Non-Volatile Memory Temperature Management via Dynamic Selection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Non-volatile semiconductor memories in memory systems generate heat during operation, leading to temperature management challenges that existing technologies have not adequately addressed, potentially causing processing rate instability and overheating.
Innovation Solution
A memory system with integrated temperature sensors and a controller that maintains temperature increase and reference values for each non-volatile memory, selectively accessing memories based on current temperature and temperature increase to prevent overheating, using ambient temperature measurements for dynamic throttling and job prioritization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If non-volatile memories continuously operate to maintain high processing rate, then productivity is improved, but temperature increases leading to overheating and system shutdown
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic temperature-based memory selection where the controller continuously monitors temperature of multiple non-volatile memories and dynamically switches between them based on current temperature conditions. This allows the system to maintain high processing rates by transitioning to cooler memories while preventing overheating through temperature-aware operation scheduling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a temperature recovery mechanism where overheated memories are temporarily taken out of service (discarded from active operation) until they cool down to acceptable temperature ranges. During this recovery period, other cooler memories handle the workload, allowing the overheated memory to reset and become available again for future operations.
2Stability of the object's composition
If temperature management is implemented through continuous monitoring and throttling, then temperature stability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the temperature management function into separate modular components: temperature sensors attached to individual memories, a dedicated temperature monitoring module in the controller, and a memory selection mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to handle specific tasks independently, simplifying the overall system architecture while achieving stable temperature control through coordinated operation of these modular elements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively stabilizes the processing rate by preventing temperature from reaching critical levels, reducing the likelihood of system shutdowns and maintaining consistent performance through intelligent temperature management and job scheduling.
Implementation Method 1
one or more temperature sensors each of which is disposed in or adjacent to one of the non-volatile memories
Data Source
AI summary
A memory system includes a plurality of non-volatile memories, one or more temperature sensors each of which is disposed in or adjacent to one of the non-volatile memories, and a controller. The controller is configured to maintain a temperature increase amount and a reference temperature for each of the non-volatile memories, and select one of the non-volatile memories having a pending command as a next memory to be accessed based on a current temperature, the temperature increase amount, and the reference temperature of the selected non-volatile memory, and access the selected non-volatile memory to perform the pending command.