NVIDIA Corporation
Techniques for generating symbol-preserving error correction codes

Abstract:

Various embodiments include an on-die error correction code (ECC) system that preserves rectangular symbols of arbitrary size and shape, where the dimensions of the symbol are powers of two. Further, the on-die ECC system preserves symbols that include multiple rectangles of arbitrary size and shape, where the dimensions of each rectangle are powers of two, and where the vertical and horizontal offset between consecutive rectangles are also powers of two. If the on-die ECC system miscorrects a memory bit, then the miscorrection is constrained or restricted to the same symbol that includes the other error bits. Therefore, all error bits, including the miscorrected bit, are in the same symbol. As a result, a user ECC system, such as a symbol-based ECC system, can correct and detect any number of errors within a single symbol, even when the on-die ECC system miscorrects a memory bit.