Dual-mode error-correction code/write-once memory codec

A circuit, comprising:

• a coder/decoder (codec) including:
• a decoder having a decoder input and a decoder output;
• a first exclusive OR comparator having a first comparator input and a first comparator output, the first comparator input coupled to the decoder output;
• a second exclusive OR comparator having second and third comparator inputs and a second comparator output, the second comparator input coupled to the first comparator output;
• a counter having a counter output coupled to the third comparator input;
• a memory having first, second and third memory inputs and first and second memory outputs, the first memory input coupled to the counter output, and the second memory input coupled to the second comparator output;
• a mode selector having a selector output coupled to the third memory input and to the decoder input;
• an OR gate having an OR gate output and first and second OR gate inputs, the first OR gate input coupled to the first memory output, and the second OR gate input coupled to the second memory output;
• and
• an OR gate controller having an input coupled to the OR gate output.