; and

a charging circuit configured to perform charging of the accumulator when authorization of the authenticator is obtained.

10. The memory device according to claim 9,

wherein the authenticator is electrically connected to the recording media controller;

and

wherein the personal identification information is output from the recording media controller to the authenticator.

11. The memory device according to claim 9,

wherein the personal identification information is a personal identification number.

12. The memory device according to claim 9, further comprising a sensor section comprising a fingerprint sensor, a retina sensor, or a facial image sensor,

wherein the personal identification information is a signal input to the authenticator from the sensor section.

13. The memory device according to claim 9, further comprising an antenna configured to receive electromagnetic waves used to perform charging of the charging circuit.

14. The memory device according to claim 13,

wherein a frequency band of the electromagnetic waves is from 30 kHz to 30 GHz.

15. An electronic device comprising the memory device according to claim 9,

wherein the memory device is removable.

16. A memory device comprising:

a recording medium including a volatile memory and an auxiliary power supply;

a recording media controller configured to control operations of writing of data to the volatile memory, reading out of data from the volatile memory, and erasing of data of the volatile memory;

an accumulator configured to supply electric power to the auxiliary power supply to retain data that is recorded in the volatile memory;

an authenticator configured to determine whether the accumulator is to be charged or not after personal identification information is input; and

a charging circuit configured to perform charging of the accumulator when authorization of the authenticator is obtained.

17. The memory device according to claim 16,

wherein the authenticator is electrically connected to the recording media controller;

and

wherein the personal identification information is output from the recording media controller to the authenticator.

18. The memory device according to claim 16,

wherein the personal identification information is a personal identification number.

19. The memory device according to claim 16, further comprising a sensor section comprising a fingerprint sensor, a retina sensor, or a facial image sensor,

wherein the personal identification information is a signal input to;

the authenticator from the sensor section.

20. The memory device according to claim 16, further comprising an antenna configured to receive electromagnetic waves used to perform charging of the charging circuit.

21. The memory device according to claim 20,

wherein a frequency band of the electromagnetic waves is from 30 kHz to 30 GHz.

22. An electronic device comprising the memory device according to claim 16,

wherein the memory device is removable.

23. A memory device adapted to be removably applied to an electronic device, the memory device comprising:

a recording medium;

a recording media controller electrically connected to the recording medium;

an accumulator electrically connected to the recording medium; and

a charging controller electrically connected to the accumulator,

wherein the charging controller comprises a charging circuit electrically connected to the charging controller, an authenticator electrically connected to the charging circuit, and a memory unit electrically connected to the authenticator.

24. The memory device according to claim 23,

wherein the authenticator is electrically connected to the recording media controller;

and

wherein the personal identification information is output from the recording media controller to the authenticator.

25. The memory device according to claim 23,

wherein the personal identification information is a personal identification number.

26. The memory device according to claim 23, further comprising a sensor section comprising a fingerprint sensor, a retina sensor, or a facial image sensor,

wherein the personal identification information is a signal input to the authenticator from the sensor section.

27. The memory device according to claim 23, further comprising an antenna configured to receive electromagnetic waves used to perform charging of the charging circuit.

28. The memory device according to claim 27,

wherein a frequency band of the electromagnetic waves is from 30 kHz to 30 GHz.

29. An electronic device comprising the memory device according to claim 23,

wherein the memory device is removable.