TWI545586B - Data storage device and method for restricting access thereof - Google Patents

Description

Data storage device and its restricted access method

The present invention relates to a method of restricting access to a memory device; and more particularly to a method for restricting access based on temperature.

Flash memory is a popular non-volatile data storage device that is electrically erased and programmed. For example, NAND FLASH, which is not a gate type, is often used as a memory card, a universal flash memory device, a solid state drive (SSD), and an embedded flash. Memory module (eMMC)...etc.

A flash memory (eg, NAND FLASH) storage array includes a plurality of blocks, wherein a floating gate transistor can be used to form a flash memory. A floating gate in a floating gate transistor that captures charge to store data. However, the charge stored in the floating gate may be lost from the floating gate due to the operation of the flash memory and various environmental parameters, resulting in errors in data reading or writing.

The invention provides a data storage device comprising a flash memory, a temperature sensing device and a controller. Flash memory is used to store data. The temperature sensing device is used to detect an ambient temperature around the environment. The controller is configured to receive a write from a host to cause the controller to write to the flash memory The input command, and when the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined range, performs a protection mechanism in which the controller disables all write commands received from the host. In another embodiment, the controller is further configured to receive a read command from the host to cause the controller to read the flash memory, and in the protection mechanism, the controller disables all reads received from the host. command. In addition, when the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined range, the controller is further configured to generate a warning signal and transmit a warning signal to the host to indicate that the access to the flash memory is prohibited. In an embodiment, the controller is further configured to read the temperature sensing device every other predetermined period to obtain a temperature parameter corresponding to the current ambient temperature. The controller is further configured to activate the protection mechanism when the read temperature parameter exceeds a predetermined range, and to turn off the protection mechanism when the read temperature parameter is within a predetermined range. In one embodiment, the predetermined range is minus 40 degrees Celsius to 85 degrees Celsius.

The invention also provides a method for restricting access, which is suitable for having one A data storage device for flash memory. The access method includes: reading a temperature sensing device every other predetermined period to obtain a temperature parameter corresponding to the current ambient temperature; and when the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined range, opening a protection mechanism to disable all one The host receives at least one write command to write to the flash memory. In another embodiment, the method for restricting access further includes: in the protection mechanism, disabling all the at least one read command received from the host for reading the flash memory; when the read temperature parameter exceeds a predetermined range A warning signal is generated; and a warning signal is transmitted to the host to indicate that the access to the flash memory is prohibited. In addition, when the read temperature parameter is within a predetermined range, the restricted access method further includes a shutdown protection mechanism.

The invention also provides a data storage device, including a flash memory Recalling body, a temperature sensing device and a controller. Flash memory is used to store data. The temperature sensing device is used to detect an ambient temperature around the environment. The controller activates a protection mechanism to disable a host from transmitting a write command when the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined range.

100‧‧‧Electronic system

120‧‧‧Host

140‧‧‧Data storage device

160‧‧‧ Controller

162‧‧‧ arithmetic unit

164‧‧‧Permanent memory

165‧‧‧ random access memory

180‧‧‧Flash memory

190‧‧‧Temperature sensing device

S202~S212‧‧‧Steps

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a block diagram of an electronic system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a flow diagram of a method of restricting access to an embodiment of the present invention.

The apparatus and method of use of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below. However, it is to be noted that many of the possible inventive concepts provided by the present invention can be implemented in various specific ranges. These specific examples are only intended to illustrate the apparatus and methods of use of the present invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a block diagram of an electronic system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The electronic system 100 includes a host 120 and a data storage device 140. The data storage device 140 includes a controller 160, a flash memory 180, and a temperature sensing device 190, and is operable according to commands issued by the host 120. The controller 160 includes an arithmetic unit 162, a permanent memory (e.g., read only memory ROM) 164, and a random access memory 165. The permanent memory 164 and the stored code and data constitute a firmware, which is executed by the operation unit 162, so that the controller 160 controls the flash memory 180 based on the firmware. For example, the controller 160 can perform access to the flash memory 180 according to the command of the host 120, and automatically perform the restricted access method disclosed in the present invention. Flash memory 180 has a plurality of blocks, each block having a plurality of pages. It is worth noting that in other In an embodiment, the controller 160 may further include a timing device (not shown) to calculate the time, but the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the controller 160 can also calculate the time based on the received or self-generated clock. The temperature sensing device 190 is configured to detect an ambient temperature around the data storage device 140 to generate a temperature parameter that varies with ambient temperature. In the present embodiment, the temperature sensing device 190 is disposed adjacent to the flash memory 180 in the data storage device 140 for detecting the ambient temperature around the flash memory 180, but the invention is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, the temperature sensing device 190 can also be disposed outside the data storage device 140 for detecting the ambient temperature around the data storage device 140.

In addition, the flash memory 180 is further used to store one of the temperatures corresponding to The parameters of the established range. In other embodiments, the flash memory 180 further includes a parameter corresponding to a predetermined range of the temperature of the complex array, wherein the controller 160 may select a complex array according to a key or an identification code input by the user. A defined range as a defined range of restricted access methods. In an embodiment, the predetermined range is minus 40 degrees Celsius to 85 degrees Celsius, but the invention is not limited thereto. According to the disclosure of the present invention, a person skilled in the art can design a predetermined range according to the error rate of writing or reading data at different temperatures according to different flash memory data. It is worth noting that in an embodiment, different vendors or customers have different keys or identifiers.

