Data storage device and method of operating the same

• US 8,041,916 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2008
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Nam, Seok-jeong
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis; Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Namazi; Mehdi
• Application Number:
  US12/031,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20080201539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 711/153, 711/154, 711/170, 711/173, 711/118, 711/129, 711/202, 711/205, 711/206, 711/207, 711/103, 710/68, 714/48, 714/6, 714/7, 345/555, 365/200, 365/185.33
• US Class Current: 711/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/023 Free address space management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0246 in block erasable memory, e.g. flash memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/1036 Life time enhancement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/7204 Capacity control, e.g. partitioning, end-of-life degradation

Abstract

A data storage device and a method of operating the same include firmware recognizing that the data storage device has a smaller than normal capacity or includes a routine in the firmware when the number of bad blocks exceeds the maximum. Therefore, even if the number of bad blocks exceeds the maximum, the data storage device having a capacity smaller than the normal capacity can be used.

Claims

1. A data storage device, comprising:

a memory area containing a user space including a data area to store data;

a firmware unit to control the data area according to a normal capacity mode and an abnormal capacity mode; and

a memory control unit,

wherein the firmware unit includes a first firmware unit for normal capacity to be run according to control of the memory control unit and a second firmware unit for abnormal capacity to be run according to control of the memory control unit, and

wherein the user space can store data under control of one of the first and second firmware units.

2. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein the first firmware unit for normal capacity is recorded in the memory area.

3. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein the second firmware unit for abnormal capacity is recorded in the memory area.

4. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein the first firmware unit for normal capacity is recorded in the memory control unit.

5. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein the second firmware unit for abnormal capacity is recorded in the memory control unit.

6. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein the abnormal capacity is half of the normal capacity.

7. A data storage device, comprising:

a memory area containing a user space including a data area to store data; and

a firmware unit to control the data area according to a normal capacity mode and an abnormal capacity mode,

wherein the firmware unit is run according to control of the memory control unit, and includes a first routine for normal capacity of a memory area and a second routine for abnormal capacity of the memory area;

wherein the user space includes the data area to store data under control of the firmware unit; and

wherein the abnormal capacity is half of the normal capacity.

8. The data storage device of claim 7, wherein the firmware is recorded in the memory control unit.

9. The data storage device of claim 7, wherein the firmware is recorded in the memory area.

10. A data storage device comprising:

a memory unit to store data;

a first firmware unit for a normal capacity of the memory unit; and

a second firmware unit for an abnormal capacity of the memory unit;

wherein the first firmware unit stores the data in the data area of the memory unit when the memory unit is in the normal capacity, and the second firmware unit stores the data in the data area of the memory unit when the memory unit is in the abnormal capacity.

11. The data storage device of claim 10, further comprising:

a memory control unit to determine a state of the memory unit as the normal capacity and the abnormal capacity, and to control the first firmware unit and the second firmware unit to store the data according to the normal capacity and the abnormal capacity, respectively.

12. The data storage device of claim 11, wherein:

the first firmware unit and the second firmware unit are included in the memory control unit.

13. The data storage device of claim 10, wherein:

the memory unit comprises a memory area; and

the memory area comprises the first firmware unit, the second firmware unit, and a user area to store the data according to control of one of the first firmware unit and the second firmware unit.