Storage Device Power Fail Architecture for Data Hardening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data storage devices face challenges in effectively managing power sequencing and data hardening, particularly in ensuring that mission-critical data is safely transferred from volatile to non-volatile memory during power failures, especially when the power supply voltage exceeds a certain threshold.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method within data storage devices to determine if the power supply voltage is higher than an over-voltage threshold, signaling a power fail condition, transferring data from volatile to non-volatile memory, and subsequently removing power from controllers, utilizing energy storage devices like capacitors to facilitate this process, and ensuring these components are charged and operational.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the power supply voltage is monitored and a power fail operation is performed when voltage exceeds the over-voltage threshold, then data integrity is protected during power failures, but the device complexity increases due to additional voltage monitoring and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting over-voltage conditions before actual power failure occurs and proactively initiating data transfer from volatile to non-volatile memory. This prevents data loss by addressing the power supply issue before it causes damage, rather than reacting after failure occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary power fail detector circuit that monitors power supply voltage and mediates between the power supply and storage device controllers. This intermediary detects over-voltage conditions and triggers appropriate responses, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If data is transferred from volatile to non-volatile memory during power fail conditions, then data protection is ensured, but the time required to complete the power fail operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains a ready pool of non-volatile memory spaces that are pre-configured and available for immediate data transfer when power fail conditions occur. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex real-time allocation decisions during the critical power fail window, reducing operation time while ensuring data protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a streamlined power fail operation that skips unnecessary intermediate steps and directly transfers data from volatile to pre-selected non-volatile memory spaces. This rushed-through approach minimizes the time window during which data is vulnerable, completing the protection operation before power failure can occur.
3Reliability
If the power fail detector monitors voltage continuously and triggers power fail operations, then data loss is prevented, but the energy consumption increases due to continuous monitoring and potential repeated operations
Solution Approach 1:
The power fail detector monitors voltage with high sensitivity and may trigger power fail operations even for brief over-voltage excursions that exceed the threshold. This partial action approach ensures no data loss occurs by being more conservative than strictly necessary, accepting some energy consumption to guarantee data protection in all edge cases.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the results of power fail operations are tracked and used to adjust future monitoring behavior. If repeated power fail operations are detected, the system learns from these patterns and may adjust its monitoring thresholds or trigger conditions, optimizing the balance between data protection and energy consumption over time.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures reliable data protection by ensuring data is transferred to non-volatile memory even when power supply voltages exceed safe thresholds, maintaining data integrity and preventing data loss during power failures.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing energy storage devices like capacitors to facilitate this process
Data Source
AI summary
The various implementations described herein include systems, methods and/or devices used to enable power sequencing and data hardening in a storage device. In one aspect, the method includes determining whether a power supply voltage provided to the storage device is higher than an over-voltage threshold. The method further includes, in accordance with a determination that the power supply voltage is higher than the over-voltage threshold, performing a power fail operation, the power fail operation including: (1) signaling a power fail condition to a plurality of controllers on the storage device, (2) transferring data held in volatile memory to non-volatile memory, and (3) removing power from the plurality of controllers on the storage device.