In an embodiment, the controller 160 can start one according to the ambient temperature. The protection mechanism disables the host 120 from writing or reading the flash memory 180. For example, the controller 160 is configured to receive a read command or a write command from the host 120 and perform a protection mechanism when the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined range, wherein the read command is used to cause the controller 160 to be fast Flash memory 180 The data is read, and the write command is used to cause the controller 160 to write data in the flash memory 180. In the protection mechanism, the controller 160 disables all write commands received from the host 120, but the invention is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, in the protection mechanism, the controller 160 is further configured to disable (ignore) all read commands received from the host 120. In an embodiment, when the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined range, the controller 160 is further configured to generate a warning signal and transmit the warning signal to the host 120 to indicate that the access to the flash memory 180 is prohibited, but The invention is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, when the controller 160 receives a write command or a read command in the protection mechanism, a warning signal is generated, and the warning signal is transmitted to the host 120 to indicate that the flash memory 180 is prohibited from being performed. Access to information. For example, the controller 160 may initiate a Write Protect Mode (Pull WP) to prohibit data from being written into the flash memory 180 when the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined range (ie, in a protection mechanism). In addition, the controller 160 may also ignore the read command from the host when the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined range (ie, in the protection mechanism). In another embodiment, the controller 160 can initiate a protection mechanism according to the ambient temperature, and the controller 160 sets a connection interface that is coupled to the host 120, such as a write protect pin of the SATA interface. The disable host 120 transmits a write command. That is, when the ambient temperature exceeds the predetermined range (-45 degrees to 85 degrees), the host 120 may fail to transmit a write command to the controller 160 because the write protection pin has been set, so that the host 120 cannot access the data storage device 140. The action of writing data.

Additionally, in other embodiments, the programmed temperature is within a predetermined range It may also differ from the established range of temperatures read. For example, in an embodiment, the protection mechanism may include a read protection mechanism and a write protection mechanism, and And the read protection mechanism has a different range of temperatures than the write protection mechanism. In other words, the read protection mechanism and the write protection mechanism can be initiated at different points in time depending on the current ambient temperature. The read protection mechanism is used to disable the host 120 from reading the flash memory 180. The write protection mechanism is used to disable the host 120 from writing to the flash memory 180.

In detail, the controller 160 is used to read every predetermined cycle. The temperature sensing device 190 is taken to obtain a temperature parameter corresponding to the current ambient temperature, and it is determined whether the temperature parameter of the current ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined range, and when the temperature parameter of the current ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined range, the protection mechanism is activated. In an embodiment having separate read protection mechanisms and write protection mechanisms, the controller 160 is configured to read the temperature sensing device 190 every other predetermined period to obtain temperature parameters corresponding to the current ambient temperature, and Determining whether the temperature parameter of the current ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined range corresponding to the read protection mechanism and/or exceeds a predetermined range of the write protection mechanism, and when the temperature parameter of the current ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined range corresponding to the read protection mechanism And/or when the specified range of the write protection mechanism is exceeded, the write protection mechanism and/or the read protection mechanism are respectively initiated. In addition, in the protection mechanism, the controller 160 continues to read the temperature sensing device 190 every other predetermined period to obtain a temperature parameter corresponding to the current ambient temperature, and determines whether the temperature parameter of the current ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined range. And when the temperature parameter of the current ambient temperature does not exceed the specified range, the protection mechanism is turned off.

Figure 2 is a flow diagram of a method of restricting access to an embodiment of the present invention. The data maintenance method is applied to the data storage device 140 shown in FIG. The flow begins in step S200.

In step S200, the controller 160 reads the temperature sensing device 190. A temperature parameter corresponding to the current ambient temperature is obtained.

Next, in step S202, the controller 160 determines the current environment. Whether the temperature parameter of the temperature exceeds the specified range. When the temperature parameter exceeds the predetermined range, the flow proceeds to step S204. When the temperature parameter does not exceed the predetermined range, the flow proceeds to step S208. In an embodiment, the predetermined range is minus 40 degrees Celsius to 85 degrees Celsius, but the invention is not limited thereto. According to the disclosure of the present invention, a person skilled in the art can design a predetermined range according to the error rate of writing or reading data at different temperatures according to different flash memory data.

Next, in step S204, the controller 160 determines that the protection mechanism is No started. When the protection mechanism has been started, the flow proceeds to step S208. When the protection mechanism is not activated, the flow proceeds to step S206.

