Flash Storage Power Hold Circuit Data Integrity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flash storage devices are susceptible to data corruption during power disruptions, as they often lack the capability to maintain power or alert mechanisms to complete ongoing data write operations, leading to integrity issues.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a power hold circuit with a double layer capacitive element that charges to maintain power during disruptions, ensuring data integrity by completing data transfers before power loss and inhibiting subsequent transfers until power is restored.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If no power hold circuit is used, then device complexity is reduced, but data integrity deteriorates during power disruptions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The double layer capacitive element is charged to a voltage higher than the operating voltage before a power disruption occurs. This preliminary energy storage enables the flash storage device to maintain operation and complete data write processes during a power disruption, thereby preserving data integrity without requiring complex real-time power management systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The power hold circuit with double layer capacitive element acts as an intermediary energy buffer between the power source and the flash storage device. It decouples the direct dependency between the power source and the storage device, allowing the storage device to maintain operation during power disruptions and thus protect data integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If power is maintained during power disruption, then data integrity is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Energy is stored in the double layer capacitive element during normal operation when power is available. This preliminary energy accumulation allows the system to maintain power during disruptions without requiring continuous high-energy input, thus protecting data integrity while managing energy consumption efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the voltage parameter of the capacitive element to a higher level than normal operating voltage during charging. This parameter change enables the stored energy to sustain the flash storage device during power disruptions, maintaining data integrity without requiring excessive continuous energy input.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If data transfer is completed before voltage drops below threshold, then data integrity is maintained, but operation time is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidoperation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system initiates data transfer operations before the voltage drops below the threshold during a power disruption. By performing this preliminary action while sufficient voltage is available, the system ensures data integrity is maintained while maximizing the operational duration within the available energy window.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively prevents data corruption by ensuring data integrity during power disruptions in flash storage devices, maintaining power for completing data transfers and inhibiting further operations until power is restored.

Implementation Method 1

A power hold circuit 140 includes a double layer capacitive element. A power source supplies power to the flash storage device and charges the double layer capacitive element. The double layer capacitive element supplies power for maintaining integrity of data during a data transfer occurring in the flash storage device when the power supplied by the power source is disrupted.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS10438669B2Flash storage device with data integrity protection
Publication Date: 2019.10.08 WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES INC
  • US10438669B2 patent drawing
  • US10438669B2 patent drawing
  • US10438669B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A flash storage device includes a power hold circuit including a double layer capacitor. A power source supplies power to the flash storage device and charges the double layer capacitor. The double layer capacitor supplies power for maintaining integrity of data during a data transfer occurring in the flash storage device when the power supplied by the power source is disrupted. Additionally, the flash storage device can inhibit subsequent data transfers until the power supplied by the power source is restored.