Flash memory playback device including SSD

Abstract

This invention relates to a device for retrieving storage space of flash memory, including an SSD (Solid State Drive). [Solution] The SSD includes a flash memory having an insulating oxide film, a heating means for heating the SSD, and an oxidizing agent supply means for supplying an oxidizing agent to the oxide film of the SSD. The SSD is heated to a predetermined temperature by the heating means, and an oxidizing agent is supplied to the oxide film by the oxidizing agent supply means to regenerate the storage area of ​​the flash memory.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a reproduction device for a storage area of a flash memory including an SSD (Solid State Drive).

Background Art

[0002] Since the SSD has a faster read speed compared to the HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and is also resistant to shock, it has been rapidly spreading as a storage for small electronic devices such as personal computers and portable information terminals.

[0003] The SSD uses a flash memory as a storage device, and the flash memory has the characteristic of retaining the recorded data even when the power is turned off, which is the biggest reason for its rapid spread as a storage.

[0004] However, when electrons are inserted into and removed from the floating gate of the flash memory, the electrons move through the insulating oxide film, so the oxide film gradually deteriorates and reaches its lifespan, for example, by repeating writing and erasing several thousand to about 10,000 times.

[0005] In such a case, Patent Document 1 uses a plurality of storage areas to calculate the utilization rate of each as a parameter to reproduce the flash memory that has reached its lifespan. For example, when the utilization rate parameter of the first storage area is less than the threshold value and the utilization rate parameter of the second storage area exceeds the threshold value, the data in the second storage area is moved to the first storage area to perform data reproduction.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] However, conventional methods only move data from degraded memory areas and cannot regenerate the memory area of ​​flash memory that has reached the end of its lifespan. Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention enables the regeneration of the storage area of ​​flash memory that has reached the end of its lifespan, and makes it possible to regenerate flash memory, including SSDs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The above problems can be solved by providing a flash memory regeneration device including an SSD, which includes an SSD having a flash memory having an insulating oxide film, a heating means for heating the SSD, and an oxidizing agent supply means for supplying an oxidizing agent to the oxide film of the SSD, wherein the SSD is heated to a predetermined temperature by the heating means, and an oxidizing agent is supplied to the oxide film by the oxidizing agent supply means to regenerate the oxide film and regenerate the storage area of ​​the flash memory.

[0009] Alternatively, an oxidizing gas plasma may be used instead of the oxidizing agent mentioned above. Furthermore, the device is characterized by using a constant-temperature chamber that can accommodate multiple SSDs, has a heating means provided inside, and has a supply port for supplying oxidizing agent from an oxidizing agent supply means, to regenerate flash memory including SSDs. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a diagram showing the configuration of a flash memory retrieval device including an SSD according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a circuit diagram of the playback device according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] This diagram shows the specific structure of flash memory. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a flash memory regeneration device including an SSD according to this embodiment. In the figure, 1 is a constant temperature chamber capable of setting the internal temperature to a predetermined temperature, and is equipped with a heater 2 and a cooler 3 inside. The heater 2 and cooler 3 are controlled by a temperature control unit 4, and the temperature inside the chamber can be adjusted, for example, within a range of 50°C to 200°C.

[0012] A fan 5 is provided at the top of the heater 2, and the heater 2 and cooler 3 are controlled by the temperature control unit 4, circulating the internal air, which is set to a predetermined temperature, within the tank.

[0013] An oxidizing agent outlet 6 is provided at the top of the constant temperature bath 1 for supplying an oxidizing agent into the bath. Oxygen is supplied to the oxidizing agent outlet 6, for example, from an oxygen cylinder via an on / off valve 7. The oxidizing agent supplied from the oxidizing agent outlet 6 is not limited to oxygen; other oxidizing agents may be used. It may also be an oxidizing gas plasma.

[0014] Furthermore, a pressure-reducing valve 12 is provided on the side of the constant temperature bath 1. This pressure-reducing valve 12 is used to temporarily reduce the pressure inside the constant temperature bath 1 to a vacuum or a predetermined atmospheric pressure, and then to pressurize it along with the supply of oxygen.

