Nonvolatile Memory Control Device Voltage Drop Masking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data loss and damage occur in nonvolatile memory when power supply is interrupted during data writing, as existing solutions often halt write operations to prevent damage, leading to rejected write requests and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A control device with a processor and nonvolatile memory that includes a memory controller, voltage monitoring, mask signal generation, and masking processing to ensure data writing completion before applying masking, allowing write requests to be accepted while protecting data by invalidating control signals after power decrease detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the storage device halts by stopping system clock supply to the sending/receiving portion when power supply abnormality is detected, then data stored in nonvolatile memory is protected from damage, but write requests from the host device are rejected and data writing is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the masking portion's operation conditional and time-variable. The masking portion dynamically adjusts its behavior based on the voltage monitoring status and write operation state. When voltage drops occur during write operations, the system transitions from immediate masking to delayed masking after write completion, enabling the system to adapt its protection mechanism to current operational conditions rather than using a fixed halt approach
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the voltage monitoring portion continuously monitor input voltage before abnormalities fully manifest. The mask signal generating portion is prepared to generate mask signals based on pre-defined voltage thresholds. This preliminary monitoring and preparation allow the system to take protective actions at the optimal moment - after write completion rather than during - thereby preventing data damage while maintaining write operation continuity
2Reliability
If immediate masking is applied to control signals when voltage decrease is detected, then data protection is enhanced, but ongoing write operations are interrupted causing data loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of voltage levels and prepares mask signals in advance, but delays their application until write operations complete. This preliminary preparation combined with delayed execution ensures that protection is ready when needed but does not prematurely interrupt ongoing data writing, thus preventing data loss while maintaining protection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by having the mask signal generating portion continuously monitor the state of write operations and voltage levels. Based on this feedback, the system determines the appropriate timing for applying mask signals - only after write completion is detected. This feedback mechanism ensures that protective actions are synchronized with the actual state of data writing, preventing interruption of ongoing operations
3Productivity
If the system accepts write requests during power supply fluctuations, then productivity is maintained, but data stored in nonvolatile memory may be damaged if power is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the masking portion as an intermediary component between the memory controller and the nonvolatile memory. This intermediary applies masking to control signals under specific conditions (voltage drop during write operations), thereby mediating between the need to accept write requests for productivity and the need to protect data integrity. The intermediary enables the system to maintain write operation acceptance while providing conditional protection against power interruption damage
Data Source
AI summary
A control device includes: a memory controller configured to output a control signal to a nonvolatile memory in response to a write request from a processor; a voltage monitoring portion configured to monitor an input voltage supplied from an input power supply; a mask signal generating portion configured to generate and output a mask signal when the voltage monitoring portion determines that the input voltage has decreased; and a masking portion configured to apply, when receiving the mask signal outputted from the mask signal generating portion, a masking processing to the control signal outputted from the memory controller to the nonvolatile memory. When the voltage monitoring portion determines that the input voltage has decreased, and the data is being written to the nonvolatile memory, then the mask signal generating portion outputs the mask signal after the completion of the data writing.