Memory Partition Depth Configuration via Interface Segmentation

Solution Overview

Problem

Manufacturers face challenges in selling processors with reduced memory capabilities due to manufacturing defects or operational block disabilities, as these do not appreciably affect performance but complicate memory subsystems in computing devices.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves disabling one or more memory interfaces with defects and enabling others, coupling additional memory devices to support different memory depths on partitions, using a memory map table to map physical address ranges to corresponding memory interfaces with offsets, allowing for efficient access to varying memory capacities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If one or more memory interfaces are disabled due to manufacturing defects, then fabrication yield is improved, but memory capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefabrication yieldVSAvoidmemory capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The memory system is divided into multiple independent partitions, each accessible through separate memory interfaces. When a defect is detected in one interface, only that specific partition becomes inaccessible while other partitions remain fully functional. This segmentation allows the system to maintain partial memory capacity rather than failing completely, thereby improving fabrication yield by enabling sale of processors with reduced but non-zero memory capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the operational parameters by disabling specific memory interfaces based on detected defects. The memory subsystem adapts its configuration to match the actual functional capacity of the processor, allowing it to be sold as a lower-capacity version rather than discarding it entirely. This parameter change transforms a defective high-capacity processor into a functional lower-capacity processor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If additional memory devices are coupled to support different memory depths on partitions, then memory capacity is increased, but device complexity is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvememory capacityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The memory system is divided into multiple independent partitions, each accessible through separate memory interfaces. When a defect is detected in one interface, only that specific partition becomes inaccessible while other partitions remain fully functional. This segmentation allows the system to maintain partial memory capacity rather than failing completely, thereby improving fabrication yield by enabling sale of processors with reduced but non-zero memory capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the operational parameters by disabling specific memory interfaces based on detected defects. The memory subsystem adapts its configuration to match the actual functional capacity of the processor, allowing it to be sold as a lower-capacity version rather than discarding it entirely. This parameter change transforms a defective high-capacity processor into a functional lower-capacity processor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9477597B2Techniques for different memory depths on different partitions

Publication Date: 2016.10.25 NVIDIA CORP

AI summary

Embodiments of the present technology are directed toward techniques for enabling different memory partitions to have different memory depths.