Abstract: A maintenance system of a data storage device identifies which portions of the data storage device are more susceptible to data retention failures and other issues when compared with other portions of the data storage device. Various portions of the data storage device are identified as susceptible portions based on one or more characteristics. When the susceptible portions are identified, the maintenance system determines a frequency at which subsequent maintenance operations will be performed on the susceptible portions. The frequency may be based on the one or more characteristics, an amount of errors in data associated with the susceptible portion or a type of the susceptible portion.

Abstract: Methods for recording commands in memory and providing the recorded commands. In one embodiment, a data storage controller includes a memory interface configured to interface with a memory, a controller memory including a storage firmware and a record mapping table, and a processor. The processor, when executing the storage firmware, is configured to receive a record identifier, receive a command including data to be stored in the memory, and create an entry in the record mapping table associating the record identifier with a logical block address of the command. The command is received after the record identifier. The processor may receive a playback identifier that includes the record identifier and determine, using the record mapping table, a location of the associated command in the memory. The command is provided to an external device.

Abstract: For bit errors caused by intrinsic cell variations, the bit errors are scattered across a page of memory. However, for bit errors caused by a physical issue in memory, the bit errors cluster together within the same memory area. In an example data storage device, a page of memory is divided into sections, and counters are used to count the number of errors in each section. A physical error location is detected if the number exceeds a parameter, and as compared to the number of errors in the other sections. In another example data storage device having an error correction code (ECC) engine, a histogram and binomial probability are used to detect physical errors. This has the advantage of detecting weak memory blocks that are about to fail, so the blocks can be retired early as a grown bad block.

Abstract: Methods for recording commands in memory and providing the recorded commands. In one embodiment, a data storage controller includes a memory interface configured to interface with a memory, a controller memory including a storage firmware and a record mapping table, and a processor. The processor, when executing the storage firmware, is configured to receive a record identifier, receive a command including data to be stored in the memory, and create an entry in the record mapping table associating the record identifier with a logical block address of the command. The command is received after the record identifier. The processor may receive a playback identifier that includes the record identifier and determine, using the record mapping table, a location of the associated command in the memory. The command is provided to an external device.

Abstract: A storage device may ensure consistent performance when executing a read command provided by a host device. The storage device executes a read instruction received from the host device and executes a background operation to manage resources on a memory device and/or perform thermal throttling on the storage device. The storage device executes a formula including an interleave ratio to interleave host read operations with the background operation based on an operation time. The storage device also uses a read temperature threshold, a preset slowdown percentage, and/or a read speed to optimize host read operations during thermal throttling and thereby limit performance degradation during read operations.

Abstract: A process for reliably erasing data from a solid-state drive (SSD) includes first, prior to user data being stored on the drive, generating a restore image of information stored on the drive which characterizes a restore state of the drive, such as a factory image. Then, imparting energy to the drive to promote electrons representing bits in corresponding memory cells to exit the cells, such as imparting thermal energy or high-energy electromagnetic radiation to the drive. Also, generating a set of quantitative data for verifying erasure of the data for presentation to the user helps ensure trust in the data wipe process. The drive may also be electrically erased prior to imparting energy to the SSD, to provide another level of confidence in the data wipe process. The restore image may then be loaded to the necessary locations on the wiped drive to restore drive functionality.

Abstract: Post-write data management operations, such as refresh read, data scrub, and data relocation, are typically performed after a certain period of time has elapsed. However, performing such operations based on probability of access can provide advantages. So, in one example, a post-write data management operation is performed more frequently on relatively-warmer data than on relatively-colder data.

Abstract: A thermally conductive spacer is positioned between two semiconductor dies in a stack of semiconductor dies. The spacer includes thermal conductivity features that dissipate heat or otherwise conduct heat away from the semiconductor dies in the stack. The spacer may have dimensions that are larger than the dimensions of the semiconductor dies in the stack. The thermal conductivity features of the spacer, in addition to the larger dimensions, enable the spacer to effectively dissipate heat from, and improve a thermal profile of, the stack of semiconductor dies.

Abstract: A data storage device can store data and parity information for the data in its memory. In some storage methodologies, data and parity information are striped across a plurality of memory dies (e.g., in a redundant array of independent drives (RAID) configuration). That way, if one of the memory dies fails, the data or the parity information can be reconstructed from the other memory dies. These embodiments recognize that because parity information is used relatively infrequently, the parity information can be stored in locations in the memory that have a relatively-worse performance than other areas of the memory. This can increase performance of the memory in situations where the parity information does not need to be read.

Abstract: When copy commands are queued in a submission queue, there can potentially be many queued input-output (I/O) commands directed to the same logical range as the queued commands. This can result in data being invalidated immediately after it is written in memory, leading to write amplification and inefficient backend processing. To address this problem, the embodiments presented herein can be used to lock the range of logical block addresses of the queued commands, so that I/O commands are prevented from accessing the range of logical block addresses until the queued copy commands are completed.

