Patent · US Active

Nonvolatile memory system

US7447936B2 · kind B2 · utility

29Cited by
13References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 19, 2006
Grant dateNov 4, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 19, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C16/349
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A memory system permitting a number of alternative memory blocks to be made ready in order to extend the rewritable life and thereby contributing to enhanced reliability of information storage is to be provided. The memory system is provided with a nonvolatile memory having a plurality of data blocks in predetermined physical address units and a controller for controlling the nonvolatile memory in response to an access request from outside. Each of the data blocks has areas for holding a rewrite count and error check information regarding each data area. The controller, in a read operation on the nonvolatile memory, checks for any error in the area subject to the read according to error check information and, when there is any error, if the rewrite count is greater than a predetermined value, will replace the pertinent data block with another data block or if it is not greater, correct data in the data block pertaining to the error.

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