Method for releasing space in flash EEPROM memory array to allow

Details Method for releasing space in flash EEPROM memory array to allow Method for releasing space in flash EEPROM memory array to allow

Filed on

1993-11-01

Date issued

1994-08-09

Examiner

Fears, Terrell W.

Patent Class

Static information storage and retrieval

SubClass

Read/write circuit

Other Related Categories

36523001, 365900, G11C 1300

Type

Patent

Status

active

Patent number

053372751

Description

ABSTRACT:
A process for releasing sectors of a flash EEPROM memory array in which data furnished by a host computer is stored in compressed form so that memory space used for the sectors may be used to store new data. The flash EEPROM memory array includes a plurality of individually erasable blocks and stores sectors of data in such blocks with a header providing a logical sector number, an indication of validity of data stored. The process stores a list of files and sectors which have been deleted by a host computer in a first table in host memory, stores a value indicating an amount of free space remaining in the flash EEPROM memory array, provides a first signal to the host computer when the value indicating the amount of free space falls below a first predetermined value to indicate that sectors listed in the first table should be released, and provides a second signal when the value indicating the amount of free space falls below a second predetermined value to terminate writes to and erasures of the array.

REFERENCES:
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patent: 5199033 (1993-03-01), McGeoch et al.
patent: 5200959 (1993-04-01), Gross et al.
patent: 5224070 (1993-06-01), Fandrich et al.

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