Abstract: Rather than storing multiple video files in a jumbo block (JB), the video file is stored in one or more complete JBs while the remaining data of the video file that does not fill a complete JB is stored in a tail block (TB). Generally, data sets are not mixed within a JB, but rather, the extra, excess, or tail data is stored in the TB. Multiple video file extra, excess, or tail data can be stored in a common TB. Stated another way, a TB is able to hold multiple video file tails from multiple video files. The use of the TB decreases garbage collection (GC) of jumbo blocks.

Abstract: A data storage device stores files in its memory. The files may be logically fragmented in that various parts of a given file may be located in non-continuous logical addresses, which can be disadvantageous. The host can send a request to the data storage device to reduce such logical fragmentation. For example, the host can send a swap command to the data storage device, in response to which the data storage device swaps the logical addresses of data fragments of two different files. This results in the logical address of one or both of the data fragments being continuous with the logical address of another data fragment of the same file. This logical address swap can take place without physically moving the data in the memory.

Abstract: A flash memory includes an improved error handling algorithm for data recovery. Rather than running a default read recovery only, an Enhance Read Retry (ERR) process also is performed. After running a default read recovery, WLs are flagged with an error flag if the read was unsuccessful. The flag triggers ERR mode. ERR mode implements increase of the row read bias or implements increase of row read time or implements multiple pulses at the same voltage, or a combination of all three.

Abstract: In wafer-to-wafer bonding, a first die is bonded to a second die at a bonding interface. Various configurations of capacitors are placed along an inner portion of an edge seal of the bonded dies to detect a discontinuity in the bonding interface. These configurations include interdigitated capacitors, which can be horizontally or vertically oriented, parallel-digitated capacitors, and pillars forming a parameter around the dies with conductive portions offset from the pillar and extending inside the dies. Other configurations can be used.

Abstract: Techniques are presented for the application of neural networks to the fabrication of integrated circuits and electronic devices, where example are given for the fabrication of non-volatile memory circuits and the mounting of circuit components on the printed circuit board of a solid state drive (SSD). The techniques include the generation of high precision masks suitable for analyzing electron microscope images of feature of integrated circuits and of handling the training of the neural network when the available training data set is sparse through use of a generative adversary network (GAN).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for efficiently handling large data files and their updates in NAND memory. In one example, provided is a data-storage system configured to reduce the frequency of data relocations by segregating a large data file into a plurality of subfiles. The size of such subfiles is appropriately selected to reduce the probability of occurrence for host-relocation conflicts and the magnitude of write amplification, thereby enabling the data-storage system to provide better quality of service while substantially maintaining acceptable levels of other pertinent performance characteristics. In some examples, a sequence of host read-modify-write commands is handled by generating a copy of implicated subfiles in a data buffer, applying subfile updates to the copy in the data buffer in accordance with the sequence, and relocating the implicated subfiles in the NAND memory using the updated versions thereof from the data buffer.

Abstract: A data storage device stores files in its memory. The files may be logically fragmented in that various parts of a given file may be located in non-continuous logical addresses, which can be disadvantageous. The host can send a request to the data storage device to reduce such logical fragmentation. For example, the host can send a swap command to the data storage device, in response to which the data storage device swaps the logical addresses of data fragments of two different files. This results in the logical address of one or both of the data fragments being continuous with the logical address of another data fragment of the same file. This logical address swap can take place without physically moving the data in the memory.

Abstract: Techniques are presented for the application of neural networks to the fabrication of integrated circuits and electronic devices, where example are given for the fabrication of non-volatile memory circuits and the mounting of circuit components on the printed circuit board of a solid state drive (SSD). The techniques include the generation of high precision masks suitable for analyzing electron microscope images of feature of integrated circuits and of handling the training of the neural network when the available training data set is sparse through use of a generative adversary network (GAN).

Abstract: A data storage device includes a power supply circuit configured to supply power to the data storage device. The power supply circuit includes a voltage clamp configured to operate in a conduction state in response to an over-voltage condition of the power supply circuit. The power supply circuit also includes a fuse in series with the voltage clamp. The fuse is configured to open in response to a current flow through the fuse and the voltage clamp exceeding a threshold value. The power supply circuit also includes a switching device that is configured to latch in a forward conduction mode in response to the voltage clamp operating in the conduction state. The switching device couples power from a positive voltage bus to the voltage clamp when the switching device is in the forward conduction mode.

Abstract: A storage system has a memory that is organized in wordlines. Each wordline has a number of strings. A controller in the storage system changes, in each of the wordlines, which of the strings is a last string programmed. Doing so can unmask a program disturb error when triple-level cells in the memory are used as pseudo-multi-level cells. By unmasking the program disturb error, the controller can detect and correct the error.