Patent · US Expired

Flash memory leveling architecture having no external latch

US6040997A · kind A · utility

132Cited by
34References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 25, 1998
Grant dateMar 21, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 25, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C16/20
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An improved flash memory system includes a flash array, internal buffer, and internal controller. When data is written from a source block to a destination block, the improved flash memory system temporarily holds this data inside the internal buffer within the flash memory system to save the overhead of sequentially transferring the data out of the flash system and then sequentially returning the data back to the system. Alternatively, the data can be read and concurrently programmed onto the destination block without being written into an internal latch. In use, this improved flash memory system simply transfers the data to be rewritten from the flash array either directly or to the internal buffer. This improved flash memory system locates a new address within this same flash array.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.