Data Storage Device Temperature-Driven Variable Capacity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data storage devices face performance issues due to temperature and power-state sensitivity, leading to reduced performance and potential throttling of host data when temperatures exceed a threshold, as flash memories are affected by environmental conditions, and existing systems lack effective mechanisms to manage these variations.
Innovation Solution
A data storage device with a controller that monitors temperature and power states, providing feedback to the host to reduce memory capacity temporarily by foregoing background operations like garbage collection, allowing the device to maintain performance and recover capacity when conditions improve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the data storage device maintains high performance operations, then the quality-of-service level is improved, but the temperature of the memory increases exceeding the threshold
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the storage capacity variable rather than fixed. The controller dynamically adjusts the effective capacity of the memory based on real-time temperature monitoring. When temperature exceeds the threshold, the system reduces effective capacity to allow cooling; when temperature decreases, capacity is restored. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between maintaining high performance and managing temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of effective capacity based on temperature conditions. The controller modifies the effective capacity parameter dynamically - reducing it when temperature is high and increasing it when temperature is low. This parameter change allows the system to trade off capacity for thermal management, resolving the contradiction between performance and temperature control.
2Temperature
If the data storage device reduces effective capacity to cool down, then the temperature is controlled, but the storage capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts effective capacity based on temperature conditions. When cooling is needed, capacity is reduced; when temperature decreases, capacity is restored. This dynamic behavior allows temporary capacity reduction for thermal management while maintaining the ability to recover capacity when conditions improve.
Solution Approach 2:
The system engages in periodic cycles of capacity reduction and restoration. As temperature fluctuates around the threshold, the effective capacity is periodically adjusted down when temperature rises and restored when temperature decreases, creating a periodic action pattern that balances thermal management with capacity availability.
3Quantity of substance
If background operations are performed to maintain capacity, then the effective capacity is increased, but the temperature increases causing performance decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The controller dynamically decides whether to perform background operations based on real-time temperature monitoring. When temperature is within the threshold, background operations are performed to maintain or increase effective capacity. When temperature exceeds the threshold, background operations are skipped to allow cooling, even if capacity could be maintained. This dynamic decision-making resolves the contradiction between maintaining capacity and ensuring performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from temperature monitoring to control background operations. The controller continuously monitors temperature and uses this feedback to determine whether to execute background operations. This feedback mechanism ensures that capacity maintenance does not compromise thermal management or performance, resolving the contradiction between capacity and performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A data storage device and method for providing a temperature-driven variable storage capacity point are provided. In one embodiment, the data storage device determines that a temperature of the memory exceeds a threshold that triggers a decrease in performance of the data storage device; informs a host in communication with the data storage device that the temperature of the memory exceeds the threshold; receives an instruction from the host to avoid the decrease in the performance of the data storage device by reducing an effective capacity of the memory for an amount of time; and reduces the effective capacity of the memory for at least part of the amount of time by foregoing a background operation that maintains or increases the effective capacity of the memory. Other embodiments are possible, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.