Patents Assigned to Smart Modular Technologies, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11561739
    Abstract: A persistent memory unit for a computer system where the memory unit can detect a catastrophic event and automatically backup volatile memory into non-volatile memory. The memory unit can operate with a limited number of power inputs and detect the loss of power and then initiate a backup after the volatile memory of the memory unit has entered a stable self-refresh mode. The memory unit uses an on-board power management interface controller capable of redistributing power from an input power line and generating different power levels for different components on the memory unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: SMART Modular Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kelvin Alberto Marino
  • Patent number: 11182325
    Abstract: A deaggregated computing system having a memory centric computing storage controller can transfer data from a source to a destination node while dynamically updating a transfer route between them. The transfer route can be recalculated based on the current conditions of the routing nodes between the source and destination. Recalculating the transfer route can be based on power status, bandwidth, in-use status, current capacity, or failure conditions. The deaggregated computing system can include one or more processor units coupled to one or more storage and memory units all connected by the memory centric computing storage controller that can route control and data packets between the processor units and the storage and memory units. The processor units and the storage units can be connected by a combination of serial data communication links and a data storage fabric network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: SMART Modular Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Tower Frey
  • Patent number: 10877544
    Abstract: An memory management system with backup system, and a method of operation of a memory management system with backup system thereof, including: a memory module controller for detecting a power failure condition, the memory module controller including a nonvolatile memory controller; a compression controller integrated within the nonvolatile memory controller for receiving a data block from volatile memory; a compression engine within the compression controller for compressing the data block to form a compressed data block; and a sequencer for writing the compressed data block to nonvolatile memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: SMART Modular Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Amir Alavi
  • Patent number: 10838806
    Abstract: A solid state storage system, and method of operation thereof, including: a system interface configured to receive host commands; a controller, coupled to the system interface, configured to identify frequently read data blocks from the host commands; a non-volatile memory, coupled to the controller, configured for access of the frequently read data blocks; an error correction code unit, coupled to the controller, configured to provide health monitor parameters for the frequently read data blocks verified by the controller; and a redundant frequently read data (RFRD) area, coupled to the error correction code unit, configured to transfer a recovered data from the frequently read data blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: SMART Modular Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fong-Long Lin, Shu-Cheng Lin
  • Patent number: 10826989
    Abstract: A data storage system, and a method of operation thereof, includes: a host initialization module for initializing a data storage unit; a command process module, coupled to the host initialization module, for processing a read command or a write command performed on the data storage unit; and a status scheduler module, coupled to the command process module, for generating a check status request to inquire a storage unit status of the data storage unit, wherein the check status request occurs without interrupting a host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: SMART Modular Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fong-Long Lin, Michael Rubino
  • Patent number: 10755757
    Abstract: A transparent four rank memory module has a front side and a back side. The front side has a third memory rank stacked on a first memory rank. The back side has a fourth memory rank stacked on a second memory rank. An emulator coupled to the memory module activates and controls one individual memory rank from either the first memory rank, the second memory rank, the third memory rank, or the fourth memory rank based on the signals received from a memory controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: SMART Modular Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hossein Amidi, Kelvin A. Marino, Satyadev Kolli
  • Patent number: 10573354
    Abstract: Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for manufacturing and operating high density memory systems. The high density memory systems can increase the amount of memory available to a computing system by allowing the connection of multiple memory modules into a single memory interface on a motherboard via a memory adapter as described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: SMART Modular Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Satyanarayan Shivkumar Iyer, Robert S. Pauley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10551892
    Abstract: Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for a centralized backup power support system that improves testability of non-volatile dual in-line memory modules (NVDIMM) on Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) testers and in-system tests. An NVDIMM includes both volatile memories and non-volatile memories. According to an embodiment, a compact backup power distribution board is powered with an external power supply with an individual protection circuit. The backup power distribution board has an unlimited energy capacity for any density of NVDIMM and zero charge waiting time. According to an embodiment, instead of using an electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC) to support backup power, a resistor is used instead of an EDLC on each backup power module. There is no charging time when the backup power module does not have EDLC cells, resulting in significant reduction in test time and production cost and increase in production output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: SMART Modular Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jinying Shen
  • Patent number: 10534619
    Abstract: A memory management system, and method of operation thereof, includes: a primary device of a resilient storage module configured as a boot device for booting a computer system; an operational status received from the computer system; a secondary device of the resilient storage module configured as the boot device based on the operational status indicating a non-operational state; and a memory module controller of the resilient storage module for initiating a reboot operation using the secondary device as the boot device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: SMART Modular Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert T. Frey
  • Patent number: 10529688
    Abstract: A system and method of manufacture of an integrated circuit device system includes mounting a first elevated device on a first riser positioned adjacent to a base device. The first elevated device includes a first device overhang that extends over the base device. A second elevated device can be mounted on a second riser adjacent to the first riser to allow the attachment of a second elevated device mounted above the first elevated device to achieve higher component densities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: SMART Modular Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Satyanarayan Shivkumar Iyer, Reuben J. Chang, Victor Mahran
  • Patent number: 10510432
