Thermal Hardware Data Erasure for Flash Memory Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for permanently erasing data in flash memory devices, such as the overwrite method, are inefficient and can lead to electrical aging, making them impractical for high-capacity storage and vulnerable to data recovery, especially as storage capacities increase.
Innovation Solution
A thermal hardware-based data security device utilizing a heater module and a switch module to physically and hardware-wise erase data by applying heat to the memory chip, allowing for permanent data erasure and subsequent reuse of the storage device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the overwrite method is used to permanently erase data in flash memory, then data security is improved, but the lifetime of the flash memory deteriorates due to electrical aging from repeated writing and erasing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrical field-based overwrite method with a thermal field-based erasure method. A heater module generates heat to raise the temperature of the memory chip to a threshold level, causing permanent data erasure through thermal effects rather than electrical writing operations. This substitution eliminates the electrical aging caused by repeated write-erase cycles while achieving permanent data destruction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter used for data erasure from electrical charge (in overwrite methods) to temperature (in thermal erasure). By controlling the temperature of the memory chip to exceed a specific threshold, the data is permanently erased without the need for repeated electrical write-erase operations, thus preserving the flash memory's lifetime.
2Reliability
If the overwrite method is used to erase data in high-capacity flash memory, then data security is improved, but the time required for erasure increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the time-consuming electrical overwrite process with a rapid thermal erasure process. The heater module can quickly raise the temperature of the entire memory chip to the erasure threshold, achieving permanent data destruction in a fraction of the time required for multiple write-erase cycles, especially in high-capacity storage devices.
3Ease of operation
If software-based deletion is used, then ease of operation is improved, but data security deteriorates because data can be easily recovered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the ease of software-based deletion with the security of hardware-based erasure. The system includes a user interface that allows simple initiation of the erasure process (like software deletion), while automatically triggering the heater module to perform permanent thermal erasure of the data, ensuring both ease of operation and high data security.
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 solution effectively and permanently erases data stored in flash memory devices, preventing recovery by commercial software and extending the lifespan of the memory by avoiding the electrical stress of repeated writing and erasing processes.
Implementation Method 1
a heater module which supplies heat to permanently erase the data stored in a memory cell within the memory chip
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a thermal hardware-based data security device that is capable of physically, hardware-wise, and permanently erasing data stored in a memory and of enabling a storage device to be reused, and a method thereof. The thermal hardware-based data security device includes: a memory chip capable of storing data; a heater module which supplies heat to permanently erase the data stored in a memory cell within the memory chip; and a switch module which short-circuits the heater module between a power supply unit and a ground when switched on, and thus, controls the heater module to be operated.