Memory Controller Bad Block Relocation via Regenerated Super Block Table
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory systems face inefficiencies in managing bad memory blocks, leading to reduced reliability and storage capacity, as they often require discarding super memory blocks containing bad blocks rather than reusing them.
Innovation Solution
A memory system and operating method that group memory blocks into super blocks, allowing for the identification and replacement of bad blocks within these blocks, using a regenerated super block table to relocate bad blocks to good blocks in different locations, thereby extending the system's operational lifespan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If super memory blocks containing bad blocks are discarded, then system reliability is maintained, but storage capacity and lifespan are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers super memory blocks containing bad blocks by replacing the bad blocks with good blocks from other super memory blocks. The controller identifies bad blocks, selects source super memory blocks with available good blocks, and performs data migration to regenerate the discarded super memory blocks, thereby extending the overall lifespan of the memory system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a regenerated super block table that maps bad blocks to good blocks in different locations. This copying mechanism allows the system to replicate the functionality of discarded super memory blocks using good blocks from source super memory blocks, maintaining system capacity without discarding the original bad blocks permanently.
2Productivity
If bad blocks are replaced with good blocks from different locations, then storage efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-divides the memory device into multiple super memory blocks and pre-identifies bad blocks during initialization or periodic monitoring. The controller maintains a regenerated super block table that maps bad blocks to good blocks in advance, enabling efficient replacement operations without increasing operational complexity during normal data storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The regenerated super block table acts as an intermediary structure between the physical memory blocks and the logical address space. This mediator maps bad blocks to good blocks, abstracting the complexity of physical block replacement from the user and enabling storage efficiency improvements without exposing the underlying complexity to the system interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A memory system may include: a memory device including a plurality of dies, each including a plurality planes, each including a plurality of blocks; and a controller suitable for grouping the plurality of memory blocks into a plurality of super blocks, each of which has a designated type corresponding to a condition, the controller may form a set of first super blocks, among the plurality of super blocks, each of which has at least one bad memory block and good memory blocks, and may manage the first super blocks.