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US 10,884,951 B2Granted
Memory disablement for data security
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorsShea M. Morrison, Brenton P. Van Leeuwen, Blakely N. Frechette
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatuses and methods related to memory disablement for memory security. Disabling the memory for memory security can include, responsive to receiving a trigger signal, provide a voltage, which may be in excess of an operating or nominal voltage, to the access circuitry. The voltage may thus be sufficient to render the access circuitry inoperable for accessing data stored in the memory array.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a memory array;
- access circuitry coupled to the memory array and configured to operate at a first nominal voltage and provide access to data stored therein;
- additional circuitry coupled to the access circuitry and configured to, responsive to receiving a trigger signal, provide a second nominal voltage to the access circuitry, the second nominal voltage being greater than the first nominal voltage and greater than a rated voltage for the access circuitry;
- and
- redundant access circuitry to regain access to the data stored in the memory array subsequent to the access circuitry being damaged via an application of the second nominal voltage to the access circuitry.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- providing an operating voltage to first circuitry of a memory device in association with accessing data stored in a memory array of the memory device;
- responsive to a trigger event, enabling, via a trigger signal, second circuitry of the memory device in order to provide an over-voltage to the first circuitry to render the first circuitry inoperable for accessing the data stored in the memory array;
- and
- regaining, via redundant access circuitry, access to the data stored in the memory array of the memory device subsequent to the first circuitry being damaged via an application of the over-voltage to the first circuitry.
1 more element
A system comprising:
- a host;
- and
- a memory device coupled to the host and comprising:
- a voltage pump;
- a memory array;
- and
- access circuitry configured to access data stored in the memory array;
- and
- redundant access circuitry;
- wherein the memory device is configured to, responsive to a command from the host, provide a trigger signal to a transistor to provide a voltage generated by the voltage pump to the access circuitry in order to damage the access circuitry sufficiently to render it inoperable for accessing the memory array;
- and
- wherein the memory device is configured to activate the redundant access circuitry to regain access to the data stored in the memory array subsequent to the access circuitry being damaged via the application of the voltage generated by the voltage pump.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.