Memory system

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a volatile memory, a power supply circuit, and a controller. The power supply circuit includes a first power supply path in which power supplied from a host device is supplied to the volatile memory, a second, power supply path in which the power is supplied from the internal power supply to the volatile memory, and a switching device that switches between the first power supply path and the second power supply path. In response to an instruction for a transition to a low power consumption mode received from the host device, the controller outputs, to the switching device, an instruction to switch the power supply circuit from the first power supply path to the second power supply path.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A memory system comprising:
 a non-volatile memory;   a volatile memory that temporarily stores data to be written into the non-volatile memory or data read from the non-volatile memory;   an internal power supply;   a power supply circuit that includes a first power supply path in which power supplied from a host device is supplied to the volatile memory, a second power supply path in which the power is supplied from the internal power supply to the volatile memory, and a switching device that switches between the first power supply path and the second power supply path; and   a controller that, in response to an instruction for a transition to a low power consumption mode received from the host device, outputs, to the switching device, an instruction to switch the power supply circuit from the first power supply path to the second power supply path.   
     
     
         2 . The memory system according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller does not copy data stored in the volatile memory to the non-volatile memory in response to the instruction for the transition to the low power consumption mode. 
     
     
         3 . The memory system according to  claim 2 , further comprising a connector that supplies power input from the host device to the power supply circuit and transmits, to the controller, the instruction for the transition to the low power consumption mode received from the host device. 
     
     
         4 . The memory system according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the internal power supply is chargeable, and   wherein the power supply circuit supplies the power supplied from the connector to the internal power supply.   
     
     
         5 . The memory system according to  claim 4 , wherein the internal power supply includes a capacitor. 
     
     
         6 . The memory system according to  claim 5 , wherein the controller monitors an output voltage of the internal power supply, and controls the power supply circuit to supply the power supplied from the host device to the internal power supply when the output voltage is a threshold or less. 
     
     
         7 . The memory system according to  claim 6 , wherein the controller includes a voltage detector that monitors the output voltage of the internal power supply. 
     
     
         8 . The memory system according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the controller includes a volatile memory interface and a logic circuit that receives a first signal from the connector,   wherein the power supply circuit includes a converter that converts a voltage supplied from the host device and supplies the converted voltage to the volatile memory interface, and   wherein the logic circuit transmits a second signal to the converter based on the received first signal.   
     
     
         9 . The memory system according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the second signal includes a high level and a low level, and the logic circuit switches the second signal when the first signal includes the instruction for the transition to the low power consumption mode, and   wherein the converter cuts off the supply of power to the volatile memory interface in accordance with the switching of the second signal.   
     
     
         10 . The memory system according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein the non-volatile memory is a NAND type flash memory, and   wherein the volatile memory is a DRAM.   
     
     
         11 . The memory system according to  claim 4 , wherein the controller copies data stored in the volatile memory to the non-volatile memory when an output voltage of the internal power supply becomes a threshold or less after the instruction for the transition to the low power consumption mode is received. 
     
     
         12 . A memory system comprising:
 a non-volatile memory;   a volatile memory that temporarily stores data to be written into the non-volatile memory or data read from the non-volatile memory;   an internal power supply;   a power supply circuit that includes a first power supply path in which power supplied from a host device is supplied to the volatile memory, a second power supply path in which the power is supplied from the internal power supply to the volatile memory, and a switching device that switches between the first power supply path and the second power supply path; and   a controller that, when power supply is cut off, outputs, to the switching device, an instruction to switch the power supply circuit from the first power supply path to the second power supply path, and does not copy the data stored in the volatile memory to the non-volatile memory.   
     
     
         13 . The memory system according to  claim 12 , further comprising a connector that supplies power input from the host device to the power supply circuit. 
     
     
         14 . The memory system according to  claim 13 , wherein the controller monitors an output voltage from the connector to the power supply circuit and determines that the power supply is cut off when the output voltage is a first threshold or less. 
     
     
         15 . The memory system according to  claim 14 , wherein the internal power supply includes a primary battery. 
     
     
         16 . The memory system according to  claim 15 , wherein the primary battery is a button-type battery. 
     
     
         17 . The memory system according to  claim 16 , further comprising a display unit,
 wherein the controller monitors an output voltage of the primary battery and displays an alert for urging to replace the primary battery on the display unit when the output voltage of the primary battery is a second threshold or less.   
     
     
         18 . The memory system according to  claim 16 , wherein the internal power supply includes a capacitor and supplies power from the capacitor to the second power supply path when an output voltage of the capacitor is the output voltage of the primary battery or more. 
     
     
         19 . The memory system according to  claim 18 , wherein the power supply circuit includes a third power supply path in which the power supplied from the connector is supplied to the capacitor. 
     
     
         20 . The memory system according to  claim 19 ,
 wherein the non-volatile memory is a NAND type flash memory, and   wherein the volatile memory is a DRAM.