JP2003114832A - Semiconductor storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a semiconductor storage device in which the own memory capacity of a RAM is compared with a preliminarily ensured capacity of the semiconductor storage device when restarting a system, and the writing area of a nonvolatile memory is increased when it is differed therefrom. SOLUTION: This semiconductor storage device comprises a RAM 10 connected to a hard disc 11 through a comparator 12, in which its own memory capacity of the RAM is compared with the preliminarily ensured capacity of the semiconductor storage device when starting the system, and the wiring area of the semiconductor storage device is increased when it is differed therefrom.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a semiconductor memory device used in a personal computer or the like, the capacity may be increased by adding a memory module. In such a case, there has been a problem that the increase is insufficient in the data writing area of the previously prepared non-volatile storage device (hard disk).

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a memory capacity of itself and a non-volatile storage device secured in advance when the system is started. There is provided a semiconductor memory device for increasing the writing area of an external non-volatile memory device or a semiconductor memory device incorporating software having such a function when the capacities are compared and different.

[0004]

According to the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor memory device characterized in that it is possible to increase the storage capacity by utilizing memory modules and adding them internally. Achieved by providing.

Further, according to the present invention, the above-mentioned problem is the semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, characterized in that the semiconductor memory device has a built-in refreshing means for reading and writing as needed so that the contents of the memory are not erased. This is accomplished by providing a storage device.

Further, according to the present invention, according to the present invention, the semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 has a built-in rechargeable battery means capable of holding the contents of the memory for a certain period even when the power is turned off. This is achieved by providing a semiconductor memory device characterized by the above.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, characterized in that the semiconductor memory device further comprises copying means for copying the contents of the memory at one time. Is achieved in.

Further, according to the present invention, in the semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, the contents of the semiconductor memory device preset when the button is pressed are compared with the contents of the external nonvolatile memory means. It is achieved by providing a semiconductor memory device characterized by including a copying means for writing only the updated portion.

Further, according to the present invention, in the semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, when the power source is turned off,
This is achieved by providing a semiconductor memory device characterized by comprising a copying means for writing the contents of the memory into a preset nonvolatile memory device.

Still further, according to the present invention, the above object is to provide a semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 with software having a function of writing out the contents of a memory of a nonvolatile memory device set in advance when the power is turned off. This is achieved by providing a semiconductor memory device characterized by being built-in.

Further, according to the present invention, in the semiconductor memory device according to the present invention, a power-off button is provided, and when the button is pressed, the contents of the memory are written to the nonvolatile memory device and the power is turned off. The present invention is achieved by providing a semiconductor memory device having a function of being included in the process.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor memory device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that it has a function of checking an area for writing the contents of the memory when the memory capacity is expanded. It is achieved by doing.

Further, according to the present invention, the above-mentioned problem is that when the system is started, the memory capacity of oneself is compared with the capacity of the non-volatile memory device secured in advance. Increase the writing area of the device
This is achieved by providing a semiconductor memory device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, which has a function of adding.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION <First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is an overall view of a system including a semiconductor memory device used to describe the present embodiment. In the figure, a personal computer 1
A semiconductor memory device 5 is connected to the main body 2. still,
Reference numeral 3 is a keyboard, and 4 is a display unit. A hard disk is built in the main body 2.

FIG. 2 is a system block diagram for explaining the semiconductor memory device of this embodiment. As shown in the figure,
The rechargeable battery 9 is connected to the RAM 8 and the power is turned off.
Even if it becomes F (off), the battery 9 causes the RAM 8
The information stored in the above is retained for a certain period of time.

With this configuration, when the power is turned off, the contents stored in the RAM 8 are held by the power source supplied from the battery 9, and the stored contents can be held.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 3 is a system block diagram showing a semiconductor memory device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, when a button (not shown) is pressed, the information stored in the RAM 10 is written to the preset hard disk 11 at once.

It should be noted that when a button (not shown) is pressed, the preset contents of the hard disk 11 and the RAM 10 may be compared and only the updated portion may be written to the hard disk 11.

<Third Embodiment> FIG. 4 is a system block diagram showing a semiconductor memory device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the contents stored in the RAM 12 are written to a preset hard disk 14 when the power switch 13 is turned off. With this configuration, the data can be safely protected even if the power is turned off for some reason.

Incidentally, when the power switch 13 is cut off, software (not shown) having a function of writing the contents of the RAM 12 may be stored in a preset hard disk 14.

A power-off button (not shown) may be provided so that when the button is pressed, the information in the RAM 12 is written to the hard disk 14 and the power-off process is started.

<Fourth Embodiment> FIG. 5 is a system block diagram showing a semiconductor memory device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the RAM 15 and the hard disk 16 are connected to the input terminal of the comparator 17. With this configuration, when the memory capacity is increased by adding a memory module or the like, the data writing of the hard disk 16 prepared in advance cannot handle the increase.

Therefore, when the memory capacity is insufficient, the storage capacity of the RAM 15 is compared with that of the comparator 17 when the system is started.
And compare if different, hard disk 1
The writing area 6 is increased, or software (not shown) having such a function is stored.

In the above embodiment, one semiconductor memory device is connected, but as shown in FIG. 6, the semiconductor memory device 19 connected to the personal computer is further connected via the connecting line 20. A non-volatile storage device (hard disk) 21 may be connected.

[0028]

According to the semiconductor memory device of the present invention, when the system is started up, the memory capacity of the semiconductor memory device is compared with the capacity of the semiconductor memory device secured in advance. It is possible to provide a function that can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram showing a semiconductor memory device of a first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system block diagram showing a semiconductor memory device of a first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system block diagram showing a semiconductor memory device of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a system block diagram showing a semiconductor memory device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a system block diagram showing a semiconductor memory device of a fourth embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a system block diagram showing a modified semiconductor memory device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 personal computer 2 body 3 keyboard 4 Display 5 storage devices 8, 10, 12, 15 RAM 9 battery 11,14,16 Hard Disk 13 Power switch 17 Comparator 19,21 Storage device 20 connection 22 switch

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A semiconductor memory device characterized in that a memory module is utilized, and a storage capacity is increased by internally adding them. 2. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, further comprising a refreshing means for performing reading and writing at any time so that the memory contents are not erased. 3. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, further comprising a rechargeable battery means capable of holding the contents of the memory for a certain period when the power is turned off. 4. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, further comprising a copying means for copying the contents of the memory at one time. 5. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, further comprising a copying unit that, when a button is pressed, compares the preset contents of the semiconductor memory device with the contents of the memory and writes only the updated portion. A characteristic semiconductor memory device. 6. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, further comprising a copy unit for writing the memory contents to a preset nonvolatile memory device when the power is turned off. 7. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, further comprising software having a function of writing the contents of the memory in a preset nonvolatile memory device when the power is turned off. Semiconductor memory device. 8. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, further comprising a power-off button, and when the button is pressed, the content of the memory is written to the nonvolatile memory device, and the power-off process is started. A semiconductor memory device characterized by: 9. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 4, 5 or 6, having a check function with an area for writing the contents of the memory when the memory capacity is expanded. 10. The system has a function of comparing its own memory capacity with the capacity of a non-volatile memory device secured in advance at the time of system startup, and increasing the writing area of the non-volatile memory device if they are different. 7. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 4, 5, or 6. 11. A non-volatile storage device is built-in.
11. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 10.