Flash Memory Controller Command Standardization for Faster Error Checking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional flash memory controllers face performance degradation due to the need for extensive error checking of commands from a host device, particularly when handling multiple commands simultaneously, as they require firmware to identify and process commands of different formats, leading to prolonged processing times.

Innovation Solution

A flash memory controller with a transmission interface circuit that converts commands into a fixed format, utilizing a command processing circuit to generate a converted command with an error state field, which is stored in a buffer memory and processed by a microprocessor, thereby reducing the need for firmware-based format identification and error checking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If firmware performs extensive error checking on each command to ensure reliability, then command processing accuracy is improved, but processing time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommand processing accuracyVSAvoidcommand processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The command processing circuit performs error checking on commands before they reach the firmware, converting them to a standardized format with error check results already recorded. This preliminary action eliminates the need for firmware to perform repeated error checking, thus maintaining reliability while reducing processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the firmware-based error checking mechanism with a hardware command processing circuit. This substitution moves the error checking function from software (firmware) to hardware level, enabling parallel processing and significantly reducing the time required for command validation while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If firmware identifies and processes commands of different formats, then system adaptability is improved, but processing speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommand format compatibilityVSAvoidcommand processing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The command processing circuit extracts and standardizes the format of incoming commands before they reach the firmware. By taking out the format identification and conversion task from the firmware, the system maintains adaptability to different command formats while enabling the firmware to process only standardized commands, thus improving processing speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The command processing circuit acts as an intermediary between the transmission interface and the firmware. It converts various command formats into a unified standardized format, serving as a mediator that enables format compatibility without requiring the firmware to handle multiple formats directly, thereby improving processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the flash memory controller handles a large number of commands simultaneously, then system throughput is improved, but error checking time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommand throughputVSAvoidtotal error checking time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The command processing circuit performs error checking on multiple commands simultaneously at the hardware level before they reach the firmware. This preliminary parallel processing reduces the total error checking time even when handling large numbers of commands, thereby maintaining high throughput without proportionally increasing checking time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

By replacing firmware-based sequential error checking with hardware-based parallel error checking in the command processing circuit, the system can handle multiple commands simultaneously. This substitution enables throughput improvement without linearly increasing the total error checking time, as hardware circuits can process multiple commands in parallel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12393368B2Flash memory controller and associated memory device and control method

Publication Date: 2025.08.19 SILICON MOTION INC

AI summary

A flash memory controller is arranged to access a flash memory module, and includes a transmission interface circuit a buffer memory, and a microprocessor. The transmission interface circuit is coupled to a host device, wherein the transmission interface circuit includes a command processing circuit, and the command processing circuit is arranged to: receive a command from the host device; utilize multiple check items to check the command to generate at least one check result; and convert the command to generate a converted command of a specific format, wherein the converted command comprises an error state field for recording the at least one check result. The buffer memory is arranged to store the converted command. The microprocessor is arranged to read the converted command from the buffer memory, and access the flash memory module according to the converted command.