Silicon Motion Assigned Fifteen Patents

Apparatus and method for expanding round keys during data encryption
Silicon Motion, Inc., Zhubei, Taiwan, has been assigned a patent (12273108) developed by Wu; Wun-Jhe, Kinmen County, Taiwan, Chen; Po-Hung, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Cheng; Chiao-Wen, Yu; Jiun-Hung, and Liu; Chih-Wei, Zhubei, Taiwan, for “apparatus and method for expanding round keys during data encryption.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “The invention introduces an apparatus and a method for expanding round keys during data encryption. The method includes: configuring a word-processing circuitry to operate in a first mode to calculate a first intermediate calculation result corresponding to an even-number round key according to a last double word of a 0.sup.th double word to a 7.sup.th double word in each even-number clock cycle starting from a 2.sup.nd clock cycle; and configuring the word-processing circuitry to operate in a second mode to calculate a second intermediate calculation result corresponding to an odd-number round key according to the last double word of the 0.sup.th double word to the 7.sup.th double word in each odd-number clock cycle starting from a 3.sup.rd clock cycle. In the first mode, a first data path is formed in the word-processing circuitry, which includes a word split circuitry, a rotate-word circuitry, a substitute-word circuitry, a round-constant circuitry and a word concatenation circuitry. In the second mode, a second data path is formed in the word-processing circuitry, which includes the word split circuitry, the substitute-word circuitry and the word concatenation circuitry.”

The patent application was filed on 2023-05-04 (18/143313).

Performing access management of memory device in predetermined communications architecture with aid of automatic parameter setting
Silicon Motion, Inc., Hsinchu County, Taiwan, has been assigned a patent (12265468) developed by Wu; Lu-Ting, Taichung, Taiwan, Chiu; Shen-Ting, Miaoli County, Taiwan, Wang; Te-Kai, Hsinchu County, Taiwan, and Wu; Po-Lin, Hsinchu, Taiwan, for “method and apparatus for performing access management of memory device in predetermined communications architecture with aid of automatic parameter setting.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method for performing access management of a memory device in a predetermined communications architecture with aid of automatic parameter setting and associated apparatus are provided. The method includes: utilizing the memory controller to set at least one write booster static parameter of a write booster function of the memory device; utilizing the memory controller to perform device initialization corresponding to at least one initialization phase of the memory device; and after completing the device initialization corresponding to the at least one initialization phase, performing at least one adaptive flag-setting operation, for setting at least one write booster flag among a plurality of write booster flags of the write booster function, wherein the at least one write booster flag includes a first write booster flag acting as a write booster switch. The adaptive flag-setting operation includes setting the first write booster flag to enable the write booster function by default.”

The patent application was filed on 2023-09-04 (18/241996).

Scheme for finding and checking whether page units in one block are empty pages by using flash memory device and reporting fund result from flash memory device to flash memory controller
Silicon Motion, Inc., Hsinchu County, Taiwan, has been assigned a patent (12265728) developed by Lu; Tsu-Han, Hsinchu, Taiwan, and Yen; Hsiao-Chang, Hsinchu County, Taiwan, for a “scheme for finding and checking whether page units in one block are empty pages by using flash memory device and reporting fund result from flash memory device to flash memory controller.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A flash memory controller is used in a storage device and coupled to a flash memory device of the storage device through a specific communication interface and includes an input/output (I/O) circuit and a processor. The I/O circuit is coupled to the flash memory device through the specific communication interface, and used for sending commands and data between the flash memory device and the processor. The processor is used for controlling the I/O circuit sending a specific boundary check command signal or a specific boundary check set-feature signal via the specific communication interface to the flash memory device, to make the flash memory device read out more page data of multiple page units from a specific block in the memory cell array and to make the flash memory device determine whether the multiple page units are empty pages.”

The patent application was filed on 2023-05-30 (18/203066).

Data storage device and data processing method for arranging write order of writing data based on logical data order of reading data
Silicon Motion, Inc., Hsinchu County, Taiwan, has been assigned a patent (12260100) developed by Cheng; Chi-Hung, Taipei, Taiwan, for “data storage device and data processing method for arranging a write order of writing data based on a logical data order of reading the data.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A data storage device includes a memory device and a memory controller. In response to a write command received from a host device, the memory controller performs a write operation to write predetermined data into the memory device. In the write operation, the memory controller selects one from multiple superblocks as a first target superblock of the write operation and sequentially writes the portions of the predetermined data into the pages of the first target superblock in a cyclic manner among memory dies according to an order of plane indices. Each memory die includes at least a first plane and a second plane. In the write operation corresponding to the predetermined data, corresponding write operations performed on a first page on the first plane of all memory dies are earlier than corresponding write operations performed on a first page on the second plane of all memory dies.”

The patent application was filed on 2023-07-25 (18/226246).

