Flash Memory Error Estimation Module Using Programming and Erasing Times
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flash memory devices experience errors due to parasitic effects and floating gate coupling, which affect data integrity and shorten the device's service life, necessitating an effective error estimation method for improved error correction.
Innovation Solution
An error estimation module for flash memory, comprising a timer, quantification index table, storage page table, and error index table, which records and maps programming and erasing times to error rates, enabling accurate error estimation for the flash memory controller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If advanced error correction algorithms are used, then error correction performance is improved, but the system requires accurate error estimation which increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary error estimation by recording programming and erasing times before error correction operations. The timer module continuously monitors these times and stores them in the time record module, allowing the error estimation module to predict error rates in advance without adding complexity during the actual error correction process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary error estimation module that acts as a bridge between the flash memory controller and the error correction algorithm. This module uses the time record module to estimate error rates based on programming and erasing times, providing a simplified intermediate calculation that feeds into the broader error correction system without requiring the controller itself to perform complex estimations
2Productivity
If flash memory undergoes many rewrite operations, then storage capacity is maintained, but device characteristics attenuate causing programming time to shorten and erasing time to extend
Solution Approach 1:
The timer module performs preliminary recording of programming and erasing times during normal flash memory operations. By continuously monitoring and storing these time values in the time record module, the system establishes a historical database that captures the degradation trends of flash memory characteristics over multiple rewrite cycles
Solution Approach 2:
The error estimation module uses feedback from the recorded programming and erasing times to dynamically adjust error rate predictions. As the flash memory undergoes more rewrite operations, the accumulated time data provides feedback that reflects the changing device characteristics, allowing the system to adapt its error estimation accuracy to the current state of memory degradation
3Measurement precision
If error estimation is performed using programming and erasing times, then error rate calculation accuracy is improved, but additional modules and data structures are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the error estimation functionality into distinct modular components: a timer module for time measurement, a time record module for data storage, and an error estimation module for calculation. This segmentation allows each module to perform its specific function with high precision while keeping the overall system manageable through clear separation of concerns
Solution Approach 2:
The timer module serves multiple functions by simultaneously tracking both programming times and erasing times. The time record module universally stores different types of time data in a unified structure, and the error estimation module can process both programming time data and erasing time data through the same calculation logic, reducing the need for separate specialized components
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to the field of data storage, and more particularly to an estimation technology in an error correction process of a flash memory. The present invention provides an error estimation module and an error estimation method thereof for a flash memory. The estimation module mainly includes a timer, a quantification index table, a storage page table, and an error index table. The error estimation method of a flash memory includes: creating rewriting and programming error a priori data, and estimating an error rate of the flash memory by using special physical signals in a flash memory device to provide proper error estimation for an error correction algorithm of the flash memory. The present invention is applicable to a solid-state hard disk controller, a flash memory controller, and the like, where the flash memory device is used as a storage medium, so that the reliability of the flash memory device is improved.