SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING CHARGE OF A SECONDARY POWER SUPPLY FOR A MEMORY SYSTEM
A memory system is described. The memory system includes one or more memory subsystems. The memory system also includes a power module coupled with at least one of the one or more memory subsystems. Further, the memory system includes a controller coupled with the one or more memory subsystems and the power module. The controller is configured to generate an energy threshold based on energy used for a backup operation.
1 . A memory system comprising:
one or more memory subsystems;
a power module coupled with at least one of said one or more memory subsystems; and
a controller coupled with said one or more memory subsystems and said power module, said controller configured to generate an energy threshold based on energy used for a backup operation.
2 . The memory system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to use the energy threshold to determine when said power module is charged for a backup operation.
3 . The memory system of claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to generate said energy threshold by adding a guard-band energy to said energy used for said backup operation.
4 . The memory system of claim 3 , wherein said controller is configured to generate said energy threshold by further adding a drop-off energy to said guard-band energy and to said energy used for said backup operation.
5 . The memory system of claim 1 , wherein said energy used for said backup operation is an average energy used for a number of backup operations.
6 . The memory system of claim 1 , wherein said controller is further configured to determine an energy of said power module.
7 . The memory system of claim 6 , wherein said controller is further configured to determine if said energy of said power module is equal to or greater than said energy threshold.
8 . The memory system of claim 7 , wherein said controller is configured to trigger an event if said energy of said power module is less than said energy threshold.
9 . The memory system of claim 7 , wherein said controller is configured to trigger an event if said energy of said power module is equal to or greater than said energy threshold.
10 . The memory system of claim 1 , wherein said secondary power module includes a capacitor array.
11 . A method comprising:
at a memory system including a plurality of memory subsystems and a secondary power source:
determining energy used to perform a backup operation;
generating an energy threshold based on said energy used for said backup operation; and
determining if said energy of said secondary power source is equal to or greater than said energy threshold.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein generating said energy threshold includes adding a guard-band energy to said energy used for said backup operation.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein generating said energy threshold further includes adding a drop-out energy to said guard-band energy and to said energy used for said backup operation.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said drop-out energy is based on a minimum voltage requirement of a circuit in said memory system.
15 . The method of claim 13 further comprising triggering an event if said energy of said power module is less than said energy threshold.
16 . The method of claim 11 further comprising triggering an event if said energy of said power module is equal to or greater than said energy threshold.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein determining if said energy of said secondary power source is equal to or greater than said energy threshold is based on a comparison of a capacitor array voltage to a threshold voltage.
18 . A memory system comprising:
a means for determining energy used to perform a backup operation;
a means for generating an energy threshold based on said energy used for said backup operation; and
a means for determining if said energy of said secondary power source is equal to or greater than said energy threshold.
19 . The memory system of claim 18 further comprising a means for triggering an event if said energy of said power module is less than said energy threshold.
20 . The memory system of claim 18 further comprising a means for triggering an event if said energy of said power module is equal to or greater than said energy threshold.