Patent ID: 8607076

Claim:
A solid-state memory device that stores data in response to data accesses under control of a memory control circuit, the memory device comprising: a primary solid-state memory circuit configured and arranged to maintain data integrity in the absence of primary operating power and to store data in response to a write request from the memory control circuit; a caching volatile memory circuit mapped to the primary memory circuit, configured and arranged to provide the memory control circuit with access to a set of data representing a cached portion of data that is stored in the primary memory circuit; a circuit for carrying primary operating power to the memory device; and a backup power circuit-based structure including a power module having and securing a power-reservoir circuit, including a capacitor, designed to hold a peak charge that is sufficient to provide substantially all operating power to the memory circuits during a minimum time period sufficient to permit transfer of the cached portion from the volatile memory circuit to the solid-state memory circuit, wherein the backup power circuit-based structure is configured and arranged to receive deterioration characteristics for the power-reservoir circuit for a readable log file, a notification circuit configured and arranged to provide an external user indication of an integrity concern regarding the power-reservoir circuit in response to the deterioration characteristics for the power-reservoir circuit, and a circuit-based structure that is configured to secure the power-reservoir circuit for operation as part of the memory device and to facilitate physical replacement of the power-reservoir circuit by electrically isolating the power-reservoir circuit from the memory device prior to physical replacement while maintaining access to the set of data.