Power Loss Protection Timer for Data Storage Core Dump
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data storage devices face challenges in efficiently transferring data during power loss interrupt events, particularly due to complex power loss protection procedures and limited time for debugging in case of sudden power loss.
Innovation Solution
A power loss protection method that initiates a timer to monitor the progress of data transfer operations, allowing for a first data transfer of a larger amount if the procedure reaches a predetermined progress level, or switching to a second, smaller data transfer if the level is not reached, ensuring data integrity and enabling a mini core dump for debugging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a full data transfer operation is initiated upon power loss interrupt, then data integrity is improved, but the time required for completion increases beyond available power budget
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data transfer operation into two distinct phases: a first data transfer operation that transfers a first amount of data, and a second data transfer operation that transfers a second amount of data. This segmentation allows the system to attempt comprehensive data protection while having a fallback mechanism that consumes less time and power, directly resolving the contradiction between complete data integrity and limited power budget time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by conditionally executing either a full data transfer (first amount of data) or a reduced data transfer (second amount of data less than the first amount) based on timer monitoring. This allows the system to perform excessive action (complete transfer) when time permits, but switch to partial action (reduced transfer) when the power budget is approaching exhaustion, thereby resolving the contradiction between complete data protection and time constraints.
2Reliability
If a timer monitoring mechanism is added to track power loss protection progress, then data transfer reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by initiating a timer before the data transfer operation begins. This timer is configured to generate an indication when a predetermined amount of time has elapsed, allowing the system to proactively monitor progress and make decisions about whether to continue or abort the transfer before power is completely lost. This preliminary timing mechanism improves reliability without requiring complex real-time decision-making logic during the actual transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through the timer that continuously monitors the progress of the power loss protection procedure and provides indications back to the control logic. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adjust its behavior based on elapsed time, improving the reliability of the power loss protection while keeping the control logic relatively simple through standardized feedback signals rather than complex monitoring algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a power loss protection method. In some implementations, the method includes initiating a timer to indicate a progress of a power loss protection procedure that performs a data transfer upon occurrence of a power loss interrupt event, initiating a first data transfer operation to transfer a first amount of data to a memory device, and upon an indication by the timer that the power loss protection procedure has reached a predetermined progress level, continuing the first data transfer operation until the first amount of data is transferred to the memory device, or upon an indication by the timer that the power loss protection procedure has failed to reach the predetermined progress level, discontinuing the first data transfer operation and performing a second data transfer operation to transfer a second amount of data to the memory device, wherein the second amount is less than the first amount.