Memory Controller Data Relocation for Retention and Disturb Vulnerability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-volatile memory devices face data loss and corruption due to factors like charge decay, interference between cells, and repeated write/read operations, leading to reduced reliability and the need for power-consuming background operations to maintain data integrity.
Innovation Solution
A memory controller determines retention and disturb vulnerabilities for memory blocks, selects appropriate destination blocks based on data characteristics, and moves target data to minimize errors and improve reliability by reducing the need for power-intensive background operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If background operations are performed to ensure data integrity, then data reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The memory controller performs preliminary assessment of retention vulnerability and disturb vulnerability for each block before data relocation. By evaluating these vulnerability metrics in advance, the system can proactively identify blocks that require data migration to maintain data integrity, thereby reducing the need for continuous power-intensive background operations while ensuring reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality characteristics to different blocks by determining retention vulnerability and disturb vulnerability specific to each block. This localized assessment allows the system to treat each block according to its specific characteristics, relocating data only where necessary based on individual block vulnerability profiles, thus minimizing overall power consumption while maintaining data integrity.
2Reliability
If data relocation is performed to improve reliability, then error reduction is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The memory controller autonomously performs data relocation based on vulnerability assessments without requiring external intervention. The system self-manages the complexity of data migration by internally determining which blocks need relocation and executing the relocation process automatically, thereby improving reliability while containing the complexity within the controller's own operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors retention vulnerability and disturb vulnerability metrics, using this feedback to dynamically determine data relocation needs. This feedback mechanism allows the memory controller to adaptively manage data relocation based on real-time vulnerability assessments, reducing errors while managing complexity through intelligent, data-driven decision-making.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a memory system. The memory system may include a non-volatile memory device including a memory cell array that includes a plurality of blocks, and a memory controller electrically connected to the non-volatile memory device and configured to control the non-volatile memory device. The memory controller may be configured to determine a retention vulnerability and a disturb vulnerability for each of the plurality of blocks, determine data characteristics of target data for reclamation, select a destination block for moving the target data based on the data characteristics and at least one of the retention vulnerability or the disturb vulnerability, and control the non-volatile memory device to move the target data to the destination block.