Multi-Protocol Data Storage Meta Blocks for Sustained Write Performance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-protocol data storage devices face performance drops when connected to hosts with different power and speed capabilities due to limitations in die parallelism and the inability to utilize suspend/resume features across varying protocol versions.
Innovation Solution
The controller forms smaller meta blocks for single-level cell (SLC) parity and control data, selecting meta blocks based on the current usage of triple-level cell (TLC) dies to ensure writes occur on the same die, maintaining high die parallelism without additional hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the data storage device uses large meta blocks for maximum die parallelism, then write performance is improved, but the device cannot utilize suspend/resume features across different protocol versions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the storage device into multiple meta blocks, each containing blocks from different subsets of memory dies. This segmentation allows the controller to selectively activate only the subset of memory dies needed for a given protocol version, enabling suspend/resume functionality while maintaining high write performance through optimized die parallelism.
2Speed
If the device activates all memory dies for maximum parallelism, then write speed increases, but power consumption increases and cannot be reduced for lower protocol versions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic activation of memory dies based on the detected host protocol version. The controller dynamically adjusts which memory dies are active and which are suspended, allowing the system to optimize both speed and power consumption according to the specific protocol requirements of the connected host.
3Device complexity
If the controller uses fixed meta block configuration, then device complexity is reduced, but sustained write performance drops when protocol requirements change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the configuration parameters of meta blocks based on protocol version. The controller adjusts meta block size, active die subsets, and parallelism levels dynamically. This parameter adaptation enables sustained high performance across different protocol versions without requiring complete redesign of the controller architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-protocol data storage device can be configured to be backwards compatible with multiple protocol versions. Each protocol version can have a different power requirement, which can result in the inability to power all of the memory dies. In some situations, it is desired to perform program operations on different meta blocks of memory. To help ensure that the program operations are performed on the same memory die when not all of the memory dies are powered, one of the program operations can be performed in a first meta block, and the other program operation can be performed in a selected smaller meta block that shares a powered memory die in common with the first meta block.