SSD Sleep Mode Data Refresh via Environmental Logging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional storage solutions, such as hard disk drives and solid-state drives, consume excessive power and may lead to data corruption due to long idle periods, making them unsuitable for storing infrequently accessed data efficiently and reliably.
Innovation Solution
A solid-state drive (SSD) with flash memory and environmental data logging circuitry that operates in a sleep mode to reduce power consumption, using battery power to log environmental data and refresh data as needed based on erase cycles and temperature history to prevent corruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the SSD is kept running continuously to ensure rapid data access, then data accessibility is improved, but power consumption increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by cycling the SSD between sleep mode and active mode. The system periodically wakes the SSD from sleep mode to perform data refresh operations at predetermined intervals, then returns it to sleep mode. This periodic activation allows the SSD to maintain data integrity without continuous operation, resolving the contradiction between ensuring rapid access capability and reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the SSD's operational state changeable between sleep mode (low power) and active mode (high performance). The system dynamically adjusts the SSD's state based on refresh requirements, transitioning from a static continuous operation model to a dynamic state-changing model that optimizes both power consumption and data accessibility performance.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the SSD is shut off completely to reduce power consumption, then power efficiency is improved, but data corruption may occur due to long idle periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by performing data refresh operations before data corruption can occur. The system calculates predetermined refresh intervals based on environmental conditions and erase cycle counts, then proactively wakes the SSD to perform refresh operations at these intervals. This preliminary maintenance action prevents data corruption while allowing the SSD to remain in low-power sleep mode between refresh cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies feedback by continuously monitoring environmental conditions (temperature, humidity) and erase cycle counts to dynamically adjust refresh intervals. The system uses this feedback to optimize the balance between power savings and data reliability, adjusting the sleep-wake cycle timing based on actual degradation rates observed in the specific operating environment.
3Reliability
If the SSD is woken up frequently for data refresh to prevent corruption, then data reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by performing selective data refresh operations only when necessary, rather than continuous full operation. The system determines the minimum required refresh frequency based on environmental degradation rates and erase cycle counts, waking the SSD only for these essential partial refresh operations. This partial action approach maintains data reliability while minimizing the cumulative power consumption of frequent wake-ups.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for storing infrequently accessed data with reduced power consumption. In one embodiment, a solid state drive (SSD) includes flash memory and environmental data logging circuitry. The SSD is shut off or operated in a sleep mode to reduce power consumption, and turned on or transitioned to an active mode as needed when data on the SSD is to be accessed, or when a calculation, based on a number of erase cycles previously performed in the flash memory and on a temperature history of the SSD indicates that a data refresh may be needed to prevent data corruption in the SSD, due to data retention limitation of the nonvolatile memory in the SSD.