Semiconductor device with copyright protection function

Abstract

A semiconductor device includes a serial communication interface connector, a non-volatile semiconductor memory, a memory controller, and a memory reader/writer. The serial communication interface connector is capable of being connected to a serial communication interface terminal of electronic equipment. The memory controller includes a memory interface connected to the non-volatile semiconductor memory and a copyright protection function and controls the non-volatile semiconductor memory. The memory reader/writer includes a controller interface connected to the memory controller and a serial communication interface connected to the serial communication interface connector.

1 . A semiconductor device comprising:
 a serial communication interface connector which is capable of being connected to a serial communication interface terminal of electronic equipment;   a non-volatile semiconductor memory;   a memory controller which includes a memory interface connected to the non-volatile semiconductor memory and a copyright protection function and which controls the non-volatile semiconductor memory; and   a memory reader/writer which includes a controller interface connected to the memory controller and a serial communication interface connected to the serial communication interface connector.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-volatile semiconductor memory includes the copyright protection function, and
 the memory reader/writer includes a communication interface which transfers a command for copyright protection recognizable by the non-volatile semiconductor memory and data accompanying the command for copyright protection which are directly embedded in a communication packet used in a communication protocol on a communication interface different from an electric interface included in the non-volatile semiconductor memory.   
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the non-volatile semiconductor memory includes a connector connected to the memory controller, and
 the connector and the serial communication interface connector are formed on the same circuit substrate.   
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-volatile semiconductor memory, the memory reader/writer, and the serial communication interface connector are formed on the same circuit substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the communication interface has a first access mode which is accessible to a normal data area defined in the communication interface in the non-volatile semiconductor memory, and
 a second access mode which is accessible directly to the copyright protection function of the non-volatile semiconductor memory.   
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the communication interface includes an interface used in the first access mode and an interface used in the second access mode. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the copyright protection function is the copyright protection function provided in the SD™ card and the communication interface is a USB (universal serial bus). 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the communication interface converts a command used in the USB into a command used in the electric interface included in the non-volatile semiconductor memory and accesses the non-volatile semiconductor memory according to the converted command. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the communication interface is a USB (universal serial bus),
 the communication interface has a first access mode in which the communication interface converts the command used in the USB into the command used in the electric interface included in the non-volatile semiconductor memory and which is accessible to the non-volatile semiconductor memory according to the converted command, and   a second access mode which is accessible to the non-volatile semiconductor memory according to the command used in the USB.   
     
     
         10 . A semiconductor device comprising:
 a serial communication interface connector which is capable of being connected to a serial communication interface terminal of electric equipment;   a non-volatile semiconductor memory; and   a memory reader/writer which includes a memory interface connected to the non-volatile semiconductor memory, a serial communication interface connected to the serial communication interface connector, and a copyright protection function.   
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the non-volatile semiconductor memory includes the copyright protection function, and
 the memory reader/writer includes a communication interface which transfers a command for copyright protection recognizable by the non-volatile semiconductor memory and data accompanying the command for copyright protection which are directly embedded in a communication packet used in a communication protocol on a communication interface different from an electric interface included in the non-volatile semiconductor memory.   
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the non-volatile semiconductor memory includes a connector connected to the memory reader/writer, and
 the connector and the serial communication interface connector are formed on the same circuit substrate.   
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein in the communication interface has a first access mode which is accessible to a normal data area defined in the communication interface in the non-volatile semiconductor memory, and
 a second access mode which is accessible directly to the copyright protection function of the non-volatile semiconductor memory.   
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the communication interface includes an interface used in the first access mode and an interface used in the second access mode. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the copyright protection function is the copyright protection function provided in the SD™ card and the communication interface is a USB (universal serial bus). 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 15 , wherein the communication interface converts a command used in the USB into a command used in the electric interface included in the non-volatile semiconductor memory and accesses the non-volatile semiconductor memory according to the converted command. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 15 , wherein the communication interface has a first access mode in which the communication interface converts the command used in the USB into the command used in the electric interface included in the non-volatile semiconductor memory and which is accessible to the non-volatile semiconductor memory according to the converted command, and
 a second access mode which is accessible to the non-volatile semiconductor memory according to the command used in the USB.   
     
     
         18 . A semiconductor device comprising:
 a non-volatile semiconductor memory;   a semiconductor memory medium having a copyright protection function; and   a communication interface which transfers a command for copyright protection recognizable by the non-volatile semiconductor memory and data accompanying the command for copyright protection which are directly embedded in a communication packet used in a communication protocol on a communication interface different from an electric interface included in the non-volatile semiconductor memory.   
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein the communication interface has a first access mode which the is accessible to a normal data area defined in the communication interface in the non-volatile semiconductor memory, and
 a second access mode which is accessible directly to the copyright protection function of the non-volatile semiconductor memory.   
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein the copyright protection function is the copyright protection function provided in the SD™ card and the communication interface is a USB (universal serial bus).