Independent Controller Caches for Lower-Latency Memory Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory devices struggle to efficiently reduce access latency associated with high-speed communications, specifically in existing technologies fail to effectively reduce latency associated with accessing memory devices such as DRAM, with embedded cache architectures, leading to inefficiencies in memory systems.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a controller cache architecture with multiple independent caches per channel group, allowing for parallel operation and reduced latency across different channel groups, which can be operated independently to service separate non-overlapping physical address ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If an embedded cache architecture is used in the memory controller, then access latency can be reduced in unloaded states, but latency increases as workload and queue congestion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cache into multiple independent cache modules (first cache module, second cache module, etc.), each associated with different memory channels. This segmentation allows parallel processing of memory access requests across different cache modules, preventing queue congestion and maintaining low latency even under high workload conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of parallelism by organizing caches into multiple modules that can operate concurrently. Instead of a single sequential cache structure, the system uses multiple cache modules that can service different memory channels simultaneously, effectively adding a dimensional aspect to cache operation that eliminates the bottleneck present in traditional single-cache architectures.
2Device complexity
If a single cache is used to service all memory channels, then device complexity is reduced, but access latency increases due to queue congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The cache is segmented into multiple independent modules, each capable of servicing memory access requests for specific memory channels. This segmentation distributes the access load across multiple cache modules, reducing queue congestion and access latency while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
Each cache module is designed to be multi-functional, capable of servicing multiple memory channels while maintaining independence. This universality allows the system to handle diverse memory access patterns efficiently without requiring a completely different cache structure for each channel, balancing complexity and performance.
3Loss of time
If multiple independent caches are implemented per channel group, then parallel operation reduces access latency, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cache architecture is segmented into multiple independent modules that can operate in parallel. Each module is relatively simple in structure but the collective system achieves low latency through parallel operation. The segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently while contributing to overall system performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a replicated cache module design where multiple identical or similar cache modules are created to service different memory channels. This copying approach simplifies the design process (by reusing the same module template) while achieving parallelism and low latency, as each copy operates independently to handle its designated memory channels.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus can include a plurality of memory devices and a memory controller coupled to the plurality of memory devices via a plurality of memory channels. The plurality of memory channels are organized as a plurality of channel groups, and the memory controller comprises respective independent caches corresponding to the plurality of channel groups.