Flash Memory Controller Timestamp Block Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flash memory devices prematurely switch to a write-protected status due to incorrect identification of physically damaged blocks, leading to a reduction in spare blocks and a shortened lifespan.

Innovation Solution

A controller in the flash memory device stores time stamps with data and uses them to accurately identify physically damaged blocks, preventing erroneous marking and prolonging the device's lifespan by distinguishing between old data and physically damaged blocks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If blocks are marked as physically damaged based on write failure, then damaged blocks are identified, but old data blocks are erroneously marked leading to premature write protection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblock damage identification accuracyVSAvoidwrite protection timing

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by storing time stamps when data is written to blocks, and proactively checking these time stamps before marking blocks as damaged. This allows the system to distinguish between old data blocks and truly damaged blocks, preventing erroneous write protection before it occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by monitoring write operations and block status, then using time stamp information to verify whether write failures indicate actual physical damage or simply old data. This feedback mechanism prevents incorrect marking of blocks and delays write protection until truly necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If spare blocks are reduced due to erroneous bad block marking, then block management becomes simpler, but flash memory lifespan is shortened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblock management complexityVSAvoidflash memory lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By preliminarily storing time stamp information with each data block, the system can accurately determine whether a block is truly damaged before marking it as bad. This prevents unnecessary reduction of spare blocks and extends flash memory lifespan while maintaining manageable block tracking through systematic time stamp verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9305662B2Data storage device and flash memory control method

Publication Date: 2016.04.05 VIA TECH INC

AI summary

An identification technique for physically damaged blocks of a flash memory of a data storage device. In the data storage device, a controller coupled to the flash memory writes data into the flash memory with at least one time stamp corresponding to the data. The time stamp is taken into consideration by the controller to identify the physically damaged blocks of the flash memory, and thereby it is prevented from erroneously identifying a physically undamaged block as bad. Thus, the flash memory is prevented from being erroneously regarded as a write protected memory. The lifespan of the flash memory is effectively prolonged.