Flash Memory Page Layout for Uncorrectable Sector Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current non-volatile memory systems lack efficient management of uncorrectable sector information, which is crucial for maintaining data integrity and error correction in large capacity storage devices.

Innovation Solution

A non-volatile memory system with a controller that generates and stores uncorrectable sector information in a reserved region of each page, allowing for efficient management of uncorrectable sector data by integrating an error correction code generation unit and microprocessor to handle commands from a host, thereby indicating whether a sector region is uncorrectable.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If uncorrectable sector information is stored in a separate management structure, then information management is simplified, but memory space is wasted and system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidmanagement structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the uncorrectable sector information management with the existing page structure by utilizing the reserved region within each page. Instead of creating a separate management structure, the system merges the uncorrectable sector information storage into the page-level management framework, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable tracking of uncorrectable sectors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The reserved region of each page is given multiple functions: it serves both as part of the normal page structure and as the storage location for uncorrectable sector information. This multi-functional use of the reserved region eliminates the need for dedicated separate management structures, reducing complexity while ensuring data integrity through systematic tracking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If a reserved region of each page is used to store uncorrectable sector information, then management efficiency is improved, but available storage space is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanagement efficiencyVSAvoidavailable storage space

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The reserved region is pre-allocated within each page structure specifically for storing uncorrectable sector information. This preliminary action ensures that management efficiency is improved from the outset, as the system can immediately track uncorrectable sectors without requiring additional overhead or separate management structures that would consume more space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system discards the conventional approach of using separate management structures that waste space, and recovers the reserved region within each page for dual-purpose use. By recovering and repurposing this existing reserved space, the system achieves efficient uncorrectable sector management without significantly reducing the overall available storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Reliability

If error correction codes are generated for all sectors, then data reliability is improved, but processing time and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror correction capabilityVSAvoidprocessing energy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of generating error correction codes for all sectors uniformly, the system applies error correction selectively. By using the uncorrectable sector information stored in the reserved region to identify which sectors require error correction processing, the system performs partial action only where needed, thereby reducing overall processing energy consumption while maintaining data reliability for sectors that require it.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the stored uncorrectable sector information to automatically identify and handle only those sectors that require error correction. This self-service approach allows the error correction mechanism to operate efficiently by focusing resources on problematic sectors rather than processing all sectors uniformly, reducing energy consumption while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS8612836B2Non-volatile memory device with uncorrectable information region and operation method using the same

Publication Date: 2013.12.17 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

The non-volatile memory system includes a non-volatile memory and a controller. The non-volatile memory includes a data region including a sector region for storing sector data, and an uncorrectable information region for storing uncorrectable sector information on the sector region. The controller includes an information generation unit for generating the uncorrectable sector information that indicates whether the sector region is assigned to an uncorrectable sector region, according to a command output from a host.