Static information storage and retrieval – Floating gate – Particular biasing
Reexamination Certificate
2005-12-20
2005-12-20
Le, Thong Q. (Department: 2818)
Static information storage and retrieval
Floating gate
Particular biasing
C365S185290
Reexamination Certificate
active
06977847
ABSTRACT:
A method of managing the erasure of units of a flash memory. An indication is provided that an erasure of one or more units is pending, either before the units are erased or, in case of power loss, during the erasure. Subsequent to a completed erasure, an indication provided before an erasure is either erased or offset by an indication of a completed erasure. Upon powering up, or, in some embodiments, also prior to writing, the indications are inspected and units not completely erased are erased again. The present invention may be implemented in hardware, in firmware, in software, or in any combination of the three. In embodiments not totally reliant on software, appropriate non-volatile registers are provided, for storing the indications as erase pending flags and erase completed flags, and also for storing corresponding unit numbers.
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Avraham Meir
Lasser Menahem
Friedman Mark M.
Le Thong Q.
M-Systems Flash Disk Pioneers Ltd.
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