Switch-Based BGA Extension for SSD Storage Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for storage capacity in SSDs is challenging due to limitations in the number of NAND Ball Grid Arrays (BGAs) connected to a Flash Interface Module, which restricts storage capacity without increasing the number of Low-level Data Path (LDP) channels, leading to significant cost and technical complexity.
Innovation Solution
A firmware-controlled switch is implemented between the Flash Interface Module and NAND BGAs to select and activate a non-volatile memory package based on Logical Block Address mapping, allowing multiple NAND BGAs to share a data channel, thereby increasing storage capacity without hardware modifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the number of NAND BGAs connected to a Flash Interface Module is increased to increase storage capacity, then storage capacity is improved, but the number of Low-level Data Path (LDP) channels must be increased, leading to significant cost and technical complexity
Solution Approach 1:
A switch device is introduced as an intermediary component between the Flash Interface Module and multiple NAND BGAs. The switch receives data from the FIM through a single LDP channel and dynamically routes it to the appropriate NAND BGA based on address mapping, thereby enabling multiple NAND BGAs to share a single data channel without increasing channel count or system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The switch device serves multiple functions: it acts as a data router, an address translator, and a package selector. By making the switch multi-functional, the system can support multiple NAND BGAs through a single LDP channel, effectively increasing storage capacity without proportionally increasing the number of data channels required
2Quantity of substance
If multiple NAND BGAs share a single data channel through a switch, then storage capacity is increased without increasing LDP channels, but additional components and control logic are required
Solution Approach 1:
The switch integrates multiple functions that would otherwise require separate components: data routing, address translation, and package selection are combined into a single device. This merging reduces the overall number of discrete components needed and simplifies the system architecture while still enabling multiple NAND BGAs to be accessed through a single LDP channel
3Productivity
If DRAM is used as cache for SSDs to improve performance and storage capacity, then performance is improved, but cost and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses volatile memory within the switch for temporary address translation caching, which is cheaper and consumes less power than DRAM. The volatile memory is refreshed periodically and used for short-term caching of address mappings, providing sufficient performance improvement without the high power consumption and cost associated with DRAM
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of a storage device including a memory and a controller are provided. The memory includes a plurality of non-volatile memory packages coupled to the switch, in which each non-volatile memory package includes a plurality of non-volatile memory dies. The controller can select a non-volatile memory package with the switch. The controller can establish a data channel connection between the selected non-volatile memory package and the controller via the switch. In some aspects, the selected non-volatile memory package is transitioned into an active mode and one or more non-selected non-volatile memory packages are each transitioned into a standby mode. The controller also can perform one or more storage device operations with one or more non-volatile memory dies of the plurality of non-volatile memory dies within the selected non-volatile memory package. Thus, the controller may facilitate a switch based ball grid array extension, thereby improving memory capacity of the storage device.