Apparatus and Methods for Peak Power Management in Memory Systems
AssigneeSanDisk Technologies LLC
InventorsDamian P. Yurzola, Rajeev Nagabhirava, Gary J. Lin, Matthew Davidson, Paul A. Lassa
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed are apparatus and techniques for managing power in a memory system having a controller and nonvolatile memory array. In one embodiment, prior to execution of each command with respect to the memory array, a request for execution of such command is received with respect to the memory array. In response to receipt of each request for each command, execution of such command is allowed or withheld with respect to the memory array based on whether such command, together with execution of other commands, is estimated to exceed a predetermined power usage specification for the memory system.
Claims11
A method for managing power in a memory system having a controller and nonvolatile memory array, the method comprising:
- prior to execution of each command with respect to the memory array, receiving a request for execution of such command with respect to the memory array;
- and
- in response to receipt of each request for each command, allowing or withholding execution of such command with respect to the memory array based on whether such command, together with execution of other commands, is estimated to exceed a predetermined power usage specification for the memory system.
A memory system comprising:
- a nonvolatile memory array for storing data;
- a flash protocol sequencer (FPS) for accessing the memory array and prior to such accessing, requesting permission from a power arbitration unit to access such memory array;
- the power arbitration unit (PAU) for allowing or withholding permission to the FPS for accessing the memory array, wherein the PAU is configured to determine whether to allow or withhold based on whether such command, together with execution of other commands, is estimated to exceed a predetermined power usage specification for the memory system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.