Flash Memory Synthesizer Using Buffer Segmentation for Low Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic music synthesizers require substantial and expensive random access memory (RAM) to store and play back high-quality sound samples, increasing system cost and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The use of NAND flash memory for storing sound samples, combined with a buffer memory system and a time-slot allocation scheme, allows for efficient playback and synchronization of multiple voices while minimizing latency and ensuring voice continuity, using DDR2 SDRAM for fast data retrieval and error correction codes to enhance performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If substantial quantities of fast memory (RAM) are used to store and play back sound samples, then high quality reproduction of desired sounds is achieved, but system cost and complexity are significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the memory system into two segments: flash memory for long-term storage of sound samples and RAM for active playback buffering. This segmentation allows each memory type to serve its optimal function, reducing the overall quantity of expensive fast memory needed while maintaining high sound quality reproduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a buffer memory (RAM) as an intermediary between the flash memory storage and the sound playback engine. This buffer acts as a mediator that receives samples from flash memory and provides them to the playback engine at the required rate, eliminating the need for direct fast access to large volumes of data from flash memory.
2Quantity of substance
If mass storage devices like hard disks are used to store sample data, then storage capacity is increased, but access speed becomes insufficient for real-time playback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage function between flash memory (providing large capacity at low cost) and RAM (providing fast access for active samples). This allows the system to achieve both high storage capacity and fast access speed without requiring the entire storage system to be ultra-fast.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent loads sound samples into the buffer memory in advance before they are needed for playback. This preliminary loading action ensures that when playback occurs, the data is already available in fast memory, eliminating access speed bottlenecks during real-time performance.
3Device complexity
If flash memory is used to store sound samples, then system cost is reduced, but data retrieval becomes slower and more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces buffer memory (RAM) as an intermediary between the flash memory and the playback engine. This intermediary handles the speed mismatch by pre-loading data into fast memory, allowing the system to use inexpensive flash memory while maintaining fast effective access speeds during playback.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by loading sound samples from flash memory into the buffer memory before playback begins. This advance loading compensates for flash memory's slower retrieval speed, ensuring that data is available quickly when needed during actual music performance.
4Productivity
If flash memory pages are retrieved sequentially, then data is loaded in manageable chunks, but alignment with sample boundaries becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses buffer memory as an intermediary that receives data from flash memory regardless of alignment issues. The buffer memory absorbs the misalignment problem and provides properly aligned samples to the playback engine, decoupling the sequential flash memory retrieval from the precise timing requirements of sound playback.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary alignment action by loading complete sound samples into the buffer memory before playback begins. This advance preparation allows the system to handle the sequential nature of flash memory retrieval while ensuring that samples are properly aligned and ready for precise playback timing.
Data Source
AI summary
A flash-memory based stored-sample electronic music synthesizer enables the electronic reproduction of a large number of independent voices while accommodating the exacting demands of voice continuity, minimal note-start latency, and voice synchronicity. Error correction code associated with each page of a sound sample is stored with the sound sample and is retrieved with the sound sample during playback to thereby increase the overall sample retrieval rate.