Volatile Memory Data Corruption for Power Loss Duration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic systems face challenges in determining the duration of unintentional power outages, leading to unnecessary delays and potential damage during restarts, as they lack information on how long they have been without power, especially for short outages.
Innovation Solution
A circuit structure that includes a volatile memory and a test circuit to determine the period of power loss by analyzing the amount of incorrect data stored after power restoration, using characterization data to estimate the time based on data remanence patterns, and a control circuit to adjust startup sequences accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the system resets the clock and restarts the warm-up period after power restoration, then the system ensures safe operation by allowing mechanical components to stabilize, but the system experiences unnecessary delays when power outages are short
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by storing data in volatile memory before power loss occurs and checking this data upon power restoration to determine the duration of the outage. This allows the system to make informed decisions about whether to reset the warm-up period, avoiding unnecessary delays while ensuring safety when outages are prolonged.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of time measurement by using the amount of incorrect data in volatile memory as a proxy for measuring the duration of power loss. This correlates data corruption with time elapsed without power, enabling the system to adjust the warm-up period duration based on the actual outage length rather than always resetting it.
2Ease of operation
If the system assumes the motor is not turning after power failure, then the system simplifies the restart procedure, but the system may damage the motor or attached components when the motor is still spinning
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by capturing and storing the motor state information in volatile memory before power loss. Upon power restoration, the system retrieves this stored information to determine whether the motor was still spinning, allowing for a safe and informed restart procedure that avoids damage while maintaining simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the volatile memory data to adjust the restart procedure. By checking the amount of incorrect data that correlates with power loss duration, the system receives feedback about the motor's likely state and modifies the restart sequence accordingly, preventing damage while keeping the operation simple.
3Reliability
If the system reestablishes the clock and resets the warm-up period, then the system ensures proper startup sequencing, but the system loses information about how long it has been without power
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by storing known good data in volatile memory before power loss. This data serves as a reference that, when compared to the corrupted data after power restoration, provides information about the duration of the outage. This allows the system to retain power outage duration information while still establishing proper startup sequencing.
Solution Approach 2:
The volatile memory acts as an intermediary that preserves information about the power outage duration. By storing data before power loss and measuring the corruption after power restoration, the system uses the memory as a mediator to convey time information without which the system would otherwise lose this critical data.
4Device complexity
If the system automatically restarts the warm-up period, then the system maintains a simple control logic, but the system causes electronic power surges when restarting motors that are already running
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by storing operational state information in volatile memory before power loss. Upon power restoration, the system checks this data to determine whether the motor was already running, allowing it to adjust the warm-up period and avoid automatic restart of already-running motors, thereby preventing power surges while maintaining relatively simple control logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the control parameter by using data corruption levels as an indicator of power loss duration and motor state. This allows the system to dynamically adjust the warm-up period duration and restart behavior based on the measured parameter of data incorrectness, preventing power surges without significantly complicating the control logic.
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
Enables accurate determination of power outage duration, preventing unnecessary delays and potential damage by adjusting startup sequences based on the estimated time without power, thereby improving system operation and component safety.
Implementation Method 1
A volatile memory stores known data. The test circuit determines an amount of incorrect data stored in the volatile memory after the period of time during which the device was without power.
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit structure for determining a period of time during which a device was without power is disclosed. The circuit structure comprises a volatile memory storing known data and a test circuit coupled to the volatile memory, the test circuit determining an amount of incorrect data stored in the volatile memory after a period of time during which the device was without power. The amount of incorrect data is used to determine the period of time during which the device was without power. A method of controlling a device based on the amount of incorrect data stored in a volatile memory after the device was without power is also disclosed. For example, the device can be controlled by altering a start-up sequence of one or more elements of the device.