Nonvolatile Memory Access Rate Control for Thermal Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-speed data reading and writing in semiconductor memory cards lead to excessive heat generation, posing a burn risk to users and potentially causing recording interruptions due to inadequate temperature management and access rate control.

Innovation Solution

A nonvolatile memory system with a memory controller that includes an access rate control part, which detects temperature and adjusts the access rate by interrupting or resuming data transfer based on threshold temperatures, using temperature sensors and adaptive control mechanisms to prevent overheating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If data reading and writing are performed at high speed, then productivity is improved, but temperature increases causing burn risk to users

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transfer speedVSAvoidsurface temperature of semiconductor memory card
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a temperature detection mechanism that continuously monitors the surface temperature of the semiconductor memory card during data operations. When the temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold, the system automatically reduces the access rate or suspends operations to prevent excessive heat generation, thereby resolving the contradiction between high-speed data transfer and temperature control through closed-loop feedback control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The access rate of the semiconductor memory card is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system adjusts the access rate in real-time based on temperature conditions, operating at high speeds when cool and reducing speed when temperature rises, thus achieving both high productivity when possible and temperature safety when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If access rate is increased for high-speed data operations, then productivity is improved, but temperature increases causing recording interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transfer speedVSAvoidcontinuous recording capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary temperature detection before initiating high-speed data operations and continuously monitors temperature during operations. By detecting temperature trends in advance, the system can proactively adjust access rates or suspend operations before temperature reaches critical levels that would cause recording interruptions, thus maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A closed-loop feedback mechanism is established where temperature information is continuously fed back to the control system, which then adjusts the access rate accordingly. This ensures that productivity is maximized when temperature permits while preventing recording interruptions when temperature becomes excessive

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2120189B1Nonvolatile storage device, nonvolatile storage system, and access device
Publication Date: 2013.01.16 PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORP
  • EP2120189B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2120189B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2120189B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

When an access device accesses a nonvolatile memory device, the nonvolatile memory device or the access device detects or calculates a temperature T of the nonvolatile memory device. A temperature-adaptive control part of the nonvolatile memory device controls an access rate to a nonvolatile memory on the basis of the temperature T. Accordingly, the control part controls the rate so that the temperature T of the nonvolatile memory devices cannot exceed a limit temperature Trisk. In this manner, a nonvolatile memory system can eliminate a risk of a burn when ejecting the semiconductor memory device and can read and write data at a high speed.