Bank Switching Circuitry for Non-Volatile Storage Capacity Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solid state drives are limited in capacity due to the density of NAND flash memory chips and the number of chip-select lines on the controller, leading to a need for increased storage without the additional cost and complexity of RAID configurations.
Innovation Solution
A non-volatile storage device with a single control logic that switches between multiple banks of memory devices, using bank switching circuitry to multiplex and de-multiplex data, allowing the memory controller to access a larger addressable space than its physical limitations would normally permit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple solid state drives are bundled within a single package using RAID configuration, then the storage capacity is increased, but the device complexity and cost increase due to additional controllers and management features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple solid state drives into a single package with a unified control logic that manages all drives through a single interface. The control logic includes multiple channels that can independently access different drives, eliminating the need for separate controllers for each drive while maintaining the ability to manage multiple drives as a unified storage system.
Solution Approach 2:
The control logic is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple drives through a single interface. It includes channel control units that can selectively access different drives based on address translation, allowing one controller to perform the functions of multiple controllers while supporting various RAID configurations and access patterns.
2Quantity of substance
If the number of chip-select lines on the controller is increased to access more memory devices, then the addressable memory space is expanded, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new dimension of address space by implementing a 48-bit addressing scheme that translates virtual addresses to physical addresses across multiple drives. This allows the controller to address a much larger memory space than would be possible with traditional chip-select lines, effectively expanding the addressable space without proportionally increasing controller complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an address translation layer as an intermediary between the host interface and the physical memory devices. This translation layer maps virtual addresses to physical addresses across multiple drives, allowing the controller to access expanded storage capacity without requiring a corresponding increase in physical address lines or chip-select signals.
3Productivity
If RAID controller with multiple channels is used to access multiple drives, then the data transfer rate is improved, but the electrical load and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple drive access channels into a single control logic unit, allowing data to be transferred from multiple drives simultaneously through a unified interface. This merging approach maintains high data transfer rates by utilizing multiple internal channels while reducing the electrical load by consolidating control functions into a single controller rather than multiple separate controllers.
Data Source
AI summary
Non-volatile storage devices and methods capable of achieving large capacity solid state drives containing multiple banks of memory devices. The storage devices include a printed circuit board, at least two banks of non-volatile solid-state memory devices, bank switching circuitry, a connector, and a memory controller. The bank switching circuitry is integrated onto the memory controller and functionally interposed between the banks of memory devices and the front end of the memory controller. The bank switching circuitry operates to switch accesses by the memory controller among the at least two banks.