Optimized flash memory device for miniaturized devices

• US 9,440,086 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2013
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gordon, Charles R., Bigelow, Duane R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Koharski, Christopher D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Natasha
• Application Number:
  US14/059,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20150073497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/025 Digital circuitry features of electrotherapy devices, e.g. memory, clocks, processors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36 for stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3708 for power depletion
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37264 Changing the program; Upgrading firmware
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

An implantable medical device have an associated memory device is disclosed. The implantable medical device utilizes techniques for optimizing one or more embedded operations of the memory device, such operations including programming, reading or erasing data. The techniques for optimizing the embedded operations include controlling the operations as a function of an energy source of the implantable medical device.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device comprising:

a battery;

a processing unit coupled to the battery;

a memory device coupled to the processing unit having;

a memory sector including a plurality of memory elements;

a state machine configured to control a programming delay duration associated with a programming operation of the memory sector as a function of a parameter of the battery.

5. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the state machine is further configured to perform an erasing operation of data in the memory sector prior to performing the programming operation.

6. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to calculate the parameter of the battery.

7. The implantable medical device of claim 6, wherein the calculated parameter of the battery is a remaining amount of energy stored by the battery.

8. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the state machine controls the programming operation by delaying the writing of data in a second memory element after writing data to a preceding one of the plurality of memory elements.

9. The implantable medical device of claim 8, further comprising a register configured to hold a programming delay value, wherein the programming delay value defines a duration of the delaying of the writing of data in the second memory element.

10. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the state machine is further configured to control an erasing operation of the memory sector as a function of the parameter of the battery.

2. An implantable medical device comprising:

a battery;

a processing unit coupled to the battery;

a memory device coupled to the processing unit having;

a memory sector including a plurality of memory elements;

a state machine configured to control a timing associated with a programming operation of the memory sector as a function of a parameter of the battery, wherein controlling the timing associated with the programming operation of the memory sector comprises controlling a timing of writing of data to a second memory element as a function of a programming delay duration following a preceding writing of data to a first memory element.

3. The implantable medical device of claim 2, wherein the programming delay duration is correlated to the parameter of the battery.

4. The implantable medical device of claim 2, wherein the programming delay value is defined as a function of a remaining amount of energy stored by the battery.

11. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a battery;

a processing unit coupled to the battery; and

a memory device coupled to the processing unit, including;

a memory sector having a plurality of elements; and

means for controlling a programming delay duration of a programming operation of the memory sector as a function of a parameter of the battery.

12. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a battery;

a processing unit coupled to the battery; and

a memory device coupled to the processing unit, including;

a memory sector having a plurality of elements; and

means for controlling a timing of a programming operation of the memory sector as a function of a parameter of the battery, wherein the means for controlling the programming operation of the memory sector applies a programming delay between the programming of each one of the plurality of memory sector elements.

13. The implantable medical device of claim 12, further comprising means for storing one or more values associated with a programming delay, wherein the programming delay is implemented by the means for controlling the timing.

14. The implantable medical device of claim 13, wherein the one or more values are associated with the parameter of the battery.

15. The implantable medical device of claim 14, wherein the parameter includes a remaining amount of energy stored by the battery.

16. An implantable medical device comprising:

a battery;

a processing unit coupled to the battery;

a memory device coupled to the processing unit having;

a memory sector including a plurality of memory elements;

a state machine configured to control a programming delay duration associated with a programming operation of the memory sector as a function of a remaining amount of energy stored by the battery, wherein controlling the programming delay duration associated with the programming operation of the memory sector comprises controlling the delay prior to writing of data to a first memory element.

17. The implantable medical device of claim 16, wherein controlling the programming delay duration associated with the programming operation of the memory sector comprises controlling the programming delay duration of writing of data to a second memory element as a function of a programming delay duration following the preceding writing of data to the first memory element.