Flash Memory Block Erasure with Dummy-Data Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flash memory modules face issues where erasing a block with unwritten pages can affect subsequent write operations, reducing data quality.
Innovation Solution
A method to determine if a block is full or blank before erasure, writing dummy data to unwritten pages to make them full, and then erasing the block to ensure all pages are blank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If erase operation is performed on a block where some pages have not yet been written, then erase operation can be completed, but data quality is reduced and subsequent write operation is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by checking the write status of all pages in a block before performing erase operation. The controller determines whether each page has been written (via read operations or status registers) and only proceeds with erase if all pages are confirmed written, thereby preventing premature erasure that would compromise data quality while maintaining efficient erase operations
2Reliability
If dummy data is written to make unwritten pages full before erasure, then data quality is maintained, but additional write operations are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by writing dummy data to unwritten pages before erase operation when necessary. This ensures all pages are in a valid state (either written or filled with dummy data) before erasure, maintaining data quality. The controller intelligently determines which pages need dummy data based on their write status, avoiding unnecessary operations on already-written pages
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a method for controlling a flash memory module. The flash memory module includes a plurality of dies, each die includes a plurality of blocks, each block includes a plurality of pages, and the method includes the steps of: selecting a super block, wherein the super block includes a plurality of first blocks respectively located in the plurality of dies; for each first block in the super block, determining whether the first block is a full block or a blank block; and if the first block is not the full block or the blank block, writing dummy data to the first block so that the first block becomes the full block; and erasing the plurality of first blocks in the super block, so that the plurality of first blocks become a plurality of blank blocks.