Memory Die Temperature Adjustment for Trap Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Memory dies in storage devices experience degradation due to increased traps over time, leading to higher program and erase pulses, which reduces storage capacity and marks dies as erroneous, limiting their use and capacity.
Innovation Solution
A controller performs a memory die healing process by adjusting the temperature of the memory die through performing memory operations, such as read/write operations, to reduce the number of traps, thereby reversing the effects of aging and maintaining storage capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If memory operations are performed continuously without temperature adjustment, then productivity is maintained in the short term, but the number of traps increases over time leading to more program/erase pulses and eventual die failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic healing cycles where memory operations are paused and temperature is adjusted to reduce traps. This periodic intervention prevents cumulative trap accumulation that would otherwise lead to die failure, while maintaining overall storage capacity through reversible aging effects
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the memory die to reverse aging effects. By adjusting temperature during healing operations, trap accumulation is reduced and memory characteristics are restored, allowing the die to remain usable and maintain storage capacity
2Reliability
If temperature adjustment is performed frequently to maintain memory die health, then reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent monitors memory die characteristics such as program/erase pulse requirements and trap levels to determine when healing is needed. This feedback mechanism allows temperature adjustment to be performed only when necessary, balancing reliability maintenance with power consumption constraints
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs targeted healing operations on specific memory blocks or regions that show signs of degradation rather than heating the entire memory device. This partial action reduces the overall power consumption while still maintaining the health of affected areas
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The temperature adjustment process decreases the number of program and erase pulses required, reduces the number of erroneous memory dies, and maintains storage capacity over time by reversing the aging effects on memory dies.
Implementation Method 1
A controller may perform a memory die healing process that includes a temperature adjustment. The temperature adjustment may decrease the number of traps in the storage elements of the memory die
Implementation Method 2
performing memory operations on the first die may raise a temperature of the first die
Data Source
AI summary
A device includes a memory device and a controller. The controller is coupled to the memory device. The controller is configured to, in response to receiving a request to perform a memory access at the memory device, determine that the memory device has a characteristic indicative of a temperature crossing. The controller is also configured to, in response to determining that the memory device has the characteristic indicative of the temperature crossing, determine that the memory device satisfies an availability criterion. The controller is further configured to, in response to determining that the memory device satisfies the availability criterion, increase a temperature of the memory device by performing memory operations on the memory device until detecting a condition related to the temperature.