IP Library Granted Patent US 9,678,490
Granted Patent B2
US 9,678,490 · App. 14/312,196 · Granted Jun 13, 2017

Systems and methods for temperature-based performance optimization of memory devices

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,678,490
App. No.
14/312,196
Granted
Jun 13, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a memory system may include one or more memory modules and a memory controller communicatively coupled to one or more memory modules. The memory controller may be configured to determine a temperature associated with the memory system and determine if the temperature is below a minimum threshold temperature, wherein the minimum threshold temperature is a predetermined margin greater than a critical temperature below which one or more timing parameters of the memory system are of greater durations than they are when the temperature is above the critical temperature, and further wherein the predetermined margin is zero or greater. The memory controller may also be configured to initiate one or more remedial actions to increase the temperature above the minimum threshold temperature if the temperature is below the minimum threshold temperature.

Claims (46)

1. An information handling system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory system communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory system configured to, alone or in concert with the processor:

determine a temperature associated with the memory system;

determine if the temperature is below a minimum threshold temperature, wherein the minimum threshold temperature is a predetermined margin greater than a critical temperature below which one or more timing parameters of the memory system are of greater durations than the one or more timing parameters are when the temperature is above the critical temperature, and further wherein the predetermined margin is zero or greater; and

if the temperature is below the minimum threshold temperature, initiate one or more remedial actions to increase the temperature above the minimum threshold temperature;

wherein:

the one or more remedial actions comprises issuing a non-destructive dummy cycle to consume power within a memory module of the memory system; and

the non-destructive dummy cycle is selected from a plurality of dummy cycles each having a known activation energy in order to provide an optimal amount of power dissipation based on the temperature.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 , the memory system further configured to, alone or in combination with the processor:

determine if the temperature is above the minimum threshold temperature and below a maximum threshold temperature; and

if the temperature is above the minimum threshold temperature and below a maximum threshold temperature, initiate one or more remedial actions to maintain the temperature above the minimum threshold temperature.

3. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more remedial actions comprise reducing air flow from a cooling system for cooling the memory system to at least a portion of the memory system.

4. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more remedial actions comprise increasing an air temperature of air flow of a cooling system for cooling the memory system to at least a portion of the memory system.

5. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more remedial actions comprise activating a self-heating system of the memory system to generate and communicate heat to one or more components of the memory system.

6. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more remedial actions comprise activating a self-heating element of a memory chip of the memory system.

7. A method comprising:

determining a temperature associated with a memory system;

determining if the temperature is below a minimum threshold temperature, wherein the minimum threshold temperature is a predetermined margin greater than a critical temperature below which one or more timing parameters of the memory system are of greater durations than the one or more timing parameters are when the temperature is above the critical temperature, and further wherein the predetermined margin is zero or greater; and

if the temperature is below the minimum threshold temperature, initiating one or more remedial actions to increase the temperature above the minimum threshold temperature;

wherein:

the one or more remedial actions comprises issuing a non-destructive dummy cycle to consume power within a memory module of the memory system; and

the non-destructive dummy cycle is selected from a plurality of dummy cycles each having a known activation energy in order to provide an optimal amount of power dissipation based on the temperature.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

determining if the temperature is above the minimum threshold temperature and below a maximum threshold temperature; and

if the temperature is above the minimum threshold temperature and below a maximum threshold temperature, initiating one or more remedial actions to maintain the temperature above the minimum threshold temperature.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the one or more remedial actions comprise reducing air flow from a cooling system for cooling the memory system to at least a portion of the memory system.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the one or more remedial actions comprise increasing an air temperature of air flow of a cooling system for cooling the memory system to at least a portion of the memory system.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the one or more remedial actions comprise activating a self-heating system of the memory system to generate and communicate heat to one or more components of the memory system.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the one or more remedial actions comprise activating a self-heating element of a memory chip of the memory system.

13. A memory system, comprising:

one or more memory modules; and

a memory controller communicatively coupled to one or more memory modules and configured to:

determine a temperature associated with the memory system;

determine if the temperature is below a minimum threshold temperature, wherein the minimum threshold temperature is a predetermined margin greater than a critical temperature below which one or more timing parameters of the memory system are of greater durations than the one or more timing parameters are when the temperature is above the critical temperature, and further wherein the predetermined margin is zero or greater; and

if the temperature is below the minimum threshold temperature, initiate one or more remedial actions to increase the temperature above the minimum threshold temperature;

wherein:

the one or more remedial actions comprises issuing a non-destructive dummy cycle to consume power within a memory module of the memory system; and

the non-destructive dummy cycle is selected from a plurality of dummy cycles each having a known activation energy in order to provide an optimal amount of power dissipation based on the temperature.

14. The memory system of claim 13 , the memory controller further configured to:

determine if the temperature is above the minimum threshold temperature and below a maximum threshold temperature; and

if the temperature is above the minimum threshold temperature and below a maximum threshold temperature, initiate one or more remedial actions to maintain the temperature above the minimum threshold temperature.

15. The memory system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more remedial actions comprise reducing air flow from a cooling system for cooling the memory system to at least a portion of the memory system.

16. The memory system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more remedial actions comprise increasing an air temperature of air flow of a cooling system for cooling the memory system to at least a portion of the memory system.

17. The memory system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more remedial actions comprise activating a self-heating system of the memory system to generate and communicate heat to the one or more memory modules.

18. The memory system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more remedial actions comprise activating a self-heating element of at least one of the one or more memory chips of the memory system.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
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RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL USA L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
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RELEASE OF REEL 033625 FRAME 0711 (ABL) Recorded Sep 13, 2016
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SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Aug 27, 2014
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SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Aug 27, 2014
From: COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
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SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Aug 27, 2014
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ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2014
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