Method for using a multi-bit cell flash device in a system not designed for the device
AssigneeM-Systems Flash Disk Pioneers Ltd.
InventorsMenahem Lasser, Avraham Meir
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A computerized system including: a processor; and a flash memory device including memory cells grouped into blocks, wherein one or more of the blocks stores in M bits per cell an initialization program, e.g boot code, which is retrieved and executed by the processor; and wherein the processor accesses one or more of the remaining blocks storing N bits per cell, wherein N is greater than M. N and M are integral numbers. Preferably, M equals 1 and N equals 2; or M equals 1 and N equals 4; or M equals 2 and N equals 4. Preferably, the blocks storing M bits per cell is only one block. Preferably, the flash memory device is a NAND flash memory device.
Claims16
A method for booting a computerized system from a flash memory device including a plurality of memory cells grouped into a plurality of blocks, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) upon powering up the system, retrieving and executing an initialization program for the booting from at least one said block storing M bits per cell;
- and
- (b) upon completing said executing, accessing at least one remaining said block storing N bits per cell, wherein N is greater than M, wherein N and M are integral numbers.
A flash memory device including a plurality of memory cells grouped into a plurality of blocks, the device comprising:
- (a) at least one said block which stores in M bits per cell an initialization program for booting a computer system;
- and
- (b) at least one remaining said block which stores N bits per cell, wherein N is greater than M, wherein N and M are integral numbers.
A computerized system comprising:
- (a) a processor;
- and
- (b) a flash memory device including a plurality of memory cells grouped into a plurality of blocks, wherein at least one said block stores in M bits per cell an initialization program for booting a computer system, said initialization program is retrieved and executed by said processor;
- wherein said processor accesses at least one remaining said block storing N bits per cell, wherein N is greater than M wherein N and M are integral numbers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.