Address Conversion Table Backup Using Remaining PLP Capacitor Charge
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in storage devices with power loss protection is to reduce data non-volatilization while minimizing the size of the PLP capacitor, which can lead to longer boot-up times and capacitor deterioration over time, limiting its functionality to only mandatory PLP processing in later stages.
Innovation Solution
A storage device that determines the remaining charge in the PLP capacitor and selectively performs mandatory PLP processing, ensuring sufficient charge is available for critical data non-volatilization, allowing for cost-effective capacitor use and reduced boot-up times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If the amount of data non-volatilized during PLP processing is reduced, then the size of the PLP capacitor can be reduced, but the boot-up time when starting up the storage device becomes longer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments PLP processing into two distinct phases: mandatory PLP processing (first PLP processing) that preserves critical data structures like the address conversion table, and additional PLP processing (second PLP processing) that handles optional data. This segmentation allows the system to use a smaller capacitor for mandatory operations while providing an option to extend protection to additional data if the capacitor has sufficient remaining capacity, thus resolving the contradiction between capacitor size and boot-up time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by performing only the essential mandatory PLP processing with a reduced-capacitor design, accepting that some additional data protection is sacrificed. Alternatively, if the capacitor has sufficient remaining capacity, the system can perform excessive action by also executing additional PLP processing to protect more data, thereby reducing boot-up time. This flexible approach allows the system to adapt between partial and excessive action based on available resources.
2Reliability
If the PLP capacitor is used to execute both mandatory PLP processing and additional PLP processing at its early stage, then more data can be protected, but later in its lifetime the PLP capacitor may only be able to execute the mandatory PLP processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by measuring the remaining capacity of the PLP capacitor before attempting additional PLP processing. This advance assessment allows the system to determine whether the capacitor has sufficient capacity to handle both mandatory and additional PLP processing, preventing attempts that would fail due to insufficient capacity. By checking capacity in advance, the system can reliably execute additional protection operations when possible and gracefully handle limitations when the capacitor is degraded.
3Reliability
If a larger PLP capacitor is used to ensure sufficient charge for additional PLP processing throughout its lifetime, then more data can be protected, but the cost and size of the storage device increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the PLP processing capability adaptive rather than static. The system dynamically adjusts between mandatory-only PLP processing and extended PLP processing (including additional data protection) based on the real-time remaining capacity of the capacitor. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maximize data protection when the capacitor is healthy while accepting limited protection when the capacitor is degraded, eliminating the need to oversize the capacitor for its entire lifetime.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the PLP system based on capacitor state. By measuring the remaining capacity and adjusting the scope of PLP processing accordingly, the system optimizes the balance between data protection and hardware resources. This parameter change approach allows the same capacitor to serve different functional requirements at different times in its lifetime, avoiding the need for a larger capacitor designed for worst-case scenarios.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach ensures efficient PLP processing by prioritizing mandatory data non-volatilization, maintaining operational efficiency while reducing capacitor size and cost, and minimizing boot-up time extensions.
Implementation Method 1
a capacitor 15. The controller 13 is configured to determine after first data 2212 residing in the volatile memory 12 has been stored into the non-volatile memory 11 using the capacitor 15 as a backup power supply in response to a power loss event
Data Source
AI summary
A storage device includes a non-volatile memory, a controller that controls the non-volatile memory, a volatile memory, a power supply circuit that generates a power supply voltage using power supplied from an external power supply, and a capacitor. The controller determines after first data residing in the volatile memory has been stored into the non-volatile memory using the capacitor as a backup power supply in response to a power loss event, whether an amount of charge remaining in the capacitor is sufficient to store second data residing in the volatile memory into the non-volatile memory, and stores the second data residing in the volatile memory into the non-volatile memory if the amount of charge remaining in the capacitor is determined to be sufficient.