Memory Column Plane Layout for Single-Pass ECC and Metadata Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory devices face limitations in retrieving a greater number of bits, including error correction information and metadata, in a single access pass without increasing latency or power consumption.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a memory device architecture with data column planes and an extra column plane to store metadata and error correction parity bits, allowing for single-pass access of codewords, data, metadata, and ECC information by using different column select signals to prefetch these elements together.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a two-pass architecture is used to retrieve metadata and ECC information, then the number of bits retrieved is increased, but the latency and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the retrieval of metadata, ECC information, and data into a single access pass by utilizing an extra column plane that can be simultaneously accessed with data column planes through coordinated column select signals. This combining of multiple information retrieval operations into one pass eliminates the latency and power overhead of sequential two-pass architectures while maintaining the ability to retrieve all necessary bits including metadata and ECC information
2Quantity of substance
If a two-pass architecture is used to retrieve metadata and ECC information, then the number of bits retrieved is increased, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple information retrieval operations into a single access pass, eliminating the redundant power consumption associated with activating column select signals and sensing circuits in a second pass. The extra column plane is designed to be simultaneously accessible with data column planes, allowing metadata and ECC information to be retrieved without additional power expenditure
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional column planes are added to store metadata and ECC information, then the functionality is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The extra column plane is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a storage location for metadata and ECC information and as an active participant in the single-pass retrieval process. By making the extra column plane universally accessible through the same column select signal mechanism as data column planes, the architecture avoids adding complex dedicated retrieval paths while maintaining enhanced functionality
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for single-pass access of ECC information, metadata information, or combinations thereof. The memory array includes a number of column planes and an extra column plane. A memory device may be set in an x4 single-pass operational mode. In this mode, the memory may store data in a selected ones of the column planes, and metadata may be stored in the extra column plane. An error correction code circuit (ECC) may store parity bits associated with the data and metadata in non-selected ones of the column planes. In this manner, the data, metadata, and parity may be accessed as part of a single access of the memory array.