Atomic non-volatile memory data transfer

• US 9,652,415 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2015
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Ellis, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Torres, Joseph D
• Application Number:
  US14/596,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20160011813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1048 using arrangements adapted for a specific error detection or correction feature
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0246 in block erasable memory, e.g. flash memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/1657 Access to multiple memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/1673 using buffers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/1684 using multiple buses
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/1689 Synchronisation and timing concerns synchronisation on a memory bus G06F13/4234
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/1024 Latency reduction
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/1028 Power efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/1036 Life time enhancement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/7205 Cleaning, compaction, garbage collection, erase control
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/7208 Multiple device management, e.g. distributing data over multiple flash devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0625 Power saving in storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0647 Migration mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0658 Controller construction arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0688 Non-volatile semiconductor memory arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2029/0411 Online error correction
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 29/52 Protection of memory contents; Detection of errors in memory contents
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/04 Supports for storage elements , e.g. memory modules; Mounting or fixing of storage elements on such supports
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/222 Clock generating, synchronizing or distributing circuits within memory device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

The various implementations described herein include systems, methods and/or devices used to transfer data within a storage device. In one aspect, a method includes reading data from a first non-volatile memory device to a shared bus, where the shared bus couples the first non-volatile memory device to a second non-volatile memory device and to the controller, and where the first non-volatile memory device is on a first die and the second non-volatile memory device is on a second die, distinct from the first die. The method further includes, in conjunction with reading the data from the first non-volatile memory device to the shared bus, generating a data strobe at the first non-volatile memory device; and, in response to receiving the data strobe at the second non-volatile memory device, transferring the data from the shared bus to the second non-volatile memory device.

Claims

1. A method of transferring first data within a storage device comprising a controller and a plurality of non-volatile memory devices, the method comprising:

reading first data from a first non-volatile memory device to a shared bus;

wherein the shared bus couples the first non-volatile memory device to a second non-volatile memory device and to the controller; and

wherein the first non-volatile memory device is on a first die and the second non-volatile memory device is on a second die, distinct from the first die;

in conjunction with reading the first data from the first non-volatile memory device to the shared bus;

generating a data strobe at the first non-volatile memory device; and

at the controller, determining whether the first data on the shared bus meets predefined error correction criteria, wherein the predefined error correction criteria includes determining if a quantity of errors exceeds a predetermined threshold; and

in response to receiving the data strobe at the second non-volatile memory device, transferring the first data from the shared bus to an internal buffer of the second non-volatile memory device;

wherein said reading, data strobe generating and transferring comprise a direct transfer of the first data from the first non-volatile memory device to the internal buffer of the second non-volatile memory device via the shared bus;

in accordance with a determination, at the controller, that the first data on the shared bus meets the predefined error correction criteria, directly transferring correction data from the controller via the shared bus to the second non-volatile memory device; and

subsequent to transferring the correction data, in accordance with the transferred correction data, replacing, at the second non-volatile memory device, the first data in the internal buffer of the second non-volatile memory device with corrected data, and writing the corrected data from the internal buffer of the second non-volatile memory device to non-volatile memory within the second non-volatile memory device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

subsequent to transferring the data from the shared bus to the second non-volatile memory device, receiving a program command from the controller; and

in response to the program command, writing data from an internal buffer to non-volatile memory within the second non-volatile memory device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in conjunction with transferring the first data from the shared bus to the second non-volatile memory device, generating at the second non-volatile memory device a sampling data strobe by delaying the data strobe by a predetermined amount, and using the sampling data strobe at the second non-volatile memory device to sample the data on the shared bus.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the shared bus couples the first non-volatile memory device to a third non-volatile memory device;

and

the method further comprises, in response to receiving the data strobe at the third non-volatile memory device, transferring the data from the shared bus to the third non-volatile memory device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to reading data from the first non-volatile memory device to the shared bus, the controller enabling the first non-volatile memory device to perform a read operation and the controller enabling the second non-volatile memory device to perform a write operation.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to reading data from the first non-volatile memory device to the shared bus, receiving, at the first non-volatile memory device, a read strobe command generated by the controller, wherein generating the data strobe comprises the first non-volatile memory device generating the data strobe while reading data from the first non-volatile memory device to the shared bus.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the shared bus couples a plurality of enhanced non-volatile memory packages, each enhanced non-volatile memory package in the plurality of enhanced non-volatile memory packages comprising a plurality of non-volatile memory devices and a bus driver module;

wherein;

a first enhanced non-volatile memory package includes the first non-volatile memory device and a first bus driver module; and

a second enhanced non-volatile memory package includes the second non-volatile memory device and a second bus driver module; and

wherein the second bus driver module delays the data strobe by a predetermined amount.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein reading data from the first non-volatile memory device to the shared bus comprises reading a page of data from the first non-volatile memory device to the shared bus.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein reading data from the first non-volatile memory device to the shared bus comprises reading data from a plurality of data pages of the first non-volatile memory device;

and

the method further comprises writing the data from the plurality of data pages of the first non-volatile memory device to a single data page of the second non-volatile memory device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring the data from the shared bus to the second non-volatile memory device comprises storing the data in volatile memory within the second non-volatile memory device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first non-volatile memory device drives the shared bus.

