All-Solid-State Battery Backup for Volatile Memory Data Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current volatile memory backup systems face challenges in retaining data during power failures due to the limitations of supercapacitors and battery-backup DRAMs, which have size, heat resistance, and energy density issues, leading to data loss and prolonged restoration times.
Innovation Solution
A volatile memory backup system utilizing an all-solid-state battery with a controller and bypass capacitor, which intermittently supplies peak current to transfer data to a nonvolatile memory, ensuring data retention and rapid restoration upon power return, while minimizing the risk of data loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a supercapacitor is used as backup power source, then data transfer to nonvolatile memory is enabled, but the device size becomes too large and heat resistance is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the backup power source by using an all-solid-state battery with solid electrolyte instead of a supercapacitor. This parameter change enables achieving the required energy density and heat resistance while maintaining compact size suitable for memory module integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structure in the all-solid-state battery, combining solid electrolyte with positive and negative electrodes to create a compact power source that delivers both high energy density and excellent heat resistance, resolving the size-reliability contradiction.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If a battery is used as backup power source, then data retention time is extended, but the device has low energy density and is difficult to mount in memory module
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the battery technology parameters by adopting all-solid-state battery chemistry with solid electrolyte, which achieves both extended data retention time and high energy density in a compact form factor suitable for memory module mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The all-solid-state battery uses composite material architecture combining solid electrolyte layers with electrode materials, achieving superior energy density and compactness while providing extended data retention capability.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If traditional battery with liquid electrolyte is used, then data retention is achieved, but safety risk increases due to leakage and ignition potential
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the electrolyte from liquid to solid, eliminating the harmful effects of leakage and ignition while maintaining data retention capability through the all-solid-state battery design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of liquid electrolyte leakage and ignition into a benefit by using solid electrolyte, which inherently prevents these safety issues while providing reliable data retention through controlled electrochemical reactions.
4Reliability
If hard disk drive is used for data storage, then data is preserved, but restoration time becomes prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by continuously transferring data from volatile memory to nonvolatile memory during normal operation, so that data is already prepared for immediate restoration upon power failure, eliminating prolonged restoration delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuity of useful action by implementing continuous data backup to nonvolatile memory, ensuring data preservation is an ongoing process rather than a post-failure recovery operation, thus minimizing restoration time.
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
The system effectively retains data for extended periods during power failures and instantaneously restores it after power restoration, reducing data loss and eliminating the need for large uninterruptible power systems, with the all-solid-state battery providing high energy density and safety.
Implementation Method 1
an all-solid-state battery connected to the volatile memory and the nonvolatile memory, the all-solid-state battery continuously or intermittently supplying a current to the volatile memory in the event of a power failure
Implementation Method 2
a controller intermittently supplying a peak current to the volatile memory in the event of the power failure
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a volatile memory backup system including an all-solid-state battery. The backup system includes a volatile memory, a nonvolatile memory connected to the volatile memory so as to transfer data therebetween, an all-solid-state battery connected to the volatile memory and the nonvolatile memory, the battery continuously or intermittently supplying a current to the volatile memory during a power failure to retain data in the volatile memory, and a controller connected in parallel with the battery, the controller intermittently supplying a peak current to the volatile memory during the power failure and intermittently transferring divided volumes of data in the volatile memory to the nonvolatile memory by the peak current and a current from the battery temporarily increased in association with the peak current to store the data in the nonvolatile memory, thereby gradually accumulating the data in the volatile memory into the nonvolatile memory.