Mirrored Memory Channel Bonding for Data Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory systems face challenges in maintaining data integrity and performance due to the need for redundancy, as storing redundant data reduces available space in the memory cell array.
Innovation Solution
A memory system with a mirroring mode that shares commands, addresses, and data between multiple channels, allowing data to be written simultaneously across multiple memory devices, even if some channels become damaged, using a mirroring mode circuit and BIST functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is stored redundantly in multiple banks to maintain data integrity, then reliability is improved, but the available space for storing new data decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple memory channels into a single logical storage unit through channel bonding. Multiple physical channels are combined to form one logical channel, allowing data to be stored across multiple banks while presenting a unified storage space to the controller. This resolves the contradiction by enabling redundancy at the physical level while maintaining full storage capacity at the logical level.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the memory system into multiple independent channels that can be individually managed. Each channel operates independently with its own memory banks, allowing selective use of undamaged channels while maintaining overall system functionality. This segmentation enables redundancy without sacrificing storage capacity.
2Reliability
If the same data is stored in several banks to provide redundancy, then data integrity is improved, but performance of the memory system decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic channel bonding where the system can adaptively select and activate specific channels based on their operational status. When channels are damaged, the system dynamically reconfigures to use only healthy channels, maintaining performance while ensuring data integrity through the bonding mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel bonding mechanism serves multiple functions: it provides data redundancy, enables dynamic failover, and maintains full storage capacity. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve data integrity without the performance penalty of traditional redundancy schemes.
3Reliability
If multiple channels are used for data storage, then data integrity through undamaged channels is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a channel bonding mechanism as an intermediary layer between the physical memory channels and the controller. This bonding layer abstracts the complexity of managing multiple channels, presenting a simplified interface to the controller while handling the complexity of channel selection, status monitoring, and data routing internally.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel bonding mechanism operates autonomously, automatically detecting channel status, selecting healthy channels, and managing data routing without requiring complex external control. This self-service capability reduces the overall system complexity by eliminating the need for sophisticated external channel management logic.
Data Source
AI summary
A memory system includes a plurality of stacked memory dies. Each of the plurality of memory dies includes a first memory device connected to a first channel and a second memory device connected to a second channel. In a mirroring mode, when the first memory device performs a first write operation on write data, the second memory device performs a second write operation on the write data.