Memory Bad Block Handling Using Encoded Simulation Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory systems face challenges in effectively managing and repairing bad blocks without allocating idle or spare units, leading to potential reliability issues and increased costs due to space occupation and resource burden.
Innovation Solution
A memory management method and system that employs an encoding management circuit and a memory access instruction decoding unit to identify and manage bad blocks by generating simulation data, allowing for the repair and management of bad blocks without the need for spare units, using encoding methods to handle bad blocks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If more spare units are allocated to handle bad blocks, then reliability is improved, but available space is reduced and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of bad block data by generating simulation data through encoding management circuitry. Instead of physically allocating spare units to mirror bad blocks, the system encodes the bad block addresses and generates simulated data representations that can be retrieved on demand, eliminating the need for physical spare units while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The encoding management circuit acts as an intermediary between the memory access instruction decoding unit and the bad blocks. It manages the encoding of bad block addresses and generation of simulation data, serving as a mediator that enables bad block handling without requiring physical spare units or additional memory space
2Reliability
If more spare units are allocated to handle bad blocks, then reliability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates virtual copies of bad block data through encoding and simulation data generation, eliminating the need for physical spare units. This approach reduces hardware costs while maintaining the ability to handle bad blocks reliably through software-based simulation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of physically allocating spare memory units with a software-based encoding and simulation system. The encoding management circuitry uses logical encoding and data generation instead of physical hardware duplication, reducing cost while maintaining functionality
3Device complexity
If fewer spare units are allocated, then cost is reduced, but the ability to repair bad blocks is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system generates simulation data that replicates the functionality of physical spare units. The encoding management circuit creates virtual copies of bad block data through encoding, enabling repair capabilities without requiring physical spare units, thus maintaining ease of repair while reducing cost
Solution Approach 2:
The encoding management circuit performs self-service by automatically generating simulation data for bad blocks based on their addresses. The system repairs bad blocks autonomously through the encoding and simulation data generation process, eliminating the need for manual intervention or physical spare units
Data Source
AI summary
A memory system including a memory; an encoding management circuit; and a memory access instruction decoding unit is provided. The memory access instruction decoding unit is configured to receive an instruction from a bus, identify a bad block in the memory, determine whether the instruction indicates access to the bad block. When the instruction indicates writing data to the bad block, the memory access instruction decoding unit outputs an address of the bad block and the data to the encoding management circuit to trigger the encoding management circuit to update the encoding management circuit. When the instruction indicates reading the bad block, the memory access instruction decoding unit outputs the address to and trigger the encoding management circuit to output simulation data of the bad block, wherein the encoding management circuit obtains the simulation data based on the address.