SSD Data Destruction via Induction Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solid-state storage devices (SSDs) are resistant to magnetic field erasure and physically difficult to destroy without damaging the associated portable electronic devices, making it challenging to permanently erase data from stolen or lost devices.
Innovation Solution
An induction coil and energy storage device are used to generate a heat pulse that destroys the SSD's electronic components, rendering the data permanently unrecoverable and the device inoperable, with a controller regulating the energy discharge to ensure effective destruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If magnetic field erasure is used on conventional rotating disk drives, then data can be erased, but solid-state drives are resistant to magnetic fields and cannot be erased by such methods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces magnetic field erasure (electromagnetic method) with induction heating followed by physical destruction (thermal-mechanical method). The induction coil generates heat through electromagnetic induction, which is then converted to mechanical destruction of the SSD components, bypassing the magnetic field resistance of solid-state storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter used for data destruction from magnetic field strength to temperature. By heating the SSD to extreme temperatures through induction heating, the solid-state components are physically destroyed, achieving data erasure where magnetic methods fail.
2Loss of information
If physical destruction methods such as crushing or grinding are used on SSDs, then data can be destroyed, but the SSD must be completely destroyed and physical access is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the SSD from its housing or protective casing and applies induction heating directly to the exposed SSD components. This allows targeted heating and destruction of the storage medium without requiring complete destruction of the entire device assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical destruction methods (crushing, grinding, shredding) with thermal destruction via induction heating. This substitution eliminates the need for physical contact and mechanical force, allowing remote or contactless data destruction while maintaining complete effectiveness.
3Loss of information
If induction heating is applied to destroy SSD data, then magnetic field resistance is overcome, but precise control is needed to destroy only the SSD without damaging surrounding device components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies induction heating locally to the SSD components only, using targeted coil positioning and controlled heating parameters. This localized approach ensures that only the intended SSD is heated to destruction temperature while surrounding components remain unaffected by the thermal energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates temperature monitoring and control systems that provide feedback during the induction heating process. This feedback mechanism allows real-time adjustment of heating power to ensure the SSD reaches destruction temperature while preventing overheating of surrounding components, thereby selective destroying only the target object.
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
The method effectively and reliably destroys SSD data without damaging the surrounding device, ensuring permanent data loss and rendering the SSD inoperable, even in situations where physical access is limited.
Implementation Method 1
an induction coil is positioned such that an energy pulse applied to the coil causes electronic components of a solid-state drive (SSD) to heat to a temperature sufficient to cause components within the device to melt or fracture
Implementation Method 2
A capacitor or other energy storage device may be electrically connected to the induction coil. Such a capacitor or other energy storage device can be selected such that it provides enough energy to the induction coil to cause the coil to heat to a temperature sufficient to destroy or damage the SSD
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of permanently erasing the contents of a Solid-State Drive (SSD) which involves the destruction of the storage portion of the SSD by rapidly heating that portion of the SSD to a state at which the semiconductor devices which make up the SSD are destroyed or damaged. The system and method allows a user to locally or remotely erase a SSD drive to prevent the contents of the drive from being compromised. Certain embodiments of the system and method provide for the automatic destruction of the SSD should the device be connected to an unregistered drive controller.