Storage Flush Control for Volatile Memory Power Loss

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Solution Overview

Problem

Data loss occurs when power to a storage device is unstable or disconnected, particularly in electronic devices using volatile memory, as data stored in volatile memory is not retained without power.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with a monitoring circuit to identify state information and transmit a flush command to a storage device, ensuring data is transferred to nonvolatile memory before power loss, using a flush controller and interface to manage the operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If data is stored in volatile memory for fast access, then data storage speed is improved, but data reliability deteriorates because data is lost when power is cut off

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata storage speedVSAvoiddata reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring circuit detects power instability states in advance before data loss occurs, and the controller proactively initiates a flush operation to transfer data from volatile memory to non-volatile memory. This preliminary action ensures data is saved before the power cut actually happens, resolving the contradiction between fast volatile storage and reliable data retention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a monitoring circuit as an intermediary component that continuously monitors power stability and triggers data flushing operations. This intermediary mechanism bridges the gap between volatile memory's speed advantage and non-volatile memory's reliability advantage, allowing the system to enjoy both benefits through coordinated operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a monitoring circuit and flush controller are added to detect power instability and trigger flush operations, then data reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring circuit and flush controller are designed to work with the existing storage device architecture, leveraging existing memory structures and control interfaces. The controller utilizes both volatile and non-volatile memory regions already present in the storage device, making the reliability improvement mechanism universal rather than requiring entirely new specialized components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If data is continuously monitored and flushed to nonvolatile memory, then data loss is minimized, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata protectionVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous monitoring and flushing, the system employs periodic monitoring of power stability states and triggers flush operations only when instability is detected. This periodic action approach minimizes unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining data protection, as the monitoring circuit operates intermittently rather than continuously and flushing only occurs when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS20260017188A1Electronic device, electronic system including the same, and operating method of thereof

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

An electronic device of communicating with a storage device comprising a volatile memory and a nonvolatile memory includes a monitoring circuit configured to identify state information of the electronic device while data is stored in the volatile memory, and an operation controller configured to transmit to the storage device a flush command instructing to perform a flush operation by which the data stored in the volatile memory is stored in the nonvolatile memory based on the state information of the electronic device.