Memory Free-Page Detection to Skip Unnecessary ECC Decoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
In non-volatile memory devices, determining whether a page is a free page is challenging due to the inability to change a cell with a written '0' to a cell with a written '1', affecting memory operation efficiency and leading to unnecessary error correction processes.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that convert read data into a codeword for error correction code processing, comparing it to a target codeword to detect non-identical bits, determining if a page is a free page based on a threshold value, and stopping error correction code decoding when the page is identified as free, thereby reducing unnecessary processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If error correction code decoding is always performed on every page read from memory, then data reliability is improved, but processing time and energy consumption increase due to unnecessary decoding on free pages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing a quick free page detection check before the full error correction code decoding process. The detection unit checks whether a read page is a free page using a simplified method (checking if all data bits are logic 1) before the main decoding process, allowing the system to skip unnecessary ECC decoding on free pages while maintaining reliability on actual data pages
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the free page detection function as a separate, independent unit that operates before the main error correction decoding process. This extraction allows the system to identify and exclude free pages from the time-consuming ECC decoding process, reducing overall processing time while maintaining data reliability through selective decoding
2Reliability
If error correction code decoding is always performed on every page read from memory, then error detection capability is improved, but energy consumption increases due to unnecessary processing on free pages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing a quick free page detection check before the full error correction code decoding process. The detection unit checks whether a read page is a free page using a simplified method (checking if all data bits are logic 1) before the main decoding process, allowing the system to skip unnecessary ECC decoding on free pages while maintaining reliability on actual data pages
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by performing only the necessary minimum check (free page detection) instead of the complete error correction decoding process on all pages. This partial approach is sufficient to identify free pages and avoid unnecessary energy consumption, while full ECC decoding is performed only when actually needed on non-free pages
3Productivity
If a simple method is used to determine free pages, then processing speed is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates leading to false identification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing a quick free page detection check before the full error correction code decoding process. The detection unit checks whether a read page is a free page using a simplified method (checking if all data bits are logic 1) before the main decoding process, allowing the system to skip unnecessary ECC decoding on free pages while maintaining reliability on actual data pages
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for detecting a free page of a memory device, and a method and apparatus for decoding an error correction code by using the method and apparatus for detecting a free page are provided. Free page data read from the memory is converted into a converted codeword for inclusion as an element of an error correction code field. The converted codeword is compared to an initially set target codeword to detect an amount of non-identical bits. A page read from the memory is determined to be a free page when the amount of non-identical bits is equal to or less than an initially set threshold value.