IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,481,578
Granted Patent B2
US 12,481,578 · App. 18/379,331 · Granted Nov 25, 2025

Data loss protection for memory systems and devices

Inventors: Amichai Givant (Rosh-Ha'ain, IL); Yoav Yogev (Mazkeret-Batya, IL); Shivananda Shetty (Fremont, CA); Stefano Amato (San Jose, CA); Itzic Cohen (Netanya, IL); Idan Koren (Kiryat Ono, IL); Yair Sofer (Tel-Aviv, IL)
Assignee: Infineon Technologies LLC
G06F12/023G06F11/073G06F11/0769
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,481,578
App. No.
18/379,331
Granted
Nov 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices prevent data loss in memory devices. Systems may include a non-volatile memory device that includes a first data unit configured to store data for the non-volatile memory device and associated metadata, and a second data unit configured to store data for the non-volatile memory device and associated metadata, wherein the first data unit and second data unit are configured to alternate storing a most recent version of the data and associated metadata. The systems may also include control circuitry configured to read metadata from the first data unit and the second data unit, identify the first data unit as an inactive data unit based on contents of the first data unit and the second data unit, and perform one or more update operations such that the first data unit is updated and set as an active unit when the update operations are complete.

Claims (55)

1 . A system comprising:

a non-volatile memory device comprising:

a first data unit comprising a first plurality of memory cells configured to store data for the non-volatile memory device and associated metadata;

a second data unit comprising a second plurality of memory cells configured to store data for the non-volatile memory device and associated metadata, wherein the first data unit and second data unit are configured to alternate storing a most recent version of the data and associated metadata, and wherein the data comprises configuration data for the non-volatile memory device; and

control circuitry comprising implemented logic configured to:

read metadata from the first data unit and the second data unit;

identify the first data unit as an inactive data unit based on contents of the first data unit and the second data unit; and

perform one or more update operations such that the first data unit is updated and set as an active unit when the update operations are complete, wherein the active unit is a currently active data unit used to store current configuration data for the non-volatile memory device.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more update operations comprise:

storing update data in the first data unit;

incrementing a count value stored in the first data unit to determine it is the active data unit;

activating the first data unit; and

resetting the second data unit.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the update data is included in an update data object received by the control circuitry.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first data unit is identified based on count values included in the metadata stored in the first data unit and the metadata stored in the second data unit.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

generate an error message in response to determining that there is no active data unit.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

generate an error message indicating that a power loss event has occurred.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the data is configuration data comprising a certificate data structure and a firmware data structure.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein each of the certificate data structure and a firmware data structure comprise version data and a valid indicator.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the valid indicator is a hash value computed based, at least in part, on the metadata.

10 . A method comprising:

reading, using control circuitry comprising implemented logic, metadata from a first data unit and a second data unit, the first data unit comprising a first plurality of memory cells, the second data unit comprising a second plurality of memory cells, the first data unit and the second data unit storing data for a non-volatile memory device and associated metadata, wherein the data comprises configuration data for the non-volatile memory device;

identifying, using the control circuitry, the first data unit as an inactive data unit based on contents of the first data unit and the second data unit; and

performing, using the control circuitry, one or more update operations such that the first data unit is updated and set as an active unit when the one or more update operations are complete, wherein the active unit is a currently active data unit used to store current configuration data for the non-volatile memory device.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more update operations further comprise:

storing update data in the first data unit;

incrementing a count value stored in the first data unit to determine it is the active data unit;

activating the first data unit; and

resetting the second data unit.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the identifying of the first data as the inactive data unit further comprises:

retrieving count values included in the metadata stored in the first data unit and the metadata stored in the second data unit; and

determining the count value of the first data unit is lower than the count value of the second data unit.

13 . The method of claim 10 further comprising:

generating an error message indicating that a power loss event has occurred.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the data is configuration data comprising at least one of a certificate data structure and a firmware data structure.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein each of the certificate data structure and the firmware data structure comprise version data and a valid indicator, and wherein the valid indicator is a hash value computed based, at least in part, on the metadata.

16 . A device comprising:

a non-volatile memory array comprising:

a first data unit comprising a first plurality of memory cells configured to store data for the non-volatile memory array and associated metadata;

a second data unit comprising a second plurality of memory cells configured to store data for the non-volatile memory device and associated metadata, wherein the first data unit and second data unit are configured to alternate storing a most recent version of the data and associated metadata, and wherein the data comprises configuration data for the non-volatile memory device; and

one or more processors configured to:

read metadata from the first data unit and the second data unit;

identify the first data unit as an inactive data unit based on contents of the first data unit and the second data unit; and

perform one or more update operations such that the first data unit is updated and set as an active unit when the one or more update operations are complete, wherein the active unit is a currently active data unit used to store current configuration data for the non-volatile memory device.

17 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the one or more update operations comprise:

storing update data in the first data unit;

incrementing a count value stored in the first data unit to determine it is the active data unit;

activating the first data unit; and

resetting the second data unit.

18 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the first data unit is identified based on count values included in the metadata stored in the first data unit and the metadata stored in the second data unit.

19 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

generate an error message indicating that a power loss event has occurred.

20 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the data is configuration data comprising a certificate data structure and a firmware data structure, wherein each of the certificate data structure and a firmware data structure comprise version data and a valid indicator, and wherein the valid indicator is a hash value computed based, at least in part, on the metadata.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2025
From: AMATO, STEFANO; COHEN, ITZIC; GIVANT, AMICHAI; KOREN, IDAN; SHETTY, SHIVANANDA; SOFER, YAIR; YOGEV, YOAV
To: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 070340/0884 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63449644 · Mar 3, 2023
Related Publication 20240296115A1 · Sep 5, 2024
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