M.2 interface solid-state drive

The M.2 interface SSD employs undefined pins to enable hardware-level management modes, addressing the lack of reliable hardware management in existing SSDs, enhancing flexibility and reliability through write protection, data erasure, and monitoring functions.

TWM685928UActive Publication Date: 2026-08-01SILICON POWER +1
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Patent Information

Application Number
TW115202708
Authority / Receiving Office
TW · TW
Patent Type
Utility models
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2026-03-27
Publication Date
2026-08-01
Estimated Expiration
2036-03-26

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing M.2 interface SSDs lack a reliable hardware-level management interface independent of data communication, making management functions like write protection and data erasure susceptible to system status and firmware errors, and they do not effectively utilize undefined gold finger pins for additional control.

Method used

Utilize undefined gold finger pins in the M.2 interface to connect with a controller's GPIO contacts through a management circuit, enabling the controller to switch to management modes based on the electrical state of these pins, providing write protection, data erasure, and monitoring functions without affecting PCIe data transmission.

Benefits of technology

Enhances the reliability and flexibility of SSD management by allowing hardware-level operations like write protection and data erasure, independent of the host system's status, and provides a dedicated monitoring interface, improving system maintenance and data security.

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Abstract

This invention provides an M.2 interface solid-state drive, comprising: a gold finger connector, a controller, a non-volatile memory module, and a management circuit structure. The gold finger connector is used to insert into an M.2 slot on a motherboard and includes multiple gold finger pins, including at least one undefined pin. The controller is electrically connected to the gold finger connector and configured to communicate with the host via the M.2 slot. The non-volatile memory module is electrically connected to the controller for storing data. The management circuit structure is electrically connected between at least one undefined pin of the gold finger connector and a general purpose input / output (GPIO) contact of the controller. When the undefined pin presents a predetermined electrical state, the management circuit structure can trigger the controller to enter a management mode via the GPIO contact, causing the controller to change the access control logic for the non-volatile memory module.
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