Memory Controller Suspend Period Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The reliability of semiconductor memory systems degrades during certain operational periods, leading to inefficiencies in suspend and resume operations, particularly in portable electronic devices where memory operations need to be managed effectively.
Innovation Solution
A memory system with a controller that determines and manages suspension periods for ongoing memory operations, allowing for controlled suspend and resume operations based on ready/busy signals and status data, thereby optimizing memory device performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If suspend operation is performed during any memory operation period, then power consumption is reduced and operation efficiency is improved, but reliability degrades during certain operational periods
Solution Approach 1:
The memory operation period is segmented into suspension-allowed periods and suspension-prohibited periods. The controller identifies specific time windows within ongoing operations where suspend/resume commands can be safely issued without compromising reliability. This segmentation allows suspend operations during safe intervals while preventing them during critical operational phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller performs preliminary analysis of the current operation status and timing before allowing suspend operations. By determining whether the current time falls within a suspension-allowed period, the controller proactively prevents reliability degradation while enabling power-saving suspend operations when conditions are appropriate.
2Reliability
If suspend operation is restricted during all operational periods, then reliability is maintained, but operation efficiency and power saving are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The suspend operation policy is made dynamic rather than static. The controller continuously monitors the operation period and adjusts suspend permission in real-time based on whether the current time falls within suspension-allowed or suspension-prohibited periods. This dynamic approach enables suspend operations during safe intervals while maintaining reliability during critical phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter of suspend permission based on the current operation period. By transitioning between allowing and prohibiting suspend operations according to timing conditions, the system optimizes both reliability and efficiency without requiring complete restriction of suspend functionality.
3Reliability
If the controller continuously monitors operation periods to determine suspend permission, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller uses feedback from status data and ready/busy signals to determine the current operation period and suspend permission. This feedback mechanism enables automatic, reliable decision-making without requiring complex manual intervention or overly sophisticated control logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The memory device provides self-service by generating ready/busy signals and status data that automatically indicate operation state and timing. The controller leverages these self-generated signals to determine suspend permission without requiring external monitoring or complex control algorithms.
4Measurement precision
If detailed operation period determination is implemented, then suspend operation accuracy is improved, but measurement and detection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ready/busy signal acts as an intermediary that simplifies the detection of operation periods. Instead of directly analyzing complex operation timing, the controller uses this intermediate signal to determine whether the current time falls within suspension-allowed or suspension-prohibited periods, reducing measurement difficulty while maintaining precision.
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided a memory system and an operating method thereof. The memory system includes a semiconductor memory configured to perform a memory operation and perform a suspend operation of suspending a currently performed memory operation and a controller configured to control the memory operation. The controller controls the semiconductor memory to perform the suspend operation in a suspension-allowed period by determining a detailed operation period of the currently performed memory operation.