Dual Data Channel Memory Control for Peak Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory sub-systems face challenges in managing peak power consumption during concurrent memory access operations, particularly in systems with multiple dies, leading to inefficiencies and potential system overload.
Innovation Solution
Implementing dual data channel peak power management (PPM) with a token-based round robin protocol and an auxiliary data channel to manage power consumption and communicate auxiliary data asynchronously, using a digital filter to prevent spurious deactivations during high-speed data transfers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If dual data channel PPM is implemented to manage peak power consumption, then power consumption efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional auxiliary data channel and digital filter components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data communication function into two separate channels: the original HC# data channel for PPM data and an auxiliary data channel for non-PPM data. This segmentation allows independent management of power-related communications and general data transfers, enabling precise power control without interfering with normal data operations, thus improving power consumption efficiency while maintaining manageable complexity through functional separation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a digital filter as an intermediary component between the auxiliary data channel and the PPM protocol controller. This digital filter mediates by detecting and removing spurious deactivations caused by high-speed data transfers on the auxiliary channel, preventing false power management actions. The intermediary protects the power management system from noise while allowing legitimate communications to pass through, improving reliability without requiring complete system redesign
2Productivity
If auxiliary data channel is used for high-speed data transfers, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to spurious deactivations of PPM protocol
Solution Approach 1:
The digital filter serves as an intermediary that sits between the auxiliary data channel and the PPM protocol state machine. It monitors the auxiliary channel for high-speed data transfer patterns that could trigger false deactivations, and selectively blocks these spurious signals from reaching the PPM controller. This allows the auxiliary channel to operate at high speeds for improved productivity while the filter ensures reliability by preventing erroneous PPM protocol terminations
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through the digital filter that monitors the auxiliary data channel activity and provides corrective action when spurious deactivations are detected. The filter analyzes the timing and pattern of signals on the auxiliary channel, and when it detects patterns consistent with high-speed data transfers rather than legitimate PPM commands, it prevents the false deactivation from occurring. This feedback mechanism maintains reliability without reducing the throughput benefits of the auxiliary channel
Data Source
AI summary
A memory device includes a plurality of memory dies. Each memory die of the plurality of memory dies includes a memory die and control logic, operatively coupled with the memory die, to perform operations including receiving, during a current auxiliary data communication cycle, a token to enable auxiliary data communication, in response to receiving the token, determining whether to communicate auxiliary data via an auxiliary data channel to at least one other memory die of a plurality of memory dies, and in response to determining to communicate the auxiliary data via the auxiliary data channel to the at least one other memory die, causing the auxiliary data to be communicated to the at least one other memory die.