Selective Access Protocol for Grouped Memory Dies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory devices lack efficient mechanisms for selective access to individual memory dies within a group, leading to unnecessary operations and resource wastage, as all memory dies in a group share a common command/address channel, causing all dies to respond to commands intended for only one or a subset of them.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a select die access protocol that allows enabling or disabling specific memory dies within a group through commands transmitted via the shared CA channel, enabling only the intended memory dies to perform operations while others ignore or mask the commands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If all memory dies in a group share a common command/address channel for simplified architecture, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity deteriorates due to unnecessary operations on non-target dies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the group of memory dies by introducing a die group identifier that divides the dies into distinguishable subsets. Each die can be individually addressed within the group context, allowing selective access to specific dies while maintaining the shared CA channel architecture. This segmentation enables the system to treat multiple dies as separate addressable units without requiring separate physical channels for each die.
2Ease of operation
If all memory dies respond to commands on the shared CA channel, then ease of operation is improved with uniform command handling, but loss of time increases due to unnecessary operations on non-target dies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling different operational states for different memory dies within the same group. Through the die group identifier and selective enablement mechanism, specific dies can be placed in enabled states while others remain disabled, allowing commands to be effectively targeted to only the intended dies. This creates local differentiation in command responsiveness without changing the global command interface.
3Productivity
If selective access to individual memory dies is implemented, then productivity is improved by reducing unnecessary operations, but device complexity increases due to additional control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by designing the die group identifier mechanism to serve multiple functions simultaneously. The same identifier system is used for both grouping memory dies and for selective enablement/control. The command interface remains universal, handling both enabled and disabled dies through the same protocol, while the die group identifier provides the discrimination needed for selective access. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated control circuits for each die.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for selective access for grouped memory dies are described. A memory device may be configured with a select die access protocol for a group of memory dies that share a same channel. The protocol may be enabled by one or more commands from the host device, which may be communicated to each of the memory dies of the group via the channel. The command(s) may indicate a first set of one or more memory dies of the group for which a set of commands may be enabled and may also indicate a second set of one or more memory dies of the group for which at least a subset of the set of commands is disabled. When the select die access mode is enabled, the disabled memory dies may be restricted from performing the subset of commands received via the channel.