NAND Flash Memory Page Segmentation for Random Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional NAND flash memory allows only consecutive page access, which is inflexible and inefficient for applications requiring random access, limiting its use in consumer and industrial applications where NOR flash memory's random-access capabilities are needed.
Innovation Solution
A memory device and read method that enables pseudo or small range random-access by dividing physical pages into acquisition-units, allowing data to be read in smaller units through a control logic that manages NAND flash memory operations, mimicking NOR flash memory's random-access capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional NAND flash memory architecture is used, then high capacity data storage is achieved, but only consecutive page access is allowed which limits random access capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a physical page into multiple acquisition units (e.g., 8 units per page). The control logic can selectively read specific acquisition units within a page based on host requests, enabling random access to smaller data units without requiring reading of entire pages. This segmentation allows NAND flash to provide fine-grained access similar to NOR flash while maintaining its high storage capacity.
2Device complexity
If conventional NAND flash memory control mechanism is used, then simple control logic is maintained, but only consecutive page access is supported which reduces operational flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The control logic is designed to dynamically adapt between consecutive page access mode and random acquisition unit access mode. Based on host device requests, the control logic can switch between reading entire pages sequentially and reading specific acquisition units randomly, providing operational flexibility while maintaining a relatively simple control structure.
3Ease of operation
If data is read in entire page units, then simple read operation is performed, but read efficiency for small data requests is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary acquisition units from a page based on host device requests. Instead of reading entire pages, the control logic identifies and reads only the specific acquisition units containing the requested data, significantly improving read efficiency for small data requests while keeping the read operation mechanism relatively simple.
Data Source
AI summary
A memory device, an electronic device, and associated read method are provided. The electronic device includes the memory device and a host device, which are electrically connected to each other. The memory device includes a NAND flash memory and a control logic. The NAND flash memory includes a first physical page, and the first physical page includes a plurality of first acquisition-units. The control logic is electrically connected to the NAND flash memory. The control logic receives a first-page address corresponding to the first physical page from a host device during a first page-read duration. Data stored at the plurality of first acquisition-units are respectively transferred to the host device during a second page-read duration.