Storage Controller Read Path Using Threshold Distribution Offsets

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Solution Overview

Problem

The reliability of non-volatile memory devices is compromised due to changes in threshold voltage distribution caused by factors like retention time and hot-carrier injection, leading to increased I/O load and latency in conventional storage controllers.

Innovation Solution

A storage controller method that receives read data and threshold voltage distribution information together, allowing for continuous error detection and updating of offset information in a history table to optimize read operations and reduce internal I/O load.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the storage controller separately reads distribution information to check reliability, then the reliability monitoring is improved, but the I/O load and latency increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability monitoringVSAvoidI/O latency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the reading of distribution information and read data into a single I/O operation. The non-volatile memory device simultaneously outputs both the distribution information (for reliability checking) and the actual read data to the storage controller, eliminating the need for separate read operations and reducing I/O latency while maintaining reliability monitoring capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If the storage controller performs error detection and offset updating separately, then the error correction reliability is improved, but the processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror correction reliabilityVSAvoidprocessing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous error detection and offset updating by processing distribution information as it arrives alongside read data. The storage controller continuously monitors the distribution information to detect errors and updates offset values in real-time without interrupting the data processing flow, maintaining high processing speed while ensuring error correction reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP4310847B1Storage controller
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4310847B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4310847B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4310847B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a method of operating a storage controller which communicates with a non-volatile memory device. The method includes providing a read command to the non-volatile memory device, receiving first read data and first distribution information corresponding to the read command from the non-volatile memory device, determining whether an error of the first read data is uncorrectable, and updating offset information of a history table in the storage controller based on the first distribution information, in response to determining that the error of the first read data is correctable.