Storage Module Boot Time Reduction via Partial Page Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing storage module boot time is prolonged due to the time-consuming process of finding the last-written page in each open block during binary searches, which fails to meet target boot times within the allocated time budget.
Innovation Solution
The storage controller employs a reduced sense time and data toggling approach to quickly determine if a page is written, using a 'rough' sense method with shorter settling times and less data toggled back, allowing for faster detection of the last-written page without compromising accuracy for this specific purpose.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a standard sense time is used to read pages during binary search, then measurement precision is maintained, but boot time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by reading only a portion of the page data (e.g., first 512 bytes or only parity bits) instead of the entire page during binary search. This partial reading approach provides sufficient information to determine whether a page is written while significantly reducing the time required compared to reading the full page, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and boot time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the sense time parameter from the standard value to a reduced value specifically for binary search operations. By adjusting this timing parameter, the system achieves faster page detection during boot while maintaining adequate accuracy through the modified reading strategy, directly addressing the time-precision tradeoff.
2Measurement precision
If full page data is toggled and analyzed, then detection accuracy is improved, but productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential portion of the page data needed for written page detection during binary search. By taking out and analyzing only the critical bytes (such as the first 512 bytes or parity bits) rather than the entire page, the system maintains sufficient detection accuracy while dramatically improving boot speed and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by performing data toggling and analysis on only a subset of the page data during binary search operations. This selective analysis of partial data provides adequate information to determine written status while significantly reducing the processing time and improving overall boot productivity.
3Reliability
If standard read procedures are followed for each page, then reliability is maintained, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using reduced read procedures (reading only portions of pages with reduced sense time) specifically for the binary search phase during boot. This approach maintains sufficient reliability for determining written page status while significantly reducing the time loss associated with finding the last-written page in each block.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage controller is configured to find a last-written page in a block in a memory by sending a command to the memory to read a page of data, receiving at least some of the data from that page, and analyzing the at least some of the data from that page to determine if that page is a written page. In one embodiment, the storage controller instructs the memory to read the page of data using a sense time that is shorter than a sense time used to read a page of data in response to a read request from a host controller. Additionally or alternatively, the amount of the data received by the storage controller can be less than the amount of data received when reading a page of data in response to a read request from a host controller.