12. A method of transferring first data within a storage device comprising a controller and a plurality of non-volatile memory devices, the method comprising:

reading first data from a first non-volatile memory device to a shared bus;

wherein the shared bus couples the first non-volatile memory device to a second non-volatile memory device and to the controller; and

wherein the first non-volatile memory device is on a first die and the second non-volatile memory device is on a second die, distinct from the first die;

in conjunction with reading the first data from the first non-volatile memory device to the shared bus;

generating a data strobe at the first non-volatile memory device; and

in response to receiving the data strobe at the second non-volatile memory device, transferring the first data from the shared bus to an internal buffer of the second non-volatile memory device;

while reading data from the first non-volatile memory device to the shared bus,

reading second data from a fourth non-volatile memory device to a second shared bus, wherein the second shared bus couples the fourth non-volatile memory device to the controller and to a fifth non-volatile memory device;

generating a second data strobe at the fourth non-volatile memory device; and

in response to receiving the second data strobe at the fifth non-volatile memory device, transferring the second data from the second shared bus to the fifth non-volatile memory device.

13. A storage device operable to perform atomic data transfers, comprising:

a controller;

a plurality of memory die each comprising a plurality of non-volatile memory devices; and

a shared bus coupling the plurality of non-volatile memory die and the controller, the storage device configured to;

read first data from a first non-volatile memory device on a first memory die to the shared bus;

in conjunction with reading the first data from the first non-volatile memory device to the shared bus;

generate a data strobe at the first non-volatile memory device;

at the controller, determine whether the first data on the shared bus meets predefined error correction criteria, wherein the predefined error correction criteria includes determining if a quantity of errors exceeds a predetermined threshold; and

in response to receiving the data strobe at a second non-volatile memory device on a second memory die, transfer the first data from the shared bus to an internal buffer of the second non-volatile memory device, wherein the second memory die is distinct from the first memory die;

wherein said reading, data strobe generating and transferring comprise a direct transfer of the first data from the first non-volatile memory device to the internal buffer of the second non-volatile memory device via the shared bus;

in accordance with a determination, at the controller, that the first data on the shared bus meets the predefined error correction criteria, directly transfer correction data from the controller via the shared bus to the second non-volatile memory device; and

subsequent to transferring the correction data, in accordance with the transferred correction data, replace, at the second non-volatile memory device, the first data in the internal buffer of the second non-volatile memory device with corrected data, and write the corrected data from the internal buffer of the second non-volatile memory device to non-volatile memory within the second non-volatile memory device.

14. The storage device of claim 13, the storage device further configured to:

subsequent to transferring the data from the shared bus to the second non-volatile memory device, receive a program command from the controller; and

in response to the program command, write data from an internal buffer to non-volatile memory within the second non-volatile memory device.

15. The storage device of claim 13, the storage device further configured to, in conjunction with transferring the first data from the shared bus to the second non-volatile memory device, generate at the second non-volatile memory device a sampling data strobe by delaying the data strobe by a predetermined amount, and use the sampling data strobe at the second non-volatile memory device to sample the data on the shared bus.

16. The storage device of claim 13, wherein the shared bus couples the first non-volatile memory device to a third non-volatile memory device;

and

the storage device is further configured to, in response to receiving the data strobe at the third non-volatile memory device, transfer the data from the shared bus to the third non-volatile memory device.

17. The storage device of claim 13, the storage device further configured to, prior to reading data from the first non-volatile memory device to the shared bus, receive, at the first non-volatile memory device, a read strobe command generated by the controller, wherein generating the data strobe comprises the first non-volatile memory device generating the data strobe while reading data from the first non-volatile memory device to the shared bus.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs for execution by one or more processors of a storage device comprising a controller and a plurality of non-volatile memory device, the one or more programs including instructions for:

reading first data from a first non-volatile memory device to a shared bus;

wherein the shared bus couples the first non-volatile memory device to a second non-volatile memory device and to the controller; and

wherein the first non-volatile memory device is on a first die and the second non-volatile memory device is on a second die, distinct from the first die;

in conjunction with reading the first data from the first non-volatile memory device to the shared bus;

generating a data strobe at the first non-volatile memory device; and

at the controller, determining whether the first data on the shared bus meets predefined error correction criteria, wherein the predefined error correction criteria includes determining if a quantity of errors exceeds a predetermined threshold; and

in response to receiving the data strobe at the second non-volatile memory device, transferring the first data from the shared bus to an internal buffer of the second non-volatile memory device;

wherein said reading, data strobe generating and transferring comprise a direct transfer of the first data from the first non-volatile memory device to the internal buffer of the second non-volatile memory device via the shared bus;

in accordance with a determination, at the controller, that the first data on the shared bus meets the predefined error correction criteria, directly transferring correction data from the controller via the shared bus to the second non-volatile memory device; and

subsequent to transferring the correction data, in accordance with the transferred correction data, replacing, at the second non-volatile memory device, the first data in the internal buffer of the second non-volatile memory device with corrected data, and writing the corrected data from the internal buffer of the second non-volatile memory device to non-volatile memory within the second non-volatile memory device.

19. The storage medium of claim 18, the one or more programs further including instructions for:

subsequent to transferring the data from the shared bus to the second non-volatile memory device, receiving a program command from the controller; and

in response to the program command, writing data from an internal buffer to non-volatile memory within the second non-volatile memory device.

20. The storage medium of claim 18, the one or more programs further including instructions for, in conjunction with transferring the first data from the shared bus to the second non-volatile memory device, generating at the second non-volatile memory device a sampling data strobe by delaying the data strobe by a predetermined amount, and using the sampling data strobe at the second non-volatile memory device to sample the data on the shared bus.

21. The storage medium of claim 18, wherein the shared bus couples the first non-volatile memory device to a third non-volatile memory device;

and

the one or more programs further include instructions for, in response to receiving the data strobe at the third non-volatile memory device, transferring the data from the shared bus to the third non-volatile memory device.

22. The storage medium of claim 18, the one or more programs further including instructions for, prior to reading data from the first non-volatile memory device to the shared bus, receiving, at the first non-volatile memory device, a read strobe command generated by the controller, wherein generating the data strobe comprises the first non-volatile memory device generating the data strobe while reading data from the first non-volatile memory device to the shared bus.