US 10,950,313 B1 · Responding to changes in available power supply

Abstract

Methods of operating a memory having a first pool of memory cells having a first storage density and a second pool of memory cells having a second storage density greater than the first storage density, as well as apparatus configured to perform similar methods, might include determining whether a value of an indication of available power is less than a threshold, and, in response to determining that the value of the indication of available power is less than the threshold, increasing a size of the first pool of memory cells, limiting write operations of the memory to the first pool of memory cells, and postponing movement of data from the first pool of memory cells to the second pool of memory cells.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A method of operating a memory having a first pool of memory cells having a first storage density and a second pool of memory cells having a second storage density greater than the first storage density, the method comprising:

determining whether a value of an indication of available power of a power supply for the memory is less than a threshold;
in response to determining that the value of the indication of available power is less than the threshold:
increasing a size of the first pool of memory cells;
limiting write operations of the memory, performed in response to write commands received by the memory, to storing data associated with the write commands to the first pool of memory cells at the first storage density;
and
postponing movement of data from the first pool of memory cells to the second pool of memory cells.

3 more elements

determining whether a value of an indication of available power of a power supply for the memory is less than a threshold;
in response to determining that the value of the indication of available power is less than the threshold:
increasing a size of the first pool of memory cells;
limiting write operations of the memory to the first pool of memory cells;
postponing movement of data from the first pool of memory cells to the second pool of memory cells;
monitoring the value of the indication of available power to determine if the value of the indication of available power becomes greater than the threshold;
and
in response to determining that the value of the indication of available power becomes greater than the threshold:
allowing write operations of the memory to the second pool of memory cells;
and
permitting movement of data from the first pool of memory cells to the second pool of memory cells.

8 more elements

determining whether a value of an indication of available power of a power supply for the memory is less than a threshold and whether line-connected power is available to the power supply;
in response to determining that the value of the indication of available power is less than the threshold and that line-connected power is not available:
increasing a size of the first pool of memory cells;
limiting write operations of the memory to the first pool of memory cells;
postponing movement of data from the first pool of memory cells to the second pool of memory cells;
monitoring the value of the indication of available power to determine if the value of the indication of available power becomes greater than the threshold or line-connected power becomes available to the power supply;
and
in response to determining that the value of the indication of available power becomes greater than the threshold or determining that the line-connected power becomes available:
allowing write operations of the memory to the second pool of memory cells;
and
permitting movement of data from the first pool of memory cells to the second pool of memory cells.

8 more elements

An apparatus, comprising:

a power supply;
a first controller configured to receive power from the power supply and configured to receive a value of an indication of available power of the power supply;
and
a memory in communication with the first controller and configured to receive power from the power supply, wherein the memory comprises an array of memory cells and a second controller for accessing the array of memory cells;
wherein the apparatus is configured to:
access a first pool of memory cells of the array of memory cells using a first storage density;
access a second pool of memory cells of the array of memory cells using a second storage density greater than the first storage density;
determine whether the value of the indication of available power is less than a threshold;
and
in response to determining that the value of the indication of available power is less than the threshold:
increase a size of the first pool of memory cells;
limit write operations of the memory, performed in response to write commands received by the memory, to storing data associated with the write commands to the first pool of memory cells at the first storage density;
and
postpone movement of data from the first pool of memory cells to the second pool of memory cells.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Responding to changes in available power supply

Life of this patent

Responding to changes in available power supply

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25