Flash SSD with Removable Memory Cards for Capacity Expansion

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional hard disk drives face limitations in storage capacity and reliability, while flash-based SSDs are expensive and have limited capacity, necessitating a solution for upgrading storage capacity without replacing the entire device.

Innovation Solution

A flash SSD design featuring a data bridge with interfaces, a buffer, and a data management module that allows for the use of multiple flash memory cards, enabling easy upgrading of storage capacity by replacing individual cards, leveraging pre-tested memory cards from other devices to reduce manufacturing costs and complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If flash memory capacity is increased to meet growing storage needs, then storage capacity is improved, but device obsolescence accelerates requiring frequent replacements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoiddevice lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The storage device is divided into a controller unit and multiple removable flash memory card slots. This segmentation allows the flash memory cards to be independently replaced as capacity needs change, while the controller unit remains reusable, thereby extending the overall device lifespan while accommodating increasing storage requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system is designed to be dynamically adaptable by allowing users to insert, remove, and replace flash memory cards based on storage needs. This dynamic configuration enables the device to evolve with growing data requirements without complete replacement, balancing capacity improvement with device longevity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Quantity of substance

If multiple flash memory cards are used to increase storage capacity, then storage capacity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller unit is designed with universal compatibility to work with multiple standard flash memory card formats. By implementing a standardized interface and control logic that can manage multiple cards of different capacities, the system achieves high storage capacity without proportionally increasing complexity, as the same controller architecture handles varying configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If pre-tested memory cards from other devices are utilized, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but compatibility and reliability assurance becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidcompatibility assurance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs universal flash memory card interfaces and standardized communication protocols that are compatible with commercially available memory cards from multiple manufacturers. This universality allows the use of pre-tested cards from other devices without requiring custom manufacturing, reducing costs while maintaining reliability through standardized interface design and comprehensive testing of the controller unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8635403B2Flash memory card-based storage devices with changeable capacity

Publication Date: 2014.01.21 CHEMTRON RESEARCH LLC

AI summary

A reconfigurable type of flash memory-based storage device is disclosed. The flash memory-based storage device provides a plurality of mechanisms to accommodate a number of flash memory cards. As the storage capacity of the flash memory cards is increased over the time, so does the flash memory-based storage device by replacing only the flash memory cards.