Adaptive Memory Bank Refresh for Lower Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory systems face inefficiencies in bank refresh operations, leading to increased latency due to fixed spacing and concurrency limitations in refreshing banks, which can stall traffic and degrade performance.
Innovation Solution
Introduce adaptive refresh commands, including per bank, quad bank, and octa bank refresh commands that allow flexible scheduling of bank refreshes based on traffic usage, enabling concurrent refresh of adjacent or spaced banks without stalling traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If fixed spacing and concurrency limitations are used in bank refresh operations, then device complexity is reduced, but latency increases and refresh performance degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic bank refresh by allowing the memory controller to flexibly select which banks to refresh and when, based on current traffic patterns and bank availability. This replaces fixed spacing rules with adaptive decision-making that considers real-time system state, enabling optimal refresh scheduling that minimizes latency without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of refresh operations by introducing variable refresh intervals and flexible bank selection criteria. Instead of fixed spacing between refreshed banks, the system adjusts refresh parameters dynamically based on traffic usage patterns, allowing adjacent or spaced banks to be refreshed optimally without stalling traffic
2Loss of time
If flexible bank refresh scheduling is implemented, then latency is reduced and refresh performance improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the refresh control into modular components: traffic pattern detection module, bank selection logic, and refresh scheduling mechanism. Each component handles a specific aspect of the refresh operation, allowing flexible bank refresh scheduling while managing complexity through functional decomposition and specialized sub-systems
3Productivity
If adjacent or spaced banks are refreshed concurrently, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to command structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple refresh operations into a single unified command structure that can specify multiple banks to be refreshed concurrently. This consolidation allows adjacent or spaced banks to be refreshed in parallel through one command, improving productivity while the modular command encoding keeps the increase in device complexity manageable
Data Source
AI summary
A memory system with adaptive refresh commands is disclosed. In one aspect, a memory system or device that has multiple banks within a channel may receive a per bank command that indicates a first bank to be refreshed and provides additional information about a second bank to be refreshed. In a further exemplary aspect, a quad bank refresh command may be sent that indicates a first bank to be refreshed and provides additional information about second through fourth banks to be refreshed. In a further exemplary aspect, an octa bank refresh command may be sent that indicates a first bank to be refreshed and provides additional information about second through eighth banks to be refreshed. The three new refresh commands allow adjacent or spaced banks to be refreshed.