[0015] In Figure 1, 8 represents an SSD containing flash memory, and is not particularly limited in terms of whether or not it has been removed from an electronic device. Furthermore, SSD8 is not limited to a single unit, but may also contain multiple SSDs, and may include cases where multiple individual flash memory units are stored.

[0016] The constant temperature chamber 1 is provided with an inlet 9 and an outlet 10 for the SSD 8. Thus, the flash memory regeneration device including the SSD 8 in this example is configured to regenerate the SSD 8 that is inserted through the inlet 9 inside the constant temperature chamber 1, and then transport the regenerated SSD 8 to the outlet 10 for external discharge.

[0017] For this reason, as shown in Figure 1, three loaders (belt conveyors) 13 to 15 are provided. Loader 13 is a loader that places the SSD 8 before data erasure and transports it to the entrance 9 of the constant temperature bath 1.

[0018] Further, the loader 14 is set at the lower part of the thermostatic chamber 1, and it is a loader that carries the SSD 8 conveyed to the loading port 9 by the loader 13 into the thermostatic chamber 1 and conveys it to the reproduction position of the storage area of the SSD 8 in the thermostatic chamber 1. Incidentally, the loader 15 is a loader that unloads the SSD 8 for which the reproduction process of the storage area has been completed from the discharge port 10 of the thermostatic chamber 1.

[0019] Incidentally, a sensor 11 for detecting the SSD 8 is arranged above the loader 13, and thereby, the driving of the loader 13 is triggered by the detection of the SSD 8 by the sensor 11, and a series of operations are performed. The sensor 11 is, for example, a reflective photoelectric sensor that detects the presence or absence of the inserted SSD 8 based on the presence or absence of reflected light.

[0020] On the other hand, doors shown in the attached drawings are arranged at the loading port 9 and the discharge port 10, and they are controlled by a circuit system described later according to the driving of the loaders 13 to 15, and the opening and closing control is performed synchronously.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the reproduction device of the flash memory including the SSD in this example has, as a circuit configuration, a temperature adjustment unit 4 that controls the heater 2 and the cooler 3, a control unit 19 of the sensor (photoelectric sensor) 11, a fan drive unit 18 that drives the fan 5, a motor drive unit 16 that drives the loaders 13 to 15, and a door motor drive unit 17 that drives the doors shown in the attached drawings provided at the loading port ⑨ and the discharge port 10 up and down. Further, a pressure reducing valve drive unit 22 that drives the pressure reducing valve 12 described above is also provided, and it is controlled by a control unit 21 based on the operation of an operation unit 20 provided in the thermostatic chamber 1.

[0022] The control unit 21 is an information processing device that controls the entire flash memory playback device in this example. It includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an auxiliary storage device (e.g., SSD: Solid State Drive), and a plurality of interface controllers (IFC). The auxiliary storage device stores, for example, an application program (hereinafter referred to as the "control application") that functions as a playback device for the storage area and operates on the basic software together with the basic software.

[0023] By the CPU of the control unit 21 reading the control application into the RAM and executing it, the control unit 21 performs overall control of the playback device for the storage area of the flash memory in this example.

[0024] Also, control information representing the content of control for playback of the storage area is stored, for example, in the auxiliary storage device. In that case, the CPU constituting the control unit 21 identifies the type of the SSD 8 set (specified) by the user and the control information corresponding to this type, and performs control according to the identified control information.

[0025] Hereinafter, the specific operations of the playback process for the storage area of the flash memory in this example will be described. First, the SSD 8 including the flash memory for which complete data erasure is desired is placed on the loader 13 and transported into the thermostat 1. This process drives the loader 13 by the sensor 11 detecting the SSD 8, and based on the detection signal, the control unit 21 controls the door motor drive unit 17 to open the door (not shown) provided at the loading port 9 and carry the SSD 8 into the thermostat 1.

[0026] Then, the loader 14 is driven to transport the SSD 8 to a predetermined position (the solid line position shown in FIG. 1) inside the thermostat 1.