Output driving and input on-die termination mechanism capable of supporting different requirements of different flash memory specification standards
Silicon Motion, Inc., Hsinchu County, Taiwan, has been assigned a patent (12260087) developed by Wong; Zih-Yang, Hsinchu, Taiwan, for “output driving and input on-die termination mechanism capable of supporting different requirements of different flash memory specification standards.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “An input/output (I/O) interface circuit, disposed within a flash memory controller and to be coupled to a flash memory externally coupled to the flash memory controller through an I/O signal port of the flash memory controller, includes a transmission and on-die termination circuit operating as either an output driving stage circuit or an input on-die termination stage circuit. The transmission and on-die termination circuit operates as the output driving stage circuit to transfer and drive a transmission signal, sent from the processor circuit of the flash memory controller, to the flash memory through the I/O signal port. The transmission and on-die termination circuit operates as the input on-die termination stage circuit for generating and providing a matching termination resistance for the I/O signal port.”

The patent application was filed on 2023-03-16 (18/122695).

Flash memory controller and data programming
Silicon Motion, Inc., Jhubei, Taiwan, has been assigned a patent (12259818) developed by Yen; Hsiao-chang, and Lu; Tsu-han, Hsinchu, Taiwan, for “flash memory controller and data programming method.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A flash memory controller and a data programming method are provided. The flash memory controller includes a control logic circuit and a processor. The control logic circuit is coupled to a first chip-enable-signal controlled area of a flash memory through a channel to transmit data and commands. The processor controls the control logic circuit to transmit a first command and a second command to the first chip-enable-signal controlled area through the channel. The first command is configured to instruct the first chip-enable-signal controlled area to write stored data and read operating temperature information. In response to the transmission of the second command, the processor controls the control logic circuit to receive the operating temperature information from the first chip-enable-signal controlled area.”

The patent application was filed on 2024-02-05 (18/432096).

Flash memory mechanism capable of storing and recording actual transmission history information of communication interface between flash memory controller and flash memory device
Silicon Motion, Inc., Hsinchu County, Taiwan, has been assigned a patent (12260121) developed by Lu; Tsu-Han, Hsinchu, Taiwan, and Yen; Hsiao-Chang, Hsinchu County, Taiwan, for a “flash memory mechanism capable of storing and recording actual transmission history information of communication interface between flash memory controller and flash memory device.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method of a flash memory device to be used in a storage device and coupled to a flash memory controller of the storage device through a specific communication interface, the flash memory device comprising an input/output (I/O) control circuit, a command register, an address register, a memory cell array at least having a first plane and a second plane which is different from the first plane, at least one address decoder, and a control circuit having a specific buffer, and the method comprises: buffering command information of a command signal, sent from the flash memory controller and transmitted through the I/O control circuit, into the command register; buffering address information of the command signal, sent from the flash memory controller and transmitted through the I/O control circuit, into the address register; and controlling the specific buffer storing a transmission history information of the specific communication interface.”

The patent application was filed on 2023-05-29 (18/202962).

Performing data access control of memory device with aid of predicted information
Silicon Motion, Inc., Hsinchu County, Taiwan, has been assigned a patent (12260123) developed by Li; Fahao, Shenzhen, China, for “Method and apparatus for performing data access control of memory device with aid of predicted information.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method for performing data access control of a memory device and associated apparatus are provided. The method may include: receiving a plurality of host commands from a host device, for performing data access including data reading on the NV memory according to the plurality of host commands; and performing a reading parameter learning procedure to generate predicted data of a predicted reading voltage parameter offset regarding adjustment of a reading voltage parameter, for maintaining correctness of the data reading, for example: scanning for a best value, and adding latest information comprising the best value into a data set among one or more data sets in at least one reading-voltage control database; performing local linear regression according to the data set to update a reading voltage prediction function corresponding to a reading voltage prediction model; and generating or updating the predicted data according to the reading voltage prediction function.”

The patent application was filed on 2023-09-19 (18/370379).

Non-volatile data storage device having plurality of dies accessed in interleaved manner
Silicon Motion, Inc., Jhubei, Taiwan, has been assigned a patent (12254219) developed by Ou; Hsu-Ping, and Tai; Kuang-Ting, Zhubei, Taiwan, for a “non-volatile data storage device having a plurality of dies accessed in an interleaved manner.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A technique for signal deskew at the non-volatile memory side. The non-volatile memory includes a plurality of dies and a signal timing adjustment circuit. The dies are grouped into storage zones. A controller is coupled to the non-volatile memory through a plurality of data lines. Through the data lines, the controller issues a plurality of commands to provide zone delay parameters to the non-volatile memory to drive the signal timing adjustment circuit at the non-volatile memory side to separately adjust data-line timing of the different storage zones.”

The patent application was filed on 2023-07-28 (18/361150).

Method of handling trim command in flash memory and related memory controller and storage system
Silicon Motion, Inc., Hsinchu County, Taiwan, has been assigned a patent (12253957) developed by Yang; Tzu-Yi, Hsinchu County, Taiwan, for “method of handling trim command in flash memory and related memory controller and storage system thereof.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method of handling trim commands in a flash memory is provided. The method comprises: receiving a trim command; modifying logical-to-physical (L2P) address mapping entries of a L2P address mapping table according to the trim command; and storing trim information of the trim command into one of data blocks of the flash memory after modifying the L2P address mapping entries according to the trim command.”

