Memory Firmware Storage Using SLC Compression and MLC Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Memory systems face limitations in capacity and efficiency during manufacturing due to the small capacity of single-level cells (SLCs) and the time-consuming process of programming firmware images, which affects manufacturing efficiency and data retention.
Innovation Solution
A memory system is configured to receive compressed data during manufacturing, storing it in SLCs and decompressing it later in multiple-level cells (MLCs) upon entering operational mode, using a bitmap to manage data relationships and leveraging concurrent processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If compressed data is stored in SLCs during manufacturing, then data retention is improved, but storage capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage process into two distinct phases: manufacturing phase using SLCs for compressed data storage, and operational phase using MLCs for decompressed data storage. This segmentation allows each memory type to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between data retention reliability and storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary compression to data before storing it in SLCs during manufacturing. This preliminary action reduces the data size to fit within the limited SLC capacity while maintaining data integrity, and the decompression is performed later when transitioning to MLCs for operational use.
2Reliability
If firmware images are programmed during manufacturing, then data retention is improved, but manufacturing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs data compression as a preliminary action during manufacturing, which reduces the amount of data that needs to be programmed into SLCs. This preliminary compression significantly reduces programming time while ensuring data is properly prepared for long-term retention during storage and shipping.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the data parameter from decompressed to compressed form during manufacturing. This parameter change reduces the data volume by a significant factor, allowing firmware images to be programmed much faster into SLCs while maintaining the ability to retrieve and decompress the full data later.
3Loss of time
If data is compressed before storage, then data transfer time is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs data compression as a preliminary action outside the memory device, during the manufacturing process. This eliminates the need for complex compression hardware within the memory device itself, reducing device complexity while still achieving the benefit of reduced data transfer time during manufacturing programming.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an external compression intermediary process during manufacturing that prepares data before it enters the memory device. This intermediary compression step reduces the data volume that needs to be transferred and programmed, while the memory device itself remains relatively simple without requiring integrated compression functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for data storage and decompression in a memory system are described. The described techniques provide for a memory system to store compressed data during a manufacturing stage according to a first write configuration and store decompressed data according to a second write configuration. The first write configuration may be associated with writing to a set of single-level cells (SLCs) as part of a pre-programming operation and the second write configuration may be associated with writing to a set of multiple-level cells when the memory system enters an operational mode. In some cases, the compressed data may include a bitmap indicating a relationship between one or more symbols each representing a sequence of bits and a respective set of one or more locations within the data.