Memory Non-Volatile Settings for Power State Transition Delays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Memory devices experience performance delays and inefficiencies due to the need for re-training after returning from a reduced-power state to a powered-on state, which offsets the energy-saving benefits of power management.
Innovation Solution
The control circuitry in memory devices stores settings determined during an initial training operation in a non-volatile location, allowing these settings to be read upon returning to a powered-on state without performing a subsequent training operation, thus avoiding delays and maintaining energy savings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If memory devices perform re-training operations after returning from a reduced-power state to a powered-on state, then operational reliability is improved, but device productivity deteriorates due to performance delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by storing training settings in non-volatile memory during an initial training operation performed when the memory device is fully powered on. When the device later transitions to a reduced-power state and back, these pre-stored settings are retrieved from non-volatile memory, eliminating the need for time-consuming re-training operations and thus maintaining productivity while ensuring operational reliability.
2Measurement precision
If memory devices perform re-training operations after returning from a reduced-power state, then settings accuracy is improved, but loss of time increases due to operational delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the training operation in advance when power is available, stores the results in non-volatile memory, and retrieves them upon returning from reduced-power state. This eliminates time loss while maintaining settings accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the training settings in non-volatile memory that can be rapidly retrieved without performing the full training operation again. This copying mechanism preserves settings accuracy while dramatically reducing the time required to restore operational parameters after power state transitions.
3Use of energy by moving object
If memory devices enter reduced-power states for energy management, then use of energy is reduced, but loss of time increases due to re-training delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs training operations in advance when the device is powered on, storing results in non-volatile memory before entering reduced-power states. This allows the device to maximize energy savings during idle periods while avoiding time-consuming re-training when power is restored, thus reducing both energy consumption and time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
By copying training settings to non-volatile memory, the system enables rapid restoration of operational parameters after power state transitions. This eliminates the trade-off between energy saving and time loss, as the device can enter reduced-power states without worrying about subsequent re-training delays.
Data Source
AI summary
A memory device is provided. The memory device comprises a memory array and circuitry configured to determine one or more settings for the memory array corresponding to a powered-on state of the memory device, to store the one or more settings in a non-volatile memory location, and in response to returning to the powered-on state from a reduced-power state, to read the one or more settings from the non-volatile memory location.