Bidirectional Error Correction Circuit With Priority Codeword Decoding

Solution Overview

Problem

Current error correction circuits in data storage devices face challenges in enhancing error correction capability while minimizing the time required for error correction operations, which affects data reliability and operational performance.

Innovation Solution

An error correction circuit that includes a control unit and a decoder, which calculates reference values based on correction capability values for different directions and prioritizes decoding operations, selecting codewords from the direction with a higher likelihood of successful decoding to efficiently correct errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If error correction capability is enhanced by performing decoding operations on all codewords in both directions, then error correction capability is improved, but time required for error correction operation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror correction capabilityVSAvoidtime required for error correction operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the decoding process into two distinct phases: a first direction decoding phase and a second direction decoding phase. The control unit performs decoding operations on codewords in the first direction first, and only performs decoding operations on codewords in the second direction when errors are detected that cannot be corrected by the first direction alone. This segmentation reduces the total number of decoding operations performed, thereby reducing time consumption while maintaining error correction capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by performing complete decoding operations in the first direction for all codewords, but only performing partial decoding operations in the second direction - specifically, only on codewords where errors are detected that exceed the correction capability of the first direction. This partial action approach avoids the excessive time consumption of performing full bidirectional decoding on all codewords while still achieving adequate error correction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If decoding operations are performed on all codewords in both first and second directions, then comprehensive error correction is achieved, but operational performance deteriorates due to increased processing time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror correction capabilityVSAvoidoperational performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the decoding process into two distinct phases: a first direction decoding phase and a second direction decoding phase. The control unit performs decoding operations on codewords in the first direction first, and only performs decoding operations on codewords in the second direction when errors are detected that cannot be corrected by the first direction alone. This segmentation reduces the total number of decoding operations performed, thereby reducing time consumption while maintaining error correction capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by performing complete decoding operations in the first direction for all codewords, but only performing partial decoding operations in the second direction - specifically, only on codewords where errors are detected that exceed the correction capability of the first direction. This partial action approach avoids the excessive time consumption of performing full bidirectional decoding on all codewords while still achieving adequate error correction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS10374638B2Error correction circuit, operating method thereof and data storage device including the same

Publication Date: 2019.08.06 SK HYNIX INC

AI summary

An error correction circuit includes a control unit suitable for receiving a data chunk including a plurality of data blocks, each of the data blocks being included in a corresponding codeword of a first direction and a corresponding codeword of a second direction; and a decoder suitable for performing a decoding operation on a codeword, which is selected by the control unit, in the data chunk, wherein the control unit calculates a first reference value by applying a correction capability value of the first direction to a flag of the first direction, calculates a second reference value by applying a correction capability value of the second direction to a flag of the second direction, selects a priority direction from the first direction and the second direction based on the first reference value and the second reference value, and preferentially selects codewords of the priority direction for decoding operations.