Memory Device Timing via Resistance Drift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing timing methods for electronic circuits face challenges in maintaining elapsed time measurement without continuous power supply, as interruptions or power loss result in lost tracking, and backup power sources like batteries can fail or deplete, leading to system failures.
Innovation Solution
A timing device and method utilizing a memory device with a processor that senses and calculates elapsed time by monitoring changes in electrical parameters such as resistance over time, allowing for power-free operation through predictable resistance drift patterns in phase change memory or floating gate memory, enabling accurate timekeeping even during power loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a timing circuit is used to measure elapsed time, then time measurement capability is provided, but continuous power supply is required which leads to power loss vulnerability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional electronic timing circuit (mechanical/electrical system) with a memory device that utilizes physical property changes (resistance drift, threshold voltage shift) to record elapsed time. This substitution eliminates the need for continuous power supply while maintaining time measurement capability, as the memory device passively accumulates time information through natural physical processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes changes in electrical parameters (resistance, threshold voltage) of the memory device as a function of time to measure elapsed time. By monitoring the drift of these parameters without active power supply, the system achieves reliable time measurement that is resistant to power loss events.
2Reliability
If a battery or capacitor is added to maintain timing during power loss, then power loss resistance is improved, but system complexity and additional power management requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the separate power supply components (battery, capacitor) from the timing system. Instead of adding these components to maintain power, the invention uses the memory device's inherent physical properties to passively record time, thereby reducing system complexity while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The memory device serves itself by utilizing its own physical property changes (resistance drift, threshold voltage shift) to measure and store time information. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external power management components, reducing system complexity while maintaining reliability during power loss.
3Measurement precision
If continuous power is supplied to the timing circuit, then time tracking accuracy is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous power supply, the system uses periodic sensing of the memory device's electrical parameters to retrieve time information. The actual time recording happens passively through continuous physical processes, while power is only consumed intermittently during reading operations, significantly reducing overall power consumption while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The memory device automatically and continuously accumulates time information through its own physical property changes without requiring external power. This self-service time accumulation mechanism maintains measurement precision while eliminating continuous power consumption, as the device uses its inherent physical processes to track time.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate measurement and resetting of elapsed time without continuous power, reducing system power consumption and minimizing disruptions from power loss events by using memory devices with predictable electrical parameter changes.
Implementation Method 1
power-free operation through predictable resistance drift patterns in phase change memory or floating gate memory
Implementation Method 2
monitoring changes in electrical parameters such as resistance over time
Data Source
AI summary
A timing device is provided. The timing device includes a memory device and a processor. The memory device has a first electrical parameter. The processor is configured to sense an initial value of a first electrical parameter of the memory device. The processor is configured to sense a first value of the first electrical parameter of the memory device after a first time period. And the processor is further configured to calculate the first time period according to the initial value of the first electrical parameter and the first value of the first electrical parameter.