Multi-Die Memory Row Hammer Refresh with Centralized Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory devices face issues with charge leakage and data corruption due to row hammer attacks, which require additional memory space and power resources for monitoring and detecting access frequencies across multiple dies, leading to inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a single 'row hammer die' within a multi-die package to monitor and detect access frequencies, sending alert signals for refresh operations across all dies, thereby reducing the need for redundant monitoring and resource allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If monitoring and detection circuitry is implemented in each die to detect access frequencies, then row hammer attack detection capability is improved, but memory space and power resources are wasted due to redundant monitoring across multiple dies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates row hammer monitoring functionality into a single dedicated die within a multi-die package. This single die monitors access frequencies for all dies in the package, eliminating redundant monitoring circuitry in each individual die. The merged approach maintains comprehensive row hammer detection capability while reducing total memory space and power resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The single row hammer die performs universal monitoring functions for the entire multi-die package. It detects access frequencies across all dies and generates refresh operations that apply to the whole system. This multi-functional approach allows one die to serve multiple monitoring purposes, replacing what would otherwise require separate monitoring capabilities in each die.
2Reliability
If each die independently monitors and performs refresh operations, then local row hammer protection is improved, but device complexity and resource allocation increase due to redundant monitoring systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the monitoring and refresh generation functions into a single dedicated row hammer die. This consolidated architecture reduces device complexity by eliminating multiple independent monitoring systems while maintaining comprehensive protection across all dies through centralized monitoring and coordinated refresh operations.
3Reliability
If refresh operations are performed on all dies when one die detects row hammer conditions, then cross-die row hammer protection is improved, but processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single row hammer die acts as an intermediary that centralizes the detection and decision-making process. When it detects row hammer conditions, it generates refresh operations that are applied across all dies. This intermediary approach improves cross-die protection coordination while reducing overall processing overhead by consolidating the complex detection and decision logic in one location rather than distributing it across multiple dies.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatuses, and methods related to a row hammer refresh operation are described herein. An example apparatus can include an array of memory cells of a memory device. The array of memory cells can include a plurality of dies and at least one of the plurality of dies is a row hammer die. The example apparatus can include a memory controller coupled to the array of memory cells. The memory controller can perform a number of operations on the array of memory cells. The memory controller can detect a quantity of accesses associated with the row hammer die and based on the number of operations performed. The memory controller can, in response to detection of a threshold quantity of accesses of a group of memory cells in the row hammer die, perform a refresh operation on a group of memory cells in an additional die of the plurality of dies.