Error correction code for unidirectional memory
AssigneeMicro Technology, Inc.
InventorsChristophe Laurent, Paolo Amato, Marco Sforzin, Corrado Villa
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A memory array and a method of writing to a unidirectional non-volatile storage cell are disclosed whereby a user data word is transformed to an internal data word and written to one or more unidirectional data storage cells according to a cell coding scheme. A check word may be generated that corresponds to the internal data word. In some embodiments, the check word may be generated by inverting one or more bits of an intermediate check word. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- receiving a user data word;
- transforming the user data word to an internal data word according to a transformation function, the user data word being the same size as the internal data word;
- writing the internal data word to a plurality of unidirectional data storage cells according to an internal cell coding scheme;
- and
- generating a check word based at least in part on the internal data word according to an error correction code (ECC).
An apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of unidirectional data storage cells;
- and
- a controller coupled to the plurality of unidirectional data storage cells, and configured to:
- consecutively write at least three data words into one or more of the plurality of unidirectional data storage cells;
- generate a check word that corresponds to each of the at least three data words;
- and
- consecutively write the at least three check words into at least one of the plurality of unidirectional data storage cells, wherein the controller is configured to consecutively write the at least three data words, to generate the at least three check words, and to consecutively write the at least three check words such that a state of all of the at least one unidirectional data storage cell matches a state of all of the one or more unidirectional data storage cells when all of the one or more unidirectional data storage cells are either in an initial state or a final state.
A method comprising:
- consecutively writing at least three data words into one or more unidirectional data storage cells;
- generating a check word that corresponds to each of the at least three data words;
- and
- consecutively writing the at least three check words into at least one unidirectional data storage cell, wherein the consecutively writing of the at least three data words, the generating of the at least three check words, and the consecutively writing of the at least three check words is such that a state of all of the at least one unidirectional data storage cell matches a state of all of the one or more unidirectional data storage cells when all of the one or more unidirectional data storage cells are either in an initial state or a final state.
A machine readable medium having associated instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to:
- receive a user data word;
- transform the user data word to an internal data word according to a transformation function, the user data word being the same size as the internal data word;
- write the internal data word to a plurality of unidirectional data storage cells according to an internal cell coding scheme;
- and
- generate a check word based at least in part on the internal data word according to an error correction code (ECC).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.