Chiplet Storage Architecture Segmentation for Protocol Adaptability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data storage systems face limitations in flexibility and compatibility with varying host devices and memory media standards, as they are often configured in a monolithic integrated circuit or system-on-chip format, making them inflexible and specific to certain standards.
Innovation Solution
A storage architecture comprising a front-end chip for interfacing with host devices, multiple back-end chips for interfacing with memory devices, and a memory chip, allowing for physical separation and independent functionality, enabling support for different communication protocols and standards through chiplet structures and protocols like PCIe and CXL.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a monolithic integrated circuit or system-on-chip architecture is used, then the storage architecture has valid host devices and memory media of specific standards, but the storage architecture lacks flexibility and cannot adapt to changes in standards
Solution Approach 1:
The storage architecture is divided into separate functional modules: a front-end chip for host device interfacing and multiple back-end chips for memory device interfacing. This segmentation allows each module to be independently designed, updated, or replaced to adapt to different standards without affecting the entire system, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If a monolithic integrated circuit is used, then the storage architecture is unified, but separate updates or replacements of chips cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the storage architecture into independently replaceable front-end and back-end chips connected through an interconnect, the system enables selective updates of individual chip modules. This allows manufacturers to update specific components without replacing the entire storage architecture, improving ease of manufacture while accepting increased structural complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If chiplet based architecture is used, then flexibility and adaptability to different standards are improved, but the architecture complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The front-end chip is designed with universal interfaces that can support multiple communication protocols (e.g., PCIe, CXL) to interface with various host devices. Similarly, the back-end chips can support different memory interfaces. This multi-functionality at the interface level enables the chiplet architecture to adapt to different standards while managing complexity through standardized connection protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for implementing a storage architecture includes a front-end chip configured to perform first interfacing with a first device, a plurality of back-end chips configured to perform second interfacing with second devices, and a memory chip disposed to be separated from the front-end chip and the plurality of back-end chips and configured to perform a communication with the front-end chip.