MLC Flash Memory Tokens for Power-Loss Data Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multi-level cell (MLC) flash memory arrays face instability in stored data due to power interruptions, leading to unintended modifications and data corruption, especially when programming upper and lower levels are incomplete.

Innovation Solution

Implementing tokens, originated by both host and memory device, to indicate the completion of data storage, ensuring that data has been safely programmed across all levels without the need for backup storage components, thereby reducing unnecessary data retries and power loss protection operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If multi-level cell flash memory arrays are used to increase storage density, then memory capacity is improved, but data stability deteriorates due to power interruptions causing unintended modifications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvememory capacityVSAvoiddata stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by completing lower level programming before upper level programming, and by establishing tokens that verify completion status. The host device receives completion indicators from the memory device, allowing the system to ensure stable data storage before proceeding to higher levels or power management operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If power loss protection operations are implemented to prevent data corruption, then data stability is improved, but device complexity and operational overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata stabilityVSAvoidoperational overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the memory device sends completion indicators to the host device after programming operations. Tokens are used to communicate the completion status of lower and upper level programming, allowing the host to verify data stability without requiring complex continuous monitoring or redundant backup operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If data storage completion verification is performed to ensure data stability, then reliability is improved, but bandwidth usage and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata stabilityVSAvoidverification time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts essential verification information into discrete tokens that indicate completion status. Rather than continuously verifying data integrity through bandwidth-intensive operations, the system uses these extracted completion indicators to confirm data stability, significantly reducing the time and bandwidth required for verification while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS20250284639A1Tokens to indicate completion of data storage

Publication Date: 2025.09.11 LODESTAR LICENSING GROUP LLC

AI summary

Systems, apparatuses, and methods related to tokens to indicate completion of data storage to memory are described. An example method may include storing a number of data values by a first page in a first row of an array of memory cells responsive to receipt of a first command from a host, where the first command is associated with an open transaction token, and receiving a second command from the host to store a number of data values by a second page in the first row. The method may further include sending a safety token to the host to indicate completion of storing the number of data values by the second page in the first row.