Multiple Engine Sequencer for Memory Interface Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Memory devices face significant delays, such as data latency, due to serially executed operations in memory interfaces, which reduce overall performance and hinder the achievement of higher operating speeds and greater storage capacity.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a multiple engine sequencer within the memory interface, allowing for concurrent execution of operations across multiple sequencer engines, such as the Flow Control, Sequencer RAM, Sequencer Crossbar, Sequencer Read Pipe, and Sequencer ONFI engines, to perform memory operations in parallel, thereby reducing data latency and 'dead cycles'.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If operations are executed serially in the memory interface, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is maintained, but data latency and operational delays accumulate, reducing productivity and speed
Solution Approach 1:
The sequencer is divided into multiple independent engines (first sequencer engine, second sequencer engine, third sequencer engine, fourth sequencer engine) that can execute operations in parallel. Each engine handles specific tasks such as command generation, address generation, data transfer control, and status monitoring, allowing simultaneous execution of memory operations and reducing cumulative delays
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from single-threaded sequential execution to multi-threaded parallel execution by introducing multiple sequencer engines that operate simultaneously across different time periods. This dimensional change from 1D (sequential) to 4D (parallel multi-engine) execution space enables overlapping of operations to eliminate dead cycles
2Loss of time
If multiple sequencer engines execute operations in parallel, then data latency and dead cycles are reduced, but the device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sequencer is divided into four specialized engines: first sequencer engine for command generation, second for address generation, third for data transfer control, and fourth for status monitoring. Each engine operates independently on specific tasks, enabling parallel execution that reduces data latency by eliminating dead cycles while maintaining manageable complexity through functional specialization
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple operations are initiated in advance by different sequencer engines before previous operations complete. The first engine generates commands while the second generates addresses simultaneously, and data transfer control is prepared beforehand, allowing operations to overlap in time and reducing the cumulative delay effect
Data Source
AI summary
Multiple engine sequencers in memory interfaces are disclosed. Individual sequencer engines of multiple engine sequencers perform at least portions of their respective operations in parallel with other individual sequencer engine operations performed in the memory interface. In at least one embodiment, sequencer engine operations are performed at least partially concurrently with other sequencer engine operations in the memory interface.