Polarity-Based ECC for Non-Volatile Memory Imprint Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Error correction coding in non-volatile memory and communication systems faces challenges such as the 'imprint' effect in destructive read operations and high bus power consumption due to continuous write-backs and limited valid code words, which affect data reliability and power efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of polarity-based error correction codes (PBECC) that allow for invertible code words while maintaining error correction capabilities, incorporating polarity indicators within the ECC encoded data to ensure data, parity, and polarity indicators are all correctable within a certain number of errors, and using non-uniform modified ECC codes to reduce the 'imprint' effect and minimize bus power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If error correction coding is applied to non-volatile memory with destructive read operations, then data reliability is improved, but continuous write-backs cause imprint effect and increase power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional error correction approach by using code words that are their own inverses (self-inverse code words). When data is read from non-volatile memory, instead of writing back the same value causing imprint effect, the system writes back the inverted version. For self-inverse code words, the inverted value is equivalent to the original value after error correction, thus maintaining data reliability while eliminating the harmful imprint effect from continuous write-backs
2Reliability
If traditional error correction coding is used, then data correction capability is maintained, but limited valid code words restrict flexibility and increase bus power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of code word structure by selecting only self-inverse code words from the error correction code set. This parameter change (from general code words to self-inverse code words) maintains the error correction capability while dramatically increasing flexibility, as any data pattern can be encoded into a self-inverse code word form, enabling adaptability in data representation and reducing bus power consumption through optimized encoding
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to determine and apply polarity-based error correction code are disclosed. In some examples, the methods and apparatus create an array by setting a first set of bit locations of a code word to have a first value and setting a second set of bit locations of the code word to have a second value different from the first value. In some examples, when the array satisfies a parity check, the methods and apparatus determine that bit locations having the first value from the array form a polarity-based error correction code.