Storage Device Buffer Management via Erase Time Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
The reliability of storage devices is compromised due to frequent erase operations in buffer areas, leading to potential errors in memory blocks, as the structural changes and high integration in semiconductor technology cause data damage and reduced reliability.
Innovation Solution
A storage device with a nonvolatile memory system that includes a controller determining the available buffer size based on the reuse time of memory blocks, allowing data to be written through a turbo write operation if the size does not exceed the available buffer size and directly into the user area if it exceeds, thereby preventing errors and improving reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If frequent erase operations are performed in buffer areas to enable high-speed data writing, then writing speed is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to errors in memory blocks
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs preliminary actions by checking the reuse time of memory blocks before allowing data writing. It determines whether a memory block has been erased sufficiently long ago (exceeds reference time) and prepares it for writing only when the condition is met, preventing premature writes that would cause errors
Solution Approach 2:
The controller implements feedback by continuously monitoring the reuse time of memory blocks and adjusting writing operations accordingly. It checks whether the elapsed time since the last erase operation exceeds a reference time threshold, and only permits writing when the feedback indicates the memory block is ready, thus preventing writes to unstable blocks
2Productivity
If the buffer area is used to temporarily store data for high-speed writing, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to frequent erase operations
Solution Approach 1:
Before utilizing the buffer area for high-speed data writing, the controller performs preliminary verification by checking whether the reuse time of each memory block exceeds the reference time. This preliminary action ensures that only stable, error-free buffer blocks are selected for productivity-critical operations
Solution Approach 2:
The controller uses feedback from reuse time monitoring to dynamically control buffer area utilization. It continuously assesses the stability of buffer blocks and adjusts writing operations accordingly, enabling high productivity only when feedback confirms sufficient time has elapsed since the last erase operation
Data Source
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AI summary
Described is a storage device which includes a nonvolatile memory device that includes a plurality of memory blocks, and a controller that uses some memory blocks of the plurality of memory blocks as a buffer area. Memory blocks storing invalid data from among the some memory blocks are invalid memory blocks, and the controller identifies memory blocks, of which an elapsed time after erase is greater than a reuse time, from among the invalid memory blocks as an available buffer size, and provides the available buffer size to an external host device.