Next, in step S206, the controller 160 turns on the protection mechanism. All write commands for writing to the flash memory 180 are disabled from the host 120. It should be noted that in the protection mechanism of another embodiment, when the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined range, the controller 160 is further configured to disable all readings from the host 120 for reading the flash memory 180. command. In an embodiment, when the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined range, the controller 160 is further configured to generate a warning signal and transmit the warning signal to the host 120 to indicate that the access to the flash memory 180 is prohibited, but The invention is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, when the controller 160 receives a write command or a read command in the protection mechanism, a warning signal is generated, and the warning signal is transmitted to the host 120 to indicate that the flash memory 180 is prohibited from being performed. Access to information. For example, the controller 160 can initiate a Write when the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined range (ie, in a protection mechanism). Protect Mode (Pull WP) prohibits data from being written to the flash memory 180. In addition, the controller 160 may also ignore the read command from the host when the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined range (ie, in the protection mechanism). In another embodiment, the controller 160 can initiate a protection mechanism according to the ambient temperature, and the controller 160 sets a connection interface that is coupled to the host 120, such as a write protect pin of the SATA interface. The disable host 120 transmits a write command. That is, when the ambient temperature exceeds the predetermined range (-45 degrees to 85 degrees), the host 120 may fail to transmit a write command to the controller 160 because the write protection pin has been set, so that the host 120 cannot access the data storage device 140. The action of writing data.

In step S208, the controller 160 determines whether the protection mechanism has been activated. move. When the protection mechanism has been started, the flow proceeds to step S210. When the protection mechanism is not activated, the flow proceeds to step S212.

In step S210, the controller 160 turns off the protection mechanism.

Next, in step S212, the controller 160 determines whether it exceeds one. Established time. When the predetermined time is exceeded, the flow proceeds to step S200, and the controller 160 reads the temperature sensing device 190 to obtain a temperature parameter corresponding to the current ambient temperature. When the predetermined time has not elapsed, the controller 160 continues to judge whether or not the predetermined time is exceeded.

As can be seen from the above, the data storage device 140 and the restricted access method The host 120 can be restricted in access based on the current temperature.

The method of the present invention, or a specific type or part thereof, may be The type of code exists. The code can be stored in a physical medium such as a floppy disk, a CD, a hard disk, or any other machine readable (such as computer readable) storage medium, or is not limited to an external form of computer program product, wherein When the code is machined, When the computer is loaded and executed, the machine becomes a device for participating in the present invention. The code can also be transmitted via some transmission medium, such as a wire or cable, fiber optics, or any transmission type, where the machine becomes part of the program when it is received, loaded, and executed by a machine, such as a computer. Invented device. When implemented in a general purpose processing unit, the code combination processing unit provides a unique means of operation similar to application specific logic.

However, the above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited by the scope of the invention, and the equivalent equivalents and modifications of the present invention are still within the scope of the invention. In addition, any of the objects or advantages or features of the present invention are not required to be achieved by any embodiment or application of the invention. In addition, the abstract sections and headings are only used to assist in the search of patent documents and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

100‧‧‧Electronic system

120‧‧‧Host

140‧‧‧Data storage device

160‧‧‧ Controller

162‧‧‧ arithmetic unit

164‧‧‧Permanent memory

165‧‧‧ random access memory

180‧‧‧Flash memory

190‧‧‧Temperature sensing device

Claims (11)

A data storage device includes: a flash memory for storing data; a temperature sensing device for detecting an ambient temperature of the surrounding; and a controller for receiving from a host for causing the control Writing a write command to the flash memory, and performing a protection mechanism when the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined range, wherein in the protection mechanism, the controller disables all receiving from the host The above-mentioned write command, wherein when the ambient temperature exceeds the predetermined range, the controller is further configured to generate a warning signal, and transmit the warning signal to the host to indicate that the flash memory is prohibited from being accessed. News. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to receive a read command from the host to cause the controller to read the flash memory, and in the protection mechanism The above controller disables all of the above read commands received from the host. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to read the temperature sensing device every other predetermined period to obtain a temperature parameter corresponding to the current ambient temperature. According to the data storage device of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to activate the protection mechanism when the read temperature parameter exceeds the predetermined range, and to use the read temperature parameter in the predetermined When the range is within, the above protection mechanism is turned off. According to the data storage device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined range is minus 40 degrees Celsius to 85 degrees Celsius. A method for restricting access, which is suitable for a data storage device having a flash memory, the access method comprising: reading a temperature sensing device every other predetermined period to obtain a temperature parameter corresponding to a current ambient temperature; When the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined range, a protection mechanism is enabled to disable all at least one write command received from the host for writing to the flash memory, and generate a warning signal and the warning The signal is transmitted to the host to indicate that the access to the flash memory is prohibited. According to the restricted access method of claim 6, the method further includes, in the above protection mechanism, disabling all at least one read command received from the host for reading the flash memory. The restricted access method according to claim 6 of the patent application, wherein the protection mechanism is turned off when the read temperature parameter is within the above-mentioned predetermined range. The method of restricting access according to item 6 of the patent application, wherein the predetermined range is minus 40 degrees Celsius to 85 degrees Celsius. A data storage device comprising: a flash memory for storing data; a temperature sensing device for detecting an ambient temperature of the surroundings; and a controller, when the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined range, the above The controller initiates a protection mechanism to disable a host from transmitting a write command. According to the data storage device of claim 10, wherein the protection mechanism means that the controller sets a write protect pin.