Power Supply Voltage Segmentation for RAM Data Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current RAM modules with non-volatile memory components require dedicated power sources like batteries or supercapacitors, increasing production costs and occupying valuable storage slots, while existing power management systems do not efficiently handle power events to ensure data integrity and crash recovery.
Innovation Solution
A power supply system that provides distinct output voltages to RAM modules and system components, detects power events, sends a signal to initiate data saving to non-volatile memory, and ceases the secondary voltage while maintaining the primary voltage to facilitate the save operation, eliminating the need for dedicated power sources in RAM modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated power sources (batteries or supercapacitors) are housed in RAM modules, then data retention capability is improved, but production cost increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the power supply function with the existing system power infrastructure. Instead of having separate power sources in RAM modules, the system power supply provides power to both volatile and non-volatile memory components through a unified power delivery system, eliminating the need for duplicate power sources while maintaining data retention capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system power supply is designed to serve multiple functions: powering the volatile memory during normal operation and providing backup power to non-volatile memory during power events. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for dedicated power sources in RAM modules while maintaining data retention capability
2Reliability
If dedicated power sources are housed in RAM modules, then data retention capability is improved, but storage slots are occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the power delivery function with the existing system power infrastructure, eliminating the need for separate power source housing in RAM modules. This frees up storage slots for other purposes while maintaining data retention capability through the unified power supply system
3Loss of energy
If power is ceased to system components during power events, then energy efficiency is improved, but data saving operation may be interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power delivery into two distinct channels: one for system components and one for RAM modules with non-volatile memory. During power events, the system can cease power to non-critical components while maintaining power delivery to RAM modules to ensure data saving operations complete successfully
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply detects power events and initiates a signal to RAM modules to begin data saving operations to non-volatile memory before completely ceasing power. This preliminary action ensures data integrity is maintained while achieving energy efficiency by powering down other components
Data Source
AI summary
Powering random access memory (RAM) modules with non-volatile memory components may include providing, by a power supply, a first output voltage to one or more RAM modules, each RAM module of the one or more RAM modules comprising a volatile memory component and a non-volatile memory component; providing, by the power supply, a second output voltage to one or more system components distinct from the one or more RAM modules; detecting a power event; sending, by the power supply, in response to detecting the power event, a signal to the one or more RAM modules to initiate a save operation, wherein the save operation comprises storing, for each of the one or more RAM modules, data from the volatile memory component to the non-volatile memory component; and ceasing, by the power supply, the second output voltage while maintaining the first output voltage to facilitate the save operation.