Siliconsystems, Inc.

Wesley Walston

Mark Diggs

Disclosed herein are systems and methods that recognize and recapture potentially unused processing time in typical page program and block erase operations in non-volatile memory (NVM) devices. In one embodiment, a characterization module within a controller executes a characterization procedure by performing page program and block erase operations on one or more NVM devices in an array and storing execution time data of the operations in a calibration table. The procedure may be executed at start-up and/or periodically so that the time values are reflective of the actual physical condition of the individual NVM devices. A task manager uses the stored time values to estimate the time needed for completing certain memory operations in its task table. Based on the estimated time for completion, the task manager assigns tasks to be executed during page program and/or block erase cycles, so that otherwise unused processing time can be utilized.

Systems and methods for improving the performance of non-volatile memory operations

A storage subsystem includes a charge pump that receives a power signal from a host system, and generates a regulated power signal that is provided to the storage subsystem's controller. When the power signal from the host is interrupted, the charge pump additionally acts as a backup power supply to enable the storage subsystem to continue to operate temporarily, and power isolation circuitry in the storage subsystem prevents power from flowing back to the host system. The storage subsystem further includes a digitally programmable voltage detection circuit that accepts various supply voltages and asserts a busy signal to the controller when an anomaly in the power signal is detected. The controller includes logic circuitry that will block the host system from performing write operations to the storage subsystem either when the voltage detection circuit asserts a busy signal or when the controller is busy executing memory operation commands.

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Huntington Beach, CA, United States of America

Wesley Walston