The patent application was filed on 2023-01-30 (18/102779).

Mechanism capable of performing on-chip test and verification
Silicon Motion, Inc., Hsinchu County, Taiwan, has been assigned a patent (12253564) developed by Liu; Tse-Yen, Taipei, Taiwan, for a “mechanism capable of performing on-chip test and verification.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “An electronic device includes a functional circuit, a test mode circuit, and a verification circuit. The verification circuit generates and outputs the test waveform signals into the test mode circuit based on a clock signal provided from the test mode circuit, receives test result waveform signals from the test mode circuit when at least one test operation corresponding to the test pattern signal is performed, and compares the test result waveform signals with target result waveform signals to generate and output a failure result signal into the test mode circuit; the failure result signal is used to indicate whether at least one test bit failure occurs.”

The patent application was filed on 2023-03-17 (18/122747).

Control method of flash memory controller and associated flash memory controller and storage device
Silicon Motion, Inc., Hsinchu County, Taiwan, has been assigned a patent (12254202) developed by Lai; Kun-Cheng, Hsinchu County, Taiwan, and Jou; Yen-Yu, Taoyuan, Taiwan, for “control method of flash memory controller and associated flash memory controller and storage device.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “The present invention provides a control method of a flash memory controller, wherein the flash memory controller is configured to access a flash memory module, the flash memory module comprises a plurality of blocks, and the control method comprising: receiving a settling command from a host device; in response to the settling command, configuring at least one portion of the flash memory module as a zoned namespace, wherein the zoned namespace logically comprises a plurality of zones; generating parameter information according to a configuration of the zoned namespace; and transmitting the parameter information to the host device, for the host device uses the parameter information to set the zone.”

The patent application was filed on 2023-03-20 (18/123336).

Interface circuit, memory controller and method for calibrating signal processing devices in interface circuit
Silicon Motion, Inc., Hsinchu County, Taiwan, has been assigned a patent (12249385) developed by Shih; Fu-Jen, New Taipei, Taiwan, for “interface circuit, memory controller and method for calibrating signal processing devices in an interface circuit.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method for calibrating a characteristic value of a signal processing device comprised in SerDes inside of an interface circuit of a memory controller includes: monitoring a current of a voltage of a test element to generate a process detection result by a monitor and calibration module; monitoring an environment temperature to generate a temperature monitored result by the monitor and calibration module; selecting a reference value subset from multiple reference value subsets as a preferred reference value subset for a calibration operation based on the process detection result and the temperature monitored result; and performing the calibration operation on the signal processing device by at least one calibration circuit of the monitor and calibration module according to the preferred reference value subset to adjust the characteristic value of the signal processing device.”

The patent application was filed on 2023-07-24 (18/225654).

Performing data access management of memory device in predetermined communications architecture to enhance sudden power off recovery of page-group-based redundant array of independent disks protection with aid of suspendible serial number
Silicon Motion, Inc., Hsinchu County, Taiwan, has been assigned a patent (12242360) developed by Lee; Jie-Hao, Hsinchu County, Taiwan, Chen; Chun-Ju, Taichung, Taiwan, and Chen; Po-Ting, Hsinchu County, Taiwan, for “method and apparatus for performing data access management of memory device in predetermined communications architecture to enhance sudden power off recovery of page-group-based redundant array of independent disks protection with aid of suspendible serial number.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method for performing data access management of a memory device in predetermined communications architecture to enhance sudden power off recovery (SPOR) of page-group-based redundant array of independent disks (RAID) protection with aid of suspendible serial number and associated apparatus are provided. The method may include: utilizing the memory controller to write preceding data and metadata thereof into at least one set of preceding pages in a first active block to make the metadata carry at least one preceding serial number; writing dummy data and other metadata into at least one set of dummy pages in the first active block to make the other metadata carry at least one suspended serial number which is equal to a last serial number among the at least one preceding serial number; and utilizing the memory controller to write subsequent data and metadata thereof to make it carry at least one subsequent serial number.”

The patent application was filed on 2023-05-26 (18/202297).

Storage device and method for performing error recovery
Silicon Motion, Inc., Hsinchu County, Taiwan, has been assigned a patent (12235721) developed by Shih; Fu-Jen, New Taipei, Taiwan, for “data storage device and method for performing error recovery.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A data storage device includes at least one signal processing circuit to perform an error recovery procedure when an error has occurred in the data storage device. When performing the error recovery procedure, the signal processing circuit determines which type of line reset is to be performed according to a device identifier. When the device identifier satisfies a predetermined condition, the signal processing circuit performs an operation of periodic line reset to repeatedly transmit a line reset signal to the peer device in a predetermined period until the predetermined period expires or another line reset signal representing an acknowledgment of the line reset signal is received from the peer device; and when the device identifier does not satisfy the predetermined condition, the signal processing circuit performs an operation of one-shot line reset to transmit the line reset signal to the peer device for only one time.”

The patent application was filed on 2023-07-06 (18/219087).