Patents Assigned to Stec Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130191581
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter include an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a solid state device controller configured to control a plurality of flash memory devices, a first set of input output IO pads, coupled to the solid state device controller, arranged as a first pad ring around a perimeter of the integrated circuit, and a second set of IO pads arranged adjacent to at least one side of the first pad ring, wherein one of the second set of IO pads includes a power source node configured to receive a power supply voltage for the solid state device controller, a ground node, and a bond pad configured to receive an external signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: STEC, INC.
    Inventor: STEC, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8493791
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology encompass a method for retrieving information stored in flash memory. In certain implementations, the method can include operations for reading a plurality of memory cells in a word line, generating a plurality of read signals based on the reading of the plurality of memory cells and identifying, from among the plurality of read signals, a first read signal associated with a first memory cell and a second read signal associated with a second memory cell, wherein the first memory cell is adjacent to the second memory cell in the word line. In certain aspects, the method can further include operations for generating an output for the first memory cell, wherein the output is based on the first and second read signals. A data storage system and article of manufacture are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: STEC, Inc.
    Inventors: Seyhan Karakulak, Anthony D. Weathers, Richard D. Barndt
  • Publication number: 20130182506
    Abstract: A method for programming a flash cell using a series of programming pulses, the method comprising providing a plurality of first successive programming pulses, wherein each of the first successive programming pulse is incremented by a first incremental amount and providing a plurality of second successive programming pulses, wherein each of the second successive programming pulses is incremented by a second incremental amount and wherein the second increment amount is smaller than the first incremental amount. A system and machine-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: STEC, INC.
    Inventor: STEC, INC.
  • Publication number: 20130176784
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for adjusting operating parameters in a storage device. A controller in a solid state drive monitors current operating conditions for blocks of memory used to store data in the drive. When a block has been subjected to a predetermined number of program/erase cycles one or more stored bias values are retrieved from a storage location based on the wordline(s) associated with a current memory operation. The one or more parameters of the memory operation are then adjusted based on the one or more stored bias values, and the memory operation performed on the block of memory cells using the adjusted parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: STEC, Inc.
    Inventor: STEC, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130179480
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for operating a clustered file system using an operation log for a file system intended for standalone computers. A method for updating a file stored in a clustered file system using a file system intended for standalone computers includes receiving a command to update a file, writing the command to update the file to an operation log on a file system on a primary node, where the operation log tracks changes to one or more files, transmitting the updated operation log to a secondary node to initiate performance of the received command by the secondary node, and applying the requested changes to the file on the primary node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: STEC, INC.
    Inventor: STEC, INC.
  • Patent number: 8484519
    Abstract: The subject disclosure describes a method for reducing a sector error rate in a flash memory device, the method comprising, identifying a first program verify level having a first value, selecting an adjustment value for the first program verify level and programming the adjustment value to the first program verify level to replace the first value and to shift a first programming distribution associated with the first program verify level, wherein the shift in the first programming distribution is associated with a decrease in a sector error rate, wherein the shift in the first programming distribution is associated with an increase in a bit error rate. A flash storage device and computer-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: STEC, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Weathers, Richard D. Barndt, Xinde Hu
  • Patent number: 8484547
    Abstract: A memory includes matrix data stored thereon for use by the plurality of encoders. An arbiter unit determines, for the plurality of encoders, respective times for the encoders to receive a portion of the matrix data stored in the shared memory, and facilitates providing a portion of the matrix data to the plurality of encoders according to the determined times for use in respective encoding operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: STEC, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhasker R. Jakka, Dilip K. Dash
  • Publication number: 20130163327
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology encompass a method for retrieving information stored in flash memory. In certain implementations, the method can include operations for reading a plurality of memory cells in a word line, generating a plurality of read signals based on the reading of the plurality of memory cells and identifying, from among the plurality of read signals, a first read signal associated with a first memory cell and a second read signal associated with a second memory cell, wherein the first memory cell is adjacent to the second memory cell in the word line. In certain aspects, the method can further include operations for generating an output for the first memory cell, wherein the output is based on the first and second read signals. A data storage system and article of manufacture are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: STEC, Inc.
    Inventor: STEC, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130163328
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to a method for reading information stored in a flash memory device. In some implementations, the method can include steps including, obtaining a first read signal of a first cell, wherein the first cell is located in a first word line and a first bit line in the flash memory device, obtaining a programming level of a second cell, wherein the second cell is located in a second word line and the first bit line, and wherein the second word line is adjacent to the first word line. In certain aspects, the method may further comprise steps for obtaining decoding information for the first cell based on the programming level of the second cell. A data storage system and article of manufacture are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: STEC, Inc.
    Inventor: STEC, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130166795
    Abstract: Systems and methods for streaming data are disclosed. In various implementations, the system comprises a hardware device and input streaming interface operably connected to the hardware device. The input streaming interface is configured to inform a data source, based on a determination that a receiving device will accept data transmitted by the hardware device, that the input streaming interface is ready to receive data, and then receive, in response to the detecting the activation of a source signal and a data initiation signal associated with the data source, source data transmitted by the data source over a data bus, and forward the source data to the hardware device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: STEC, Inc.
