FLASH MEMORY CONTROLLER CONTROLLING VARIOUS FLASH MEMORY CELLS
First Claim
1. An electronic data flash card adapted to be accessed by a host system that is capable of establishing a communication link, said electronic data flash card comprising:
- (A) a card body;
(B) a flash memory device mounted on the card body, the flash memory device including a plurality of non-volatile memory cells, including a first block for storing a pointer pointing to a second block having predetermined non-volatile memory cells;
(C) an input/output interface circuit mounted on the card body for establishing communication with the host system; and
(D) a flash memory controller mounted on the card body and electrically connected to said flash memory device and said input/output interface circuit, wherein the flash memory controller comprises means for selectively operating in one of;
a programming mode in which said flash memory controller activates said input/output interface circuit to receive boot code data and control code data from the host system, and to store at least one of the boot code data and control code data in the predetermined associated non-volatile memory cells of said flash memory device, which are addressed via the pointer stored in the first block;
a reset mode in which said flash memory controller reads said at least one of the boot code data and the control code data from said associated non-volatile memory cells of said flash memory device, and enables said input/output interface circuit to exchange data with the host system in accordance with protocols based on the boot code data and the control code data; and
a code updating mode in which at least one of updated boot code data and updated control code data are written into the flash memory device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic data flash card is accessible by a host system, and includes a flash memory controller and at least one flash memory device coupled to the flash controller. The boot code and control code for the flash memory system (flash card) are stored in the flash memory device during a programming procedure. The flash controller transfers the boot code and control code to a volatile main memory (e.g., random access memory or RAM) at start up or reset making a RAM-based memory system. Boot code and control code are selectively overwritten during a code updating operation. A single flash controller thus supports multiple brands and types of flash memory to eliminate stocking issues.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An electronic data flash card adapted to be accessed by a host system that is capable of establishing a communication link, said electronic data flash card comprising:
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(A) a card body;
(B) a flash memory device mounted on the card body, the flash memory device including a plurality of non-volatile memory cells, including a first block for storing a pointer pointing to a second block having predetermined non-volatile memory cells;
(C) an input/output interface circuit mounted on the card body for establishing communication with the host system; and
(D) a flash memory controller mounted on the card body and electrically connected to said flash memory device and said input/output interface circuit, wherein the flash memory controller comprises means for selectively operating in one of;
a programming mode in which said flash memory controller activates said input/output interface circuit to receive boot code data and control code data from the host system, and to store at least one of the boot code data and control code data in the predetermined associated non-volatile memory cells of said flash memory device, which are addressed via the pointer stored in the first block;
a reset mode in which said flash memory controller reads said at least one of the boot code data and the control code data from said associated non-volatile memory cells of said flash memory device, and enables said input/output interface circuit to exchange data with the host system in accordance with protocols based on the boot code data and the control code data; and
a code updating mode in which at least one of updated boot code data and updated control code data are written into the flash memory device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An electronic data flash card adapted to be accessed by a host system that is capable of establishing a communication link, said electronic data flash card comprising:
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(A) a card body;
(B) a flash memory device mounted on the card body, the flash memory device including a plurality of non-volatile memory cells;
(C) an input/output interface circuit mounted on the card body for establishing communication with the host system; and
(D) a flash memory controller mounted on the card body and electrically connected to said flash memory device and said input/output interface circuit, wherein the flash memory controller is configured to determine a type of the flash memory device by sending a read command to the flash memory device, wherein if the flash memory device pulls down a read/busy# signal line after the read command is received, the flash memory device is associated with a small block type flash memory device, and sending a confirm command to the flash memory device, wherein if the flash memory device pulls down the read/busy# signal line until the confirm command is received, the flash memory device is associated with a large block type flash memory device.
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Specification