Circuit and method, for storing data prior to and after determining failure

A method of storing data prior to and after determining a failure of a device, comprising:

• a memory control step of always enabling a memory which stores data prior to and after determining a failure of a device, to write the data prior to determining the failure of the device, before the device is determined as the failure, and of disabling the memory from writing any data on the basis of the number of the data prior to and after determining the failure, after the device is determined as the failure;
• a first address storage step of controlling the memory so as to always store the data prior to determining the failure of the device in a predetermined address space thereof, until the device is determined as the failure, and of holding an address pointer indicating the predetermined address space wherein the data prior to determining the failure of the device is stored, when the device is determined as the failure;
• and
• a second address storage step for controlling the memory so as to store the data after determining the failure of the device in a predetermined address space thereof other than the predetermined address space wherein the data prior to determining the failure of the device is stored, after the device is determined as the failure.

A circuit for storing data prior to and after determining a failure of a device, comprising:

• a memory for storing data prior to and after determining a failure of a device;
• a counter for enabling the memory to write the data prior to and after determining the failure of the device, for operating a first address pointer circuit before the device is determined as the failure, and for operating a second address pointer circuit after the device is determined as the failure;
• the first address pointer circuit for outputting an address pointer to the memory so as to store the data prior to determining the failure of the device in a predetermined first address space thereof, when being operated by the counter, and for holding the address pointer when the device is determined as the failure, therein;
• and
• the second address pointer circuit for outputting an address pointer to the memory so as to store the data after determining the failure of the device in a predetermined second address space thereof other than the predetermined first address space, when being operated by the counter.

A method of storing data prior to and after determining a failure of a device, comprising:

• a step of enabling a memory to write data prior to and after determining a failure of a device, therein;
• a step of storing the data prior to determining the failure of the device in a predetermined first address space of the memory;
• and
• a step of storing the data after determining the failure of the device in a predetermined second address space other than the predetermined first address space, of the memory.