Non volatile memory device including a predetermined number of sectors
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics S.r.l.
InventorsOsama Khouri, Roberto Ravasio, Rino Micheloni, Giovanni Campardo
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Abstract
The device includes a circuit for sector remapping having a CAM (Content Addressable Memory) unit, associated to and in data communication with a multiplexer unit. The CAM unit detects that a sector is defective, it provides the pre-programmed address of a replacing sector and it activates the multiplexer which performs the replacement. The defective sectors and the corresponding locations of the address map are therefore advantageously positioned to the rear to the addressing area. The addressing area is consequently continuous, thus allowing the information to be easily stored and retrieved.
Claims12
A non volatile memory electronic device (1) of the type comprising a memory cell matrix (5) split in a predetermined number of sectors (6), characterized in that it comprises a circuit (2) for remapping sectors which have defective cells comprising memory elements (16) containing the damaged sector address and corresponding memory elements (17) comprising the replacing sector address.
A method for turning non volatile memory electronic devices (1) comprising defective sectors operative comprising the steps of detecting a defective sector (7) of the device (1), storing the address of this defective sector (7), providing the pre-programmed address of a replacing sector for replacing said defective sector (7) with an operating sector (6) among the available matrix sectors.
A method for turning memories comprising defective sectors operative comprising the steps of detecting a defective sector (7) in a device (1), storing the already coded sector information and providing said information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.