[0027] Next, the control unit 20 is operated to set the temperature inside the constant temperature bath 1 to a predetermined temperature. This process involves the control unit 21 transmitting information about the set temperature to the temperature control unit 4. For example, in this example, the temperature can be set within a range of 50°C to 200°C, and the temperature control device 4 controls the heater 2 and cooler 3 to adjust the internal temperature of the constant temperature bath 1 to the specified temperature. In addition, the pressure-reducing valve drive unit 22 drives the pressure-reducing valve 12 to control the temperature inside the constant temperature bath 1 to a vacuum or a predetermined pressure.

[0028] Subsequently, the aforementioned on-off valve 7 is driven, and the oxidizing agent is introduced through the oxidizing agent outlet 6. Specifically, oxygen is introduced into the constant temperature bath 1 from the oxygen cylinder shown in the attached diagram. At this time, the pressure-reducing valve drive unit 22 drives the pressure-reducing valve 12, pressurizing the inside of the bath which has been reduced to a vacuum or a predetermined pressure, and introducing oxygen into the constant temperature bath 1.

[0029] Figure 3 shows the specific structure of the flash memory within the SSD 8. A drain electrode 23 and a source electrode 24 are provided on a semiconductor with an insulator in between, and a gate electrode 26 is formed sandwiched between insulating oxide films 25. In this structure, electrons are stored or released in the float electrode to record and store data.

[0030] For example, when writing data "0", the source electrode 24 and drain electrode 23 are set to ground potential and a high voltage is applied to the gate electrode 26, causing electrons to break through the insulating oxide film 24 and be stored in the float electrode. To erase data (return from "0" to "1"), the gate electrode 26 is set to ground potential and a voltage is applied to the drain electrode 24 and source electrode 23, releasing the electrons from the float electrode.

[0031] However, when data is repeatedly recorded and stored, electrons move through the oxide film 25, causing the oxide film 25 to gradually deteriorate. Eventually, it becomes unable to hold electrons, resulting in a flash memory that cannot maintain correct data.

[0032] Therefore, in this example, an oxidizing agent (oxygen) is introduced into the constant temperature bath 1 as described above to regenerate the deteriorated oxide film 25. Specifically, the oxidizing agent (oxygen) introduced into the constant temperature bath 1, which is set to a predetermined temperature as described above, performs an oxidizing action and regenerates the deteriorated oxide film 35.

[0033] By processing in this way, the oxide film 25 that makes up the flash memory in the SSD 8 is regenerated, and new data can be written to the storage area.

[0034] Subsequently, the door shown in the illustration, located at the outlet 10, is opened, and the SSD 8, whose storage area has been restored, is removed from the constant temperature chamber 1 by the drive of the loader 15.

[0035] As described above, the flash memory retrieval device including the SSD of the present invention can reliably retrieve the storage area.

[0036] Although oxygen was used as the oxidizing agent in the above explanation, it is not limited to oxygen. Furthermore, a configuration using an oxidizing gas plasma instead of an oxidizing agent is also possible. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0037] 1... Constant temperature bath 2...heater 3...Cooler 4...Temperature control section 5. Fan 6. Oxidizing agent discharge port 7. Shut-off valve 8. SSD 9... Loading entrance 10··Outlet 11. Sensor 12. Pressure Reducing Valve 13-15 Loader 16. Motor drive unit 17. Door motor drive unit 18. Fan drive unit 19. Sensor drive unit 20...Operation unit 21. Control Unit 22. Pressure Reducing Valve Drive Unit 23. Drain electrode 24. Source electrode 25. Insulating oxide film 26.. Guard gates

Claims

1. An SSD incorporating flash memory having an insulating oxide film, A heating means for heating the SSD, The SSD comprises an oxidizing agent supply means for supplying a reducing agent to the oxide film of the SSD, A flash memory regeneration device including an SSD, characterized by heating the SSD to a predetermined temperature using the heating means and supplying an oxidizing agent to the oxide film using the oxidizing agent supply means to regenerate the storage area of ​​the flash memory.

2. A flash memory regeneration device including an SSD according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a pressure / depressurization means for depressurizing the SSD and then pressurizing it.

3. A flash memory regeneration device including an SSD according to claim 1, characterized in that it uses a constant temperature bath capable of housing a plurality of the SSDs, having the heating means provided inside, a supply port for supplying the oxidizing agent from the oxidizing agent supply means, and a depressurization means for reducing the pressure inside the bath.

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