Gray Code Counter with Wear Levelling and Majority Voting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing counter devices face high memory demand and error vulnerability, particularly in non-volatile memories, due to the limitations of binary counting and conventional error correction schemes, which are incompatible with Gray code schemes.

Innovation Solution

A method combining Gray code counting, wear levelling, and majority voting to optimize memory usage and error correction, utilizing bit-wise operations and optimized distribution across memory locations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If binary counting is used with conventional error correction schemes, then error correction is provided, but memory demand increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror correction capabilityVSAvoidmemory demand

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the counting parameter from binary to Gray code representation. This parameter change reduces the number of bit transitions during counting operations, thereby reducing memory write operations and extending memory endurance without compromising error correction capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of applying conventional error correction to binary counters, the patent inverts the approach by using Gray code counting with a modified error correction scheme that operates on the Gray code representation directly, rather than converting to binary first

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Quantity of substance

If Gray code counting is used, then memory demand is reduced, but compatibility with standard error correction schemes is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvememory demandVSAvoidcompatibility with error correction schemes

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary error correction scheme that is specifically designed to work with Gray code representation. This intermediary layer provides the bridge between Gray code counting and reliable error correction, allowing the system to maintain compatibility with error correction requirements while using Gray code

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The error correction scheme parameters are changed to accommodate Gray code characteristics. The syndrome calculation and correction logic are modified to operate directly on Gray code bits, making the error correction compatible with Gray code counting operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If binary counter updates are performed, then counting functionality is provided, but vulnerability to tearing errors increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecounting operation speedVSAvoidtearing error vulnerability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by using Gray code instead of binary representation. This inversion ensures that only one bit changes state during each counting transition, eliminating the tearing problem where intermediate states could be read during concurrent read operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS20260037354A1Counter with low memory demand

Publication Date: 2026.02.05 NXP BV

AI summary

There is described a computer-implemented method of operating a counter, where the method includes performing a counting operation in a bit-wise manner, such as by using Gray code; splitting the counting operation using wear levelling; and performing an error correction scheme with respect to the counting operation using majority voting.