Memory Column Plane Layout for Single-Pass Metadata Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing semiconductor memory devices face challenges in efficiently storing metadata while maintaining single-pass access and minimizing the loss of addressable memory space, leading to increased access time and reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
The memory device is configured with additional column planes for metadata storage, allowing single-pass access to data, metadata, and ECC data, and can be selectively switched to operate without metadata storage, forming virtual planes to maintain compatibility with existing systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If metadata is stored in the memory array, then metadata storage capability is improved, but addressable memory space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The memory array is segmented into multiple column planes, with specific column planes designated for metadata storage while others remain for data storage. This segmentation allows metadata to be stored in dedicated regions without completely occupying the memory space, thereby maintaining both metadata storage capability and data storage capacity simultaneously.
2Productivity
If metadata is retrieved in multiple passes, then storage efficiency is improved, but access time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the retrieval operations for data, metadata, and ECC data into a single pass by organizing them in different column planes that can be accessed simultaneously. The column decoder is designed to activate multiple column planes in parallel during a single access operation, allowing all three types of data to be retrieved together without requiring multiple sequential passes, thus maintaining fast access times while achieving efficient storage utilization.
3Productivity
If additional column planes are added for metadata storage, then single-pass access capability is improved, but device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The additional column planes designed for metadata storage are implemented with multi-functionality, allowing them to serve dual purposes: storing metadata when needed and being dynamically reconfigured for data storage when metadata storage is not required. This universal design approach enables the memory device to adapt to different application requirements without permanently increasing the functional complexity, as the same hardware resources can serve different purposes based on operational needs.
Data Source
AI summary
A bank of a memory device may be divided into column planes. Each column plane may be associated with column selects. In some examples, one or more physical column planes may be selectively configured to store metadata. When the memory device is configured not to store metadata, the column selects may be arranged into virtual column planes to allow data to be stored in physical column planes used for metadata. The physical column planes may be arranged into virtual planes to store the data. Different mapping of the virtual planes to the physical planes may be used.