Balanced ECC Codeword Generation for Dynamic Reference Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory devices face challenges in balancing data to maintain equal quantities of logic '1's and '0's while applying error correction codes, which can result in unbalanced codewords or prevent effective error detection in balancing information bits.
Innovation Solution
A memory device generates a balanced codeword by constructing a codeword of data, parity, and placeholder bits, ensuring the codeword's validity is maintained during inversion, and stores balancing information to recover the original logic states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If error correction codes are applied to data before balancing, then error protection is improved, but the codeword becomes unbalanced and dynamic reference sensing cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The codeword is segmented into data bits and placeholder bits, where placeholder bits are specifically designated to maintain balance without interfering with error correction code validity. This segmentation allows the error correction code to protect data bits while placeholder bits ensure the codeword remains balanced for dynamic reference sensing.
Solution Approach 2:
Placeholder bits act as intermediaries between the error correction code and the balancing requirement. These bits are strategically positioned and configured to maintain codeword balance while preserving the integrity and detectability of error correction codes, effectively mediating between conflicting requirements.
2Measurement precision
If balancing information bits are stored to recover original logic states, then data recovery accuracy is improved, but memory cell usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
Balancing information is extracted and embedded within the existing codeword structure using placeholder bits, rather than storing separate balancing information in additional memory cells. This extraction approach maintains data recovery accuracy while avoiding increased memory cell usage.
Solution Approach 2:
Placeholder bits serve multiple functions: they maintain codeword balance for dynamic reference sensing, enable error detection through error correction codes, and encode balancing information for data recovery. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate storage of balancing information.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for generating a balanced codeword protected by an error correction code are described. A memory device receives data bits for storage. Based on the data bits, the memory device generates a codeword that includes the data bits, parity bits, and placeholder bits. The memory device balances the codeword by inverting one or more packets of the codeword. After balancing the codeword, the memory device stores at least a portion of the codeword in memory so that a later operation or a decoding process reveals the packets that were inverted as part of the balancing process. Accordingly, the memory device is able to re-invert the appropriate packets to recover the original data bits.