Memory Controller ECC Segmentation for Radar Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety critical sensing apparatus, such as radar systems, face inefficiencies in memory usage and performance due to the wastefulness of simple error correction codes (ECC) and the performance overhead of block-based ECC schemes, which require additional memory and slow down data processing.
Innovation Solution
A memory controller that dynamically applies ECC protection based on the type and criticality of data, allowing for efficient storage and processing by separating safety-critical data with ECC protection from non-critical data without ECC protection, reducing the need for additional memory and minimizing performance overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If simple ECC protection is applied to all data in safety critical sensing apparatus, then data reliability is improved, but memory usage efficiency deteriorates due to wasteful allocation of check bits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different quality levels of ECC protection to different regions or types of data within the memory system. Critical data receives full ECC protection while non-critical data receives reduced or no protection, optimizing the balance between reliability and memory efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the ECC protection parameter based on data characteristics. The memory controller adjusts whether to apply ECC protection depending on the type of data being stored, transitioning between protected and unprotected modes as needed.
2Quantity of substance
If block-based ECC schemes are used to reduce memory waste, then memory usage efficiency is improved, but processing speed deteriorates due to performance overhead
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of applying ECC protection to all data blocks (excessive action), the system applies protection only to specific data types that require it (partial action). This reduces the overhead associated with block-based ECC while maintaining protection where necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments data into different categories (critical and non-critical) and applies different ECC strategies to each segment. This segmentation allows the system to avoid the performance overhead of block-based ECC for non-critical data while maintaining efficient memory usage.
3Reliability
If ECC protection is applied to all data, then data integrity is improved, but processing time deteriorates due to unnecessary error checking
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different levels of error protection quality to different data types. Critical data receives full ECC protection with error checking, while non-critical data receives minimal or no protection, eliminating unnecessary error checking time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies ECC protection partially rather than universally. By checking and protecting only the data that requires it, the system avoids the time loss associated with checking all data while maintaining data integrity for critical information.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor apparatus includes a sensing means having one or more sensors. A processor unit processes data received from the one or more sensors. The processor unit has a processor, a memory which stores data used by the processor, and a memory controller that receives instructions from the processor and in response writes data output from the processor to the memory or retrieves data from the memory to the processor. The memory controller is configured to read and write data to one or more areas of the memory with ECC protection of the data and arranged to read and write data to one or more areas of the memory without applying any ECC protection. The sensor apparatus may be configured to process data captured from an antenna to identify the position and/or the range of at least one target in the line of sight of the antenna.