Solid-State Memory Device with Controller Core for Unified Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern hard disk drives face issues with reliability due to moving parts, heat generation, noise, and inefficiencies in solid-state drives, which lack low-cost capacity to replace hard disk drives effectively, and existing storage solutions are prone to data loss.

Innovation Solution

A solid-state memory device that combines multiple removable memory cards to emulate a USB mass storage device or SATA hard disk drive, using a controller core to present a unified non-volatile storage unit with a total capacity equal to the sum of individual card capacities, featuring a physical port, interface controller, serial peripheral interface, and memory card connectors, allowing for efficient data storage and access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If hard disk drives are used, then storage capacity is provided, but reliability deteriorates due to moving parts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidreliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical hard disk drive system with a solid-state memory device that uses flash memory cards without moving parts. The controller manages multiple flash memory cards to provide storage capacity while eliminating mechanical components that cause reliability issues, heat generation, and noise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If solid-state drives are used, then reliability is improved, but cost and capacity effectiveness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidlow-cost capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the storage system into multiple affordable flash memory cards that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation enables the use of cost-effective memory components while achieving high total capacity through parallel configuration of multiple cards managed by the controller.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple flash memory cards into a single unified storage device that presents a combined capacity to the host system. The controller aggregates the capacity of individual memory cards to provide high-cost-effectiveness while maintaining solid-state reliability, effectively replacing expensive single-unit SSDs with affordable multi-card configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Quantity of substance

If multiple storage devices are collated, then capacity is increased, but data loss risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetotal capacityVSAvoiddata loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The controller continuously monitors the status of all connected flash memory cards and implements feedback mechanisms to track data integrity and device health. This enables real-time detection of errors or failures and allows the system to maintain data safety through coordinated management of multiple storage units.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9177654B2Solid-state memory device with plurality of memory cards

Publication Date: 2015.11.03 CSC DATA TECH LTD

AI summary

A solid-state memory device includes a physical port, an interface controller connected to the physical port, a serial peripheral interface, and a plurality of memory card sticks connected to the serial peripheral interface. Each memory card stick has a plurality of memory cards. The solid-state memory device further includes a controller core connected between the interface controller and the serial peripheral interface. The controller core is configured to present to a host connected at the physical connector a single non-volatile storage unit with a total capacity substantially equal to a sum of capacities of the plurality of memory card sticks.