Patent · US Expired

Write and erase protection in a synchronous memory

US6711701B1 · kind B1 · utility

15Cited by
22References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 25, 2000
Grant dateMar 23, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 18, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C16/225
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A synchronous flash memory includes an array of non-volatile memory cells, and has a package configuration that is compatible with an SDRAM. The memory device includes a memory array, a programmable register circuitry to store protection data, and a voltage detector to determine if a memory power supply voltage drops below a predetermined level. Control circuitry is provided to program the register circuitry and prevent erase or write operations to the memory array in response to the voltage detector. In operation, the memory monitors a power supply voltage coupled to the memory, and prohibits write or erase operations from being performed if the supply voltage drops below a predetermined value.

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