Volatile Memory Refresh Logic for Secure Self-Erasing Cells

Solution Overview

Problem

Frequent data erase and clear operations in volatile memory systems, such as DRAM, lead to performance bottlenecks and increased power consumption, particularly in cloud, edge, and AI applications, due to static and non-adaptive memory management.

Innovation Solution

Implementing memory cell refresh mechanisms with programmable data erase and clear operations using refresh logic to manage short-term memory cells, allowing controlled data lifespan and secure data invalidation through charge leakage or overwrite signals, reducing the need for explicit memory wipes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If frequent data erase and clear operations are performed in volatile memory systems, then data security and privacy compliance are improved, but system performance and power consumption deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata securityVSAvoidsystem performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The memory system performs self-erasure by leveraging its inherent refresh mechanism. Instead of requiring external erase commands, the memory cells automatically clear their own data by disabling the refresh operation, allowing the stored charge to leak away. This self-service approach eliminates the performance overhead of traditional erase operations while maintaining data security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the operational parameter of the refresh mechanism from periodic charge restoration to controlled charge discharge. By modifying the refresh enable signal, the system transitions the memory cells from a state where charges are maintained to a state where charges naturally leak, achieving data erasure through parameter modification rather than active intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If frequent data erase and clear operations are performed in volatile memory systems, then data security and privacy compliance are improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata securityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The memory system performs self-erasure by leveraging its inherent refresh mechanism. Instead of requiring external erase commands, the memory cells automatically clear their own data by disabling the refresh operation, allowing the stored charge to leak away. This self-service approach eliminates the performance overhead of traditional erase operations while maintaining data security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the operational parameter of the refresh mechanism from periodic charge restoration to controlled charge discharge. By modifying the refresh enable signal, the system transitions the memory cells from a state where charges are maintained to a state where charges naturally leak, achieving data erasure through parameter modification rather than active intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If explicit memory wipes are performed, then data erasure is ensured, but memory resource reuse efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata erasureVSAvoidmemory resource reuse time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The memory system performs self-erasure by leveraging its inherent refresh mechanism. Instead of requiring external erase commands, the memory cells automatically clear their own data by disabling the refresh operation, allowing the stored charge to leak away. This self-service approach eliminates the performance overhead of traditional erase operations while maintaining data security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes the periodic nature of the refresh mechanism to achieve erasure. By controlling the refresh enable signal, the system leverages the natural periodic charging and discharging cycles of capacitive memory cells to accomplish data erasure as a byproduct of the refresh operation, rather than as a separate time-consuming step.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances computational performance and energy efficiency by proactively addressing bottlenecks in memory management, ensuring secure data erasure and efficient resource reuse while minimizing system impact.

Implementation Method 1

volatile types of memory such as DRAM... ensure that data stored to these memory cells is maintained

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCharge storage in capacitors: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

clear or erase data stored to the short-term memory cells based on a determination that the specified duration of time has expired... through charge leakage or overwrite signals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCharge leakage:

Data Source

PatentUS20260024568A1Techniques for data erase and clear operations using memory cell refresh mechanisms

Publication Date: 2026.01.22 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Examples include techniques associated with data erase and clear operations using memory cell refresh mechanisms associated with volatile types of memory. The memory cell refresh mechanisms used for data erase and clear operations include manipulation of a refresh signal to cause volatile memory cells to be cleared or erased. The volatile memory cells to be identified as short-term memory cells.