    Inventor: Stec, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8473672
    Abstract: A flash storage device includes a flash storage for storing data and a controller for receiving a command in connection with user data and selecting a sector size associated with storing the user data. The controller allocates the user data among data sectors having the sector size and writes the data sectors to the flash storage. In some embodiments, the controller generates system data and stores the system data in the data sectors or a system sector, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: STEC, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Moshayedi, Seyed Jalal Sadr
  • Publication number: 20130159611
    Abstract: Systems for automatically calibrating a storage memory controller are disclosed. In some embodiments, the systems may be realized as a solid state device system with an electro-static discharge (ESD) protection capability. The system can include a memory controller electrically coupled to a channel, where the memory controller is configured to select at least one of a plurality of flash memory devices. The system can also include at least one isolation device including an ESD protection circuit, configured to electrically couple the channel to the at least one of the plurality of flash memory devices and to decouple the channel from the remaining of the plurality of flash memory devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: STEC, INC.
    Inventor: STEC, INC.
  • Publication number: 20130159629
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for storing data in a hash table. The method includes receiving data, determining a location identifier for the data wherein the location identifier identifies a location in the hash table for storing the data and the location identifier is derived from the data, compressing the data by extracting the location identifier; and storing the compressed data in the identified location of the hash table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: STEC, INC.
    Inventor: STEC, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8464073
    Abstract: A secure storage device includes a storage medium configured to securely store data received from a host. The storage device further includes a host interface configured to transfer data between the host and the storage device and an encryption engine. The encryption engine is configured to encrypt data received from a host using a key and provide the encrypted data to the storage medium for storage. The encryption engine is further configured to decrypt encrypted data received from the storage medium and provide the data to the host via the host interface. In response to a predetermined condition, the storage device is configured to disable the encryption engine thereby preventing the encrypted data stored thereon from being decrypted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Stec, Inc.
    Inventor: Nader Salessi
  • Publication number: 20130145059
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to a data storage system controller including a host interface configured to be coupled to a host device, to receive data from the host device, and to send data to the host device. In certain aspects, the data storage system includes a primary compression engine configured to compress data received from the host device via the host interface, and a secondary compression engine configured to decompress and compress data associated with operations internal to the data storage system. In some implementations, the data storage systems can further include a processor configured to transfer data between the host interface and the primary compression engine, between the primary compression engine and a non-volatile storage medium, between a memory and the secondary compression engine, and between the secondary compression engine and the memory. A data storage system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: STEC, INC.
    Inventor: STEC, INC.
  • Patent number: 8453021
    Abstract: A flash storage device performs wear-leveling by tracking data errors that occur when dynamic data is read from a storage block of the flash storage device and moving the dynamic data to an available storage block of the flash storage device. Additionally, the flash storage device identifies a storage block containing static data and moves the static data to the storage block previously containing the dynamic data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: STEC, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Moshayedi, Seyed Jalal Sadr
  • Publication number: 20130132647
    Abstract: A method for managing memory operations in a storage device having a plurality of data blocks, the method including steps for determining a number of invalid pages, in each of the plurality of data blocks, determining a number of page reads for each of the plurality of data blocks and determining a dwell time for each of the plurality of data blocks. In certain aspects, the method further comprises steps for selecting a data block, from among the plurality of data blocks, for memory reclamation based on the number of invalid pages, the number of page reads, and the dwell time of the selected data block. A flash storage system and computer-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: STEC, Inc.
    Inventor: STEC, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130124792
    Abstract: A method for suspending an erase operation performed on a group of memory cells in a flash memory circuit is disclosed. One example method includes initiating an erase operation on one or more memory cells, the erase operation including a plurality of erase pulses, checking for receipt of a memory command after a predetermined number of erase pulses, suspending, after the predetermined number of erase pulses, the erase operation if the memory command was received, and performing a memory operation associated with the memory command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: STEC, Inc.
    Inventor: STEC, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130124931
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a storage device for accounting for transmission errors to improve a usable life span of memory blocks. In some embodiments, the storage device includes: a memory array including a plurality of memory blocks; and a memory controller in communication with the memory array via an interface, wherein the memory controller is configured to detect an error event associated with data from one of the plurality of memory blocks; determine an origin of the error event; increment an error count if the origin of the error event indicates a data error in the one of the plurality of memory blocks and not if the origin of the error event indicates a transmission error; compare the error count to a threshold value; and mark the one of the plurality of memory blocks as bad when the error count exceeds the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: STEC, INC.
    Inventor: Tsan Lin CHEN
  • Publication number: 20130124945
    Abstract: The subject technology includes adjusting an error correcting code rate in a solid-state drive. A first plurality of memory operations are performed on a flash memory device of the solid-state drive using a first code rate. During operation of the drive, a controller monitors an operating condition associated with one or more memory units of the flash memory device for a trigger event. On the trigger event, the first code rate is adjusted in accordance with the operating condition to produce a second code rate, and a second plurality of memory operations is performed on the flash memory device using the second code rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: STEC, Inc.
    Inventor: STEC, Inc.