Non-volatile Memory Device Selective Page Writing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing non-volatile memory devices in ink cartridges face issues with data corruption due to communication errors during writing, particularly when only a portion of logical addresses within a physical page needs to be rewritten, requiring transmission of data for all logical addresses in a physical page unit.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a non-volatile memory device with a control unit that manages two memory regions, each configured as physical pages, allowing batch erasing and writing, and selectively choosing pages for writing and reading based on logical addresses, reducing data corruption by using dummy data for non-target addresses and enabling efficient data handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If data is written by physical page unit, then batch erasing and writing can be performed efficiently, but when only a portion of logical addresses needs to be rewritten, all data in the physical page must be transmitted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebatch erasing and writing efficiencyVSAvoidamount of data to be transmitted

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The physical page is divided into multiple logical address regions, allowing selective identification and processing of only the specific logical addresses that need to be rewritten, rather than treating the entire physical page as a single unit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of transmitting and writing all data in a physical page, the system transmits only the specific portions corresponding to the logical addresses that need to be updated, performing partial action to reduce unnecessary data transmission

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If data is transmitted for all logical addresses in a physical page, then complete data coverage is ensured, but data corruption risk increases during writing operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoiddata corruption risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful element of transmitting unnecessary data is extracted and removed from the system. Only the specific logical addresses requiring updates are identified and transmitted, eliminating the risk of corrupting data in addresses that don't need modification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The potential harm of batch writing operations is converted into a benefit by using the batch mechanism only for the specific logical addresses that need updating, rather than forcing all-address updates. This transforms the batch operation from a source of potential corruption into an efficiency-enhancing feature

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS8625386B2Non-volatile memory device, circuit board, printing material container and printer

Publication Date: 2014.01.07 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A non-volatile memory device includes first and second memory regions to store data and a memory control unit. Each of the first and second memory regions is configured by a plurality of physical pages. Each of the physical pages is configured by a plurality of regions corresponding to a plurality of logical addresses. The memory control unit performs control of batch erasing and batch writing on every physical page. When a first physical page in the first memory region includes a first region corresponding to a first logical address, which is a target to be written, and when a second physical page in the second memory region includes a second region corresponding to the first logical address, which is a target to be written, the memory control unit selects either the first physical page or the second physical page as a physical page for writing.