Bank-Specific Buffering for Hazard Detection in Multi-Memory Devices

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing memory systems face inefficiencies in hazard detection due to the high power consumption and die area requirements of comparators needed to compare commands in a queue, which increases the complexity and cost of implementing hazard detection in multi-memory devices.

Innovation Solution

The use of collapsing buffers in the interface controller reduces the number of comparators required for hazard detection by comparing commands within bank-specific buffers rather than the entire command queue, thereby reducing power consumption and die area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If comparators are used to compare commands in the entire command queue for hazard detection, then hazard detection accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehazard detection accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The command queue is divided into multiple bank-specific buffers (first buffer, second buffer, etc.) corresponding to different memory banks. Comparators only compare commands within the same buffer, reducing the comparison scope from the entire queue to individual buffers. This segmentation maintains hazard detection accuracy for bank-specific commands while significantly reducing power consumption by avoiding comparisons across all queues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hazard detection mechanism applies different comparison scopes to different buffers based on their association with specific memory banks. Each buffer undergoes hazard detection only against other commands in the same buffer, creating a localized detection approach. This local quality optimization reduces overall power consumption while maintaining detection accuracy where it matters most.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If comparators are used to compare commands in the entire command queue for hazard detection, then hazard detection accuracy is improved, but die area increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehazard detection accuracyVSAvoiddie area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The command queue is divided into multiple bank-specific buffers (first buffer, second buffer, etc.) corresponding to different memory banks. Comparators only compare commands within the same buffer, reducing the comparison scope from the entire queue to individual buffers. This segmentation maintains hazard detection accuracy for bank-specific commands while significantly reducing power consumption by avoiding comparisons across all queues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hazard detection mechanism applies different comparison scopes to different buffers based on their association with specific memory banks. Each buffer undergoes hazard detection only against other commands in the same buffer, creating a localized detection approach. This local quality optimization reduces overall power consumption while maintaining detection accuracy where it matters most.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the entire command queue is used for hazard detection, then detection completeness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection completenessVSAvoidhazard detection complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The command queue is divided into multiple bank-specific buffers (first buffer, second buffer, etc.) corresponding to different memory banks. Comparators only compare commands within the same buffer, reducing the comparison scope from the entire queue to individual buffers. This segmentation maintains hazard detection accuracy for bank-specific commands while significantly reducing power consumption by avoiding comparisons across all queues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11797231B2Hazard detection in a multi-memory device

Publication Date: 2023.10.24 MICRON TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for hazard detection in a multi-memory device are described. A device may receive a first command that indicates a first bank address, a first row address, and a first column address. Based on the first bank address, the device may select a buffer for a hazard detection procedure that detects hazardous commands. The device may compare, as part of the hazard detection procedure, the first row address and the first column address from the first command with a second row address and a second column address from a second command in the buffer. The device may determine whether the first command and the second command are hazardous commands based on comparing the first row address and the first column address from the first command with the second row address and the second column address from the second command.