Memory Device Ready Status Signaling via Dedicated Pins

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current memory systems face inefficiencies in status checks, leading to increased command overhead and decreased channel bandwidth, resulting in performance losses and latency issues as the number of memory dies increases, particularly due to reliance on polling methods that consume power and compromise channel utilization.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a memory system that uses dedicated pins to report the ready status of memory dies through signaling, rather than relying on ONFI channels, allowing memory devices to indicate readiness directly to the controller, thereby reducing latency and improving processing times.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If polling methods are used to check memory die status, then the controller can determine which memory dies are ready to receive commands, but command overhead increases and channel bandwidth decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestatus check accuracyVSAvoidchannel bandwidth utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of the controller actively polling memory dies to check their status (controller-initiated), the memory dies actively signal their readiness status to the controller through dedicated pins (memory-initiated). This inversion of the traditional polling approach eliminates the need for continuous controller-initiated status check commands, thereby reducing command overhead and improving channel bandwidth utilization while maintaining reliable status information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If polling methods are used for status checks, then memory die readiness can be determined, but latency increases and processing time worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereadiness detectionVSAvoidstatus check latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Memory dies continuously maintain their readiness status information available through dedicated signaling pins, eliminating the need for the controller to wait for polling responses. The status information is always ready to be read by the controller when needed, significantly reducing latency and processing time while ensuring reliable readiness detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If polling methods are used to check memory status, then status information can be obtained, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestatus information acquisitionVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Memory dies use dedicated pins to passively signal their own readiness status to the controller without requiring active polling commands from the controller. This self-service approach allows the memory dies to communicate their status using minimal power, significantly reducing overall system power consumption while maintaining reliable status information acquisition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12001358B2Status check using signaling from a memory device

Publication Date: 2024.06.04 MICRON TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for status check using signaling are described. A memory system may receive ready signals from memory dies. The ready signal may indicate whether a memory die is available to receive a command. The memory system may generate an indicator of whether the memory die is available based on values of ready signals. The memory system may output the indicator to a controller over one or more pins based on generating the indicator.