Patents Assigned to SMART Storage Systems, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9021231
    Abstract: A method of operation of a storage control system includes: partitioning logical addresses into a number of subdrives, the logical addresses associated with a memory device; and monitoring a data write measure of one of the subdrives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Smart Storage Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Fitzpatrick, Bernardo Rub, Mark Dancho, James Higgins, Ryan Jones
  • Patent number: 9021319
    Abstract: A method of operation of a non-volatile memory system includes: generating a test stimulus for a page in a memory array; measuring a test response from the page in the memory array based on the test stimulus; calculating a measured effective life of the page from the test response; and determining a use plan according to the measured effective life for accessing the page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Smart Storage Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Fitzpatrick, Bernardo Rub, James Higgins, Ryan Jones, Robert W. Ellis
  • Publication number: 20150039842
    Abstract: A system and method of operation of a data storage system includes: a memory die for determining a middle read threshold; a control unit, coupled to the memory die, for calculating a lower read threshold and an upper read threshold based on the middle read threshold and a memory element age; and a memory interface, coupled to the memory die, for reading a memory page of the memory die using the lower read threshold, the middle read threshold, or the upper read threshold for compensating for a charge variation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: SMART Storage Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Fitzpatrick, Mark Dancho, James M. Higgins, Robert W. Ellis
  • Patent number: 8949689
    Abstract: A method of operation of a storage control system includes: generating encoded data having a proportional data distribution for writing to a memory device; identifying a marginal block when an erase block is read from the memory device; and generating a marginal tag for the marginal block, the marginal tag having a non-proportional data distribution different from the proportional data distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Smart Storage Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert W. Ellis
  • Patent number: 8935466
    Abstract: A method of operation of a data storage system includes: identifying a target block; configuring a command setting for maximizing a data retention period of the target block for refreshing the target block; writing a pre-archived memory block to the target block based on the command setting; and updating an archive status for sending to a host device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Smart Storage Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert W. Ellis
  • Patent number: 8909851
    Abstract: A method of operation of a storage control system including: providing a memory controller; accessing a volatile memory table by the memory controller; writing a non-volatile semiconductor memory for persisting changes in the volatile memory table; and restoring a logical-to-physical table in the volatile memory table, after a power cycle, by restoring a random access memory with a logical-to-physical partition from a most recently used list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Smart Storage Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Jones, Robert W. Ellis, Joseph Taylor
  • Publication number: 20140310494
    Abstract: A storage control system, and a method of operation thereof, including: a recycle write queue for providing a recycle write; a host write queue for providing a host write; and a scheduler, coupled to the recycle write queue and the host write queue, for scheduling the recycle write and the host write for writing to a memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: SMART Storage Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Higgins, James M. Kresse, Ryan Jones, Mark Dancho
  • Publication number: 20140310445
    Abstract: A storage control system, and a method of operation thereof, including: a power-down module for powering off a memory sub-system; a decay estimation module, coupled to the power-down module, for estimating a power-off decay rate upon the memory sub-system powered up, the power-off decay rate is for indicating how much data in the memory sub-system has decayed while the memory sub-system has been powered down; and a recycle module, coupled to the decay estimation module, for recycling an erase block for data retention based on the power-off decay rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: SMART Storage Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Fitzpatrick, James M. Higgins, Bernardo Rub, Ryan Jones, Robert W. Ellis, Mark Dancho, Sheunghee Park
  • Publication number: 20140298004
    Abstract: An electronic system and method of operation thereof includes: a control unit for receiving a patterned signal; a recognizer module, coupled to the control unit, for recognizing an unique trigger from the patterned signal; an operation module, coupled to the recognizer module, for detecting an operational mode from the unique trigger; and a change module, coupled to the operation module, for configuring a system state change of a memory sub-system based on the operational mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: SMART Storage Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Ellis, Lace J. Herman
  • Patent number: 8792273
    Abstract: A method of operation of a data storage system includes: providing a power monitor module for detecting a loss of host power; interrupting a unit controller by the power monitor module; configuring a memory controller by the unit controller; and writing a non-volatile memory array for storing in-flight data and contents of a system control random access memory in a multi-level cell NAND flash device in response to detecting the loss of the host power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Smart Storage Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Ellis, Scott Creasman
  • Publication number: 20130332796
    Abstract: A method of operation of a storage control system includes: generating encoded data having a proportional data distribution for writing to a memory device; identifying a marginal block when an erase block is read from the memory device; and generating a marginal tag for the marginal block, the marginal tag having a non-proportional data distribution different from the proportional data distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: SMART Storage Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert W. Ellis
  • Publication number: 20130282962
    Abstract: A storage control system and method of operation thereof includes: a memory circuit for accessing a configuration category; a configuration module, coupled to the memory circuit, for configuring the memory circuit with the configuration category; and an operation module, coupled to the configuration module, for controlling a performance characteristic of a memory device based on the configuration category.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: SMART Storage Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernardo Rub, James Fitzpatrick, Sheunghee Park, Yi-Ching Wu, Robert W. Ellis
  • Patent number: 8566505
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for flash memory management, including receiving data from a host, writing the data to a flash memory device in the order it was received from the host, and providing at least one data structure configured to locate the data written to the flash memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: SMART Storage Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Kilzer, Robert W. Ellis, Rudolph J. Sterbenz
  • Publication number: 20130275795
    Abstract: A storage control system and method of operation thereof includes: a control unit for initiating a hardening process beginning at a power-down signal; a counter module, coupled to the control unit for tracking a recorded time beginning at the power-down signal; a completion module, coupled to the counter module, for generating a work-complete entry in memory devices at a conclusion of the hardening process; and a calculation module, coupled to the completion module, for calculating a power down margin by determining the recorded time between the work-complete entry and a complete power loss of a hold-up power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: SMART Storage Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Ellis, Theron Wayne Virgin, Scott Creasman
  • Patent number: 8271722
    Abstract: A method for flash memory management comprises providing a head pointer configured to define a first location in a flash memory, and a tail pointer configured to define a second location in a flash memory. The head pointer and tail pointer define a payload data area. Payload data is received from a host, and written to the flash memory in the order it was received. The head pointer and tail pointer are updated such that the payload data area moves in a circular manner within the flash memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: SMART Storage Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L Kilzer, Robert W. Ellis, Rudolph J. Sterbenz
  • Patent number: 8185778
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for flash memory management, including storing metadata and/or error correcting information separately from payload data. In various embodiments, metadata and/or error correcting information are stored in a random access memory within a solid state drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: SMART Storage Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L Kilzer, Robert W Ellis, Rudolph J Sterbenz
  • Patent number: 8180954
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for flash memory management, including tracking payload data via one or more data structures configured to define the size of logical pages in a flash memory. In various embodiments, the logical page size may be larger than, equal to, or smaller than a physical page size of a flash memory chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: SMART Storage Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L Kilzer, Robert W Ellis, Rudolph J Sterbenz
  • Patent number: 8149012
    Abstract: A method is provided for intentionally permanently disabling a target device. The target device comprises an integrated circuit having one or more electronic devices, where the target device is disabled by destroying at least one or more electronic devices. The method comprises charging at least one capacitor in an integrated circuit disabling device, detecting when at least one capacitor is charged, and selecting at least one target signal path associated with the target device for disabling. The method further includes connecting the integrated circuit disabling device to the target signal path and rapidly discharging at least one capacitor to the selected target signal path. The discharging step may apply a high energy impulse to destroy the one or more electronic devices of the target device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: SMART Storage Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Lazaravich, Hugh Littlebury, Robert William Ellis