Redundant Volatile Memory Mapping for Fast Failed Unit Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing memory devices face inefficiencies in quickly and effectively replacing failed memory units, particularly in volatile memory systems where data loss occurs upon power cutoff.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a volatile memory device with redundancy memory units and a controller that facilitates rapid replacement of failed units by transmitting commands to replace target memory units with redundancy units, utilizing nonvolatile memory for mapping information storage and retrieval.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a failed memory unit is replaced using conventional methods, then the memory unit can be replaced, but the replacement process is slow and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereplacement speedVSAvoidsystem downtime

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-allocates redundancy memory units that are prepared in advance to replace failed memory units. The controller pre-establishes mapping relationships between normal memory units and their corresponding redundancy units, so when a failure occurs, the replacement can immediately use the pre-prepared redundancy unit without searching or additional configuration, thus reducing replacement time and system downtime.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If redundancy memory units are implemented, then failed units can be replaced, but the memory device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvememory system reliabilityVSAvoidmemory device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The redundancy memory units are designed with multi-functionality to reduce overall device complexity. The same redundancy units can replace different failed normal memory units through the controller's mapping mechanism. The controller universally manages both normal and redundancy units using the same interface and control logic, eliminating the need for separate complex management circuits for redundancy, thus improving reliability while controlling complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of information

If mapping information is stored in nonvolatile memory, then mapping data is preserved, but the controller complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemapping information retentionVSAvoidcontroller structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the mapping information storage function into the existing nonvolatile memory component that is already part of the controller structure. Rather than adding a separate dedicated storage component, the mapping information is integrated into the controller's existing nonvolatile memory, allowing the controller to preserve mapping data without significantly increasing overall controller complexity. This unified approach reduces the need for additional separate components and interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12517795B2Replacement of failed memory unit with redundancy memory unit in a memory device and method thereof

Publication Date: 2026.01.06 SK HYNIX INC

AI summary

A memory device includes a volatile memory including M number of memory units and N number of redundancy memory units; and a volatile memory controller configured to transmit, to the volatile memory, a command requesting that a target memory unit in which a failure has occurred among the M number of memory units be replaced with a target redundancy memory unit among the N number of redundancy memory units.