Patent ID: 7366019

Claim:
A nonvolatile memory incorporated in a memory card used for a mobile device, comprising: a nonvolatile memory array; a switch circuit; a voltage detector circuit which issues a signal to said switch circuit; and a voltage generator, wherein the voltage generator generates a first voltage for supplying to the nonvolatile memory array based on an operation voltage supplied from outside the nonvolatile memory, wherein the voltage detector circuit changes the signal from a first state to a second state when the operation voltage becomes high and reaches a first voltage level, and changes the signal from the second state to the first state when the operation voltage becomes low and reaches a second voltage level which is lower than the first voltage level; and wherein in response to said signal from said voltage detector circuit, said switch circuit switches an output of said switch circuit between said operation voltage supplied from outside the nonvolatile memory and a stepped-down voltage that is based on said operation voltage supplied from outside the nonvolatile memory.