Segmented Memory Refresh Control for Power and Data Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory systems lack the ability to efficiently vary refresh rates on a per-segment basis, leading to inefficient power usage and potential data errors due to uniform refresh operations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a memory device with non-uniform refresh rates based on per-segment values and error criteria, allowing for varying refresh rates to tighten or loosen read data errors, thereby optimizing power consumption and data integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If uniform refresh rates are applied to all memory segments, then data reliability is maintained across all segments, but power consumption increases due to unnecessary refresh operations on low-error segments
Solution Approach 1:
The memory array is divided into multiple segments, each with independently controllable refresh rates. The refresh controller applies different refresh rates to different segments based on their individual error characteristics, allowing low-error segments to use reduced refresh rates while maintaining data reliability in high-error segments.
Solution Approach 2:
Each memory segment is assigned a specific refresh rate tailored to its local error characteristics. Segments with lower error rates receive reduced refresh rates, while segments with higher error rates maintain higher refresh rates, optimizing the balance between data reliability and power consumption at the local level.
2Use of energy by moving object
If refresh rates are reduced to save power, then power consumption decreases, but data errors increase due to insufficient refresh operations
Solution Approach 1:
The refresh rates are made dynamic and adjustable based on measured error rates. The system continuously monitors errors in each segment and adjusts refresh rates accordingly, allowing the refresh policy to adapt to changing conditions and maintain data reliability while optimizing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The refresh rate parameter is changed for each segment based on its error characteristics. By varying the refresh rate parameter according to measured error rates, the system achieves power savings in low-error segments while maintaining adequate refresh rates in high-error segments to prevent data errors.
3Use of energy by moving object
If per-segment refresh rate control is implemented, then power efficiency improves through targeted refresh operations, but device complexity increases due to additional control logic and monitoring requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The memory system performs self-diagnosis by monitoring errors in each segment and automatically adjusting refresh rates without external intervention. The refresh controller reads error counts from each segment and autonomously determines appropriate refresh rates, reducing the need for complex external control logic while achieving power efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where error rates from each segment are continuously monitored and used to adjust refresh rates. This closed-loop control allows the system to automatically optimize power efficiency based on actual error conditions, with the feedback mechanism managing the complexity of per-segment control internally.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit memory device is disclosed. The memory device includes an array of storage cells configured into multiple banks. Each bank includes multiple segments. Register storage stores per-segment values representing per-segment refresh parameters. Refresh logic refreshes each segment in accordance with the corresponding per-segment value.