Memory Soft-Data Compression for Lower-Power Controller Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current memory systems face complexity and performance reduction, leading to inefficient data processing and storage, particularly in the transfer of soft data between memory devices and controllers, which results in high power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A memory system that employs a compressor to encode soft data using variable length encoding, selecting appropriate compression tables based on error rate information and soft read voltage to generate compressed data, improving data transfer efficiency and reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If soft data is transferred without compression, then data transfer simplicity is maintained, but data transfer efficiency is reduced and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and processes only the significant portions of soft data (major symbols and their repetitions) while compressing minor symbols, thereby reducing the amount of data transferred and lowering power consumption without losing essential information for error correction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the representation parameters of soft data by applying variable-length encoding based on symbol frequency, where major symbols (high frequency) are encoded with shorter codes and minor symbols (low frequency) with longer codes, optimizing the balance between data transfer efficiency and power consumption
2Productivity
If compression is applied to all soft data, then data transfer efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different compression strategies to different portions of soft data: major symbols (high frequency) receive aggressive compression with shorter codes, while minor symbols (low frequency) receive less compression with longer codes, optimizing the overall system by treating different data portions with appropriate quality levels
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic compression where the encoding scheme adapts based on the actual frequency distribution of symbols in the soft data, allowing the system to adjust compression ratios in real-time based on data characteristics rather than using a fixed compression approach
3Productivity
If variable length encoding is used, then data transfer efficiency is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary analysis of symbol frequency distribution in soft data before compression, pre-determining which symbols are major and which are minor, and pre-establishing the variable-length encoding scheme based on this analysis, thereby simplifying the actual compression process and reducing precision requirements during data transfer
Data Source
AI summary
A memory device includes: a plurality of memory cells; soft read logic configured to generate soft data by reading data from the plurality of memory cells in response to a soft read command from a controller, the soft data including at least a major symbol and at least a minor symbol; a compressor configured to generate compressed data by: encoding, into a code alphabet having a second length, a major source alphabet including repetitions of the major symbol by a first length among a plurality of source alphabets included in the soft data, and encoding, into a code alphabet having a longer length than the second length, a minor source alphabet including repetitions of the major symbol by a shorter length than the first length and ending with one minor symbol; and an interface configured to provide the compressed data to the controller.