Physical destruction of electrical device and methods for triggering same

Abstract

An apparatus and method for disrupting or destroying a component of an electronic device is provided. In one example, an electronic device includes a memory for storing data and a combustion device disposed therewith, the combustion device comprising a volume of electrically ignitable propellant disposed to render the memory at least partially inaccessible after combusted. For example, the combustion device could damage the memory itself or another component of the electronic device, such as a controller or read head, thereby rendering the data inaccessible. In some examples, the memory may include a magnetic storage material such as a magnetic hard drive and the combustion device may be disposed and operable to provide demagnetization of the storage material when combusted. In other examples, the combustion device may merely destroy or render inoperable the read head or other components of the electronic device needed for accessing stored data.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.