Samsung patents memory that tests itself while you use it
This filing describes a memory system with a main set of chips and a duplicate 'mirror' set that holds the same data. While the main chips handle your normal tasks, the controller runs self-tests on the mirror chips at the same time.
In the filing’s own words
A memory system including: a memory module including a plurality of memory chips; a mirror memory module including a plurality of mirror memory chips corresponding to the plurality of memory chips, a first mirror memory chip of the plurality of mirror memory chips being storing same data as a first memory chip of the plurality of memory chips; and a memory controller configured to, in a system running state in which an operation according to a request of a user is capable of being performed after the memory system is booted, provide the memory module with a command for instructing a normal operation to be performed and provide the mirror memory module with a command for instructing a memory built-in self-test (MBIST) to be performed.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A memory system comprising: a memory module including a plurality of memory chips; a mirror memory module including a plurality of mirror memory chips corresponding to the plurality of memory chips, a first mirror memory chip of the plurality of mirror memory chips being storing same data as a first memory chip of the plurality of memory chips; and a memory controller configured to, in a system running state in which an operation according to a request of a user is capable of being performed after the memory system is booted, provide the memory module with a command for instructing a normal operation to be performed and provide the mirror memory module with a command for instructing a memory built-in self-test (MBIST) to be performed, wherein the MBIST is partially performed on the mirror memory module simultaneously with the normal operation performed on the memory module.
Facts
- Company
- Samsung (SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.)
- Official title
- Memory controller capable of performing multiple operations, an operation method thereof, a memory device, and a memory system
- Patent number
- US12749553B2
- Application number
- 18226340
- Filed
- Jul 26, 2023
- Granted
- Sep 29, 2026
- Inventors
- 5
- Claims
- 15
Classified under
G11C 29/46 Physics & computingG11C 29/1201 Physics & computingG11C 29/44 Physics & computingMore from Samsung in Chips & hardware
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.