Memory Fault Repair via Virtual Region Hash Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
In memory systems, when numerous faults occur in a specific subarray, the available storage space for fault information is insufficient, making it difficult to perform effective fault repair due to the limitations in spare cell mapping.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves mapping unit regions to physical basic regions using a hash function, dividing these regions into subregions, and checking combinations of virtual basic regions to optimize storage space usage, allowing for efficient fault repair by converting physical addresses to virtual addresses and selecting spare cells for fault replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spare cell mapping information is stored in a specific subarray, then fault repair can be performed within that subarray, but the storage space for fault information becomes insufficient when numerous faults occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from storing fault information within a single subarray to using a cross-subarray information storage table. By mapping unit regions to physical basic regions and creating virtual basic regions that span multiple subarrays, the system effectively adds a dimensional aspect to fault information storage, allowing faults in one subarray to be repaired using spare cells from other subarrays.
Solution Approach 2:
The information storage table is designed to serve multiple subarrays simultaneously. The mapping mechanism allows the same storage table to store fault information for different unit regions across multiple subarrays, making the storage space universal and shared resources rather than dedicated to a single subarray.
2Quantity of substance
If unit regions are mapped to physical basic regions using hash function and divided into subregions, then storage space utilization is maximized, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary mapping of unit regions to physical basic regions using hash functions during the initialization phase. The information storage table is pre-configured with mappings between unit regions, physical basic regions, and virtual basic regions. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex real-time calculations during fault repair operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces virtual basic regions as an intermediary layer between unit regions and physical basic regions. This intermediary abstraction simplifies the mapping process by providing a standardized interface that handles the complexity of hash function calculations and region divisions, making the system easier to manage and control.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a memory apparatus for applying fault repair based on a physical region and a virtual region and a control method thereof. That is, the fault repair is applied based on the physical region and the virtual region which use an information storage table of a virtual basic region using a hash function, thereby improving efficiency of the fault repair.