Configurable NAND firmware search parameters
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorGiuseppe Cariello
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed in some examples are memory devices which include electrically programmable elements that specify values for one or more firmware search parameters for use by the bootloader in locating and reading the firmware object. The values of the firmware search parameters may be dynamically selected at manufacturing time by modifying the configuration of the electrically programmable elements by applying or not applying a specified voltage to the electrically programmable elements. In some examples, an electrically programmable element may include: a fuse, an anti-fuse, and/or an e-fuse.
Claims16
A memory device, comprising:
- a flash memory;
- a first set of one or more electrically programmable elements indicating values for one or more firmware search parameters, the first set of the one or more electrically programmable elements comprising a fuse, anti-fuse, or an e-fuse;
- and
- a processor configured to perform operations of a boot loader comprising:
- reading signals from the first set of the one or more electrically programmable elements;
- interpreting the signals from the first set of the one or more electrically programmable elements to determine values for a first and a second firmware search parameter, the first firmware search parameter comprising a value indicating an offset, and the second firmware search parameter comprising a value indicating a step size;
- determining a first potential location of a firmware image in memory cells of the flash memory by adding the offset to a base address;
- determining that a valid firmware image does not exist at the first potential location;
- responsive to determining that a valid firmware image does not exist at the first potential location, determining a second potential location of a firmware image by adding the step size to the first potential location;
- determining that a valid firmware image exists at the second potential location;
- responsive to determining that the valid firmware image exists, validating the firmware image;
- and
- responsive to validating the firmware image, causing execution of the firmware image.
A method, performed on a memory device that includes flash memory and a first set of one or more electrically programmable elements, the method comprising:
- using a hardware processor on the memory device, executing a bootloader which performs operations comprising:
- reading signals from the first set of the one or more electrically programmable elements indicating values for one or more firmware search parameters, the first set of the one or more electrically programmable elements comprising a fuse, anti-fuse, or an e-fuse;
- interpreting the signals from the first set of the one or more electrically programmable elements to determine values for a first and a second firmware search parameter, the first firmware search parameter comprising a value indicating an offset, and the second firmware search parameter comprising a value indicating a step size;
- determining a first potential location of a firmware image in memory cells of the flash memory by adding the offset to a base address;
- determining that a valid firmware image does not exist in a memory of the memory device at the first potential location;
- responsive to determining that a valid firmware image does not exist at the first potential location, determining a second potential location of a firmware image by adding the step size to the first potential location;
- determining that a valid firmware image exists at the second potential location;
- responsive to determining that the valid firmware image exists, validating the firmware image;
- and
- responsive to validating the firmware image, causing execution of the firmware image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.