    Abstract: Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for a test adapter designed to improve testability of non-volatile dual in-line memory modules (NVDIMM) on automatic test equipment (ATE) testers or in-system boards, which have inadequate power supplies. An NVDIMM includes both volatile memories and non-volatile memories. A test adapter is designed to supply increased power to an NVDIMM. A test adapter is implemented using an interposer or a printed circuit board (PCB) that may be inserted into a socket on an ATE tester or on an end-user system-level board. The interposer or PCB includes a power socket for attaching a power cable to supply the external power supply to the NVDIMM. A power on/off sequence is controlled by an ATE tester to simulate or test a system power on/off sequence. An external input power is always on, but both serial and backup power signals are only on during tests of an NVDIMM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: SMART Modular Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jinying Shen
  • Patent number: 10488892
    Abstract: Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for manufacturing and operating portable module systems. The portable module systems can provide additional computing, memory, communication, networking, and power functionality in compact package that can be connected to a host system. The portable module system can dissipate thermal energy using an embedded cooling system to allow the use of high performance components. The portable module system can improve the functionality and computing capacity of the host system by linking off the shelf component boards with the external bus using a bridge interface unit to transfer information from an internal bus to the external bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: SMART Modular Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fong-Long Lin, Kwang Jin Gooi, Satyanarayan Shivkumar Iyer
  • Patent number: 10474362
    Abstract: Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for a method of operation of a Flash-based block storage system including: transferring a first data to a logical block address; storing the first data in a physical block, of a storage array, associated with the logical block address; receiving a trim command for the logical block address; establishing a reserved physical block associated with the logical block address of the trim command; transferring second data for writing to the logical block address of the trim command; releasing the reserved physical block associated with the logical block address; and writing the second data to the logical block address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: SMART Modular Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Y. Tsai, Robert Fillion
  • Patent number: 10409754
    Abstract: An interconnected memory system, and a method of operation thereof, including: a first discrete unit having a first unit processor and first unit memory module; a high-speed interconnect connected directly to the first unit memory module; and a second discrete unit having a second unit processor and a second unit memory module, the second unit memory module connected to the first unit memory module through the high-speed interconnect for utilizing the first unit memory module and the second unit memory module with the first unit processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: SMART Modular Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Rajesh Ananthanarayanan
  • Patent number: 10338821
    Abstract: Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for improving the performance of memory controllers for memory devices. A system may have a memory controller that interfaces with a memory device to store or retrieve information. When the system needs to retrieve information from the memory device, the memory controller sends an address and a command to instruct the memory device to read the information stored at the address. The memory device reads the information, and after a specific amount of time, the memory device sends the information to the memory controller. According to an embodiment, “dummy” data is sent first prior to the availability of the data read out of the memory devices, while waiting for the requested data to be accessed, and then the actual data is sent immediately following the dummy data. According to an embodiment, a geometry of a memory device has only one column of memory cells that are used to store information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: SMART Modular Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajesh Ananthanarayanan, Jinying Shen, Amir Alavi
  • Patent number: 10185609
    Abstract: Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for improving data retention using a virtual timer. A memory controller may use a raw bit error rate (RBER) to find an equivalent temperature-accelerated data age of a data item. The data age is computed by using the initial RBER of virtual timing data (VTD) as a virtual write in time of the data item compared to a present time using the current RBER of the VTD. When the data age is determined to exceed a data retention threshold, a data refresh is performed on the data item at the memory block on the memory device. The data age may be stored as virtual timing data on the memory block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: SMART Modular Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Shu-Cheng Lin
  • Patent number: 9946469
    Abstract: A solid state storage system, and method of operation thereof, including: a system interface configured to receive host commands; a controller, coupled to the system interface, configured to identify frequently read data blocks from the host commands; a non-volatile memory, coupled to the controller, configured for access of the frequently read data blocks; an error correction code unit, coupled to the controller, configured to provide health monitor parameters for the frequently read data blocks verified by the controller; and a redundant frequently read data (RFRD) area, coupled to the error correction code unit, configured to transfer a recovered data from the frequently read data blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SMART Modular Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fong-Long Lin, Shu-Cheng Lin
  • Patent number: 9939855
    Abstract: A method of manufacture of an enhanced capacity memory system includes: providing a dual in-line memory module carrier having a memory module and an integrated memory buffer coupled to the memory module; coupling a memory expansion board, having a supplementary memory module, to the dual in-line memory module carrier including attaching a bridge transposer; and providing a system interface connector coupled to the integrated memory buffer and the bridge transposer for controlling the memory module, the supplementary memory module, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: SMART Modular Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Mahran, Robert S. Pauley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9779016
    Abstract: An integrated circuit system, and a method of operation thereof, including: a memory unit having a volatile memory device with data and a non-volatile controller unit; a memory unit controller of the non-volatile controller unit for receiving a snoop signal for indicating an error; a non-volatile device of the memory unit for synchronously receiving data of the volatile memory device based on the snoop signal, the data autonomously copied without any intervention from outside the memory unit to prevent loss of the data; and an in-band command received by the memory unit, for autonomously restoring the data to the volatile memory device from the non-volatile device without any intervention from outside the memory unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: SMART Modular Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jinying Shen, Robert Tower Frey, Kelvin Marino
  • Patent number: 9754634
    Abstract: A method of manufacture of the memory management system includes: fabricating a dual in-line memory module carrier; mounting a volatile memory device on the dual in-line memory module carrier; mounting a non-volatile memory on the dual in-line memory module carrier on a side opposite the volatile memory device; mounting an uninterruptible power supply on the dual in-line memory module carrier for maintaining a memory module power when a system power input decays; and mounting a controller logic integrated circuit on the dual in-line memory module carrier coupled to the volatile memory device, the non-volatile memory, and the uninterruptible power supply for copying data content of the volatile memory device to the non-volatile memory when the uninterruptible power supply detects the decay of the system power input to a first cross-over level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: SMART Modular Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jinying Shen, Robert Tower Frey, Kelvin Marino, Joshua Harris Brooks