Write state machine architecture for flash memory internal instructions
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorsPietro Piersimoni, Pasquale Pistilli
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Abstract
A system and method for a write state machine for non-volatile memory is disclosed. The system includes an array of memory cells and a write state machine for controlling operations on the array of memory cells. The write state machine has an associated read only memory for storing instructions for operation of the non-volatile memory. The write state machine is adapted to suspend an execution of one of the operations during an action on a block in the non-volatile memory which is not being accessed by the write state machine.
Claims44
A nonvolatile memory system for storing data values, said nonvolatile memory system comprising:
- an array of memory cells;
- and
- a write state machine for controlling operations on said array of memory cells;
- said write state machine containing instructions for performing said operations on said array of memory cells, said instructions being stored in read only memory associated with said write state machine, said write state machine being adapted to suspend an execution of one of said operations during an action on a block in the flash memory which is not being accessed by said write state machine.
A processor system comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a nonvolatile memory device coupled to said processor, said nonvolatile memory device comprising:
- an array of memory cells;
- and
- a write state machine for controlling operations on said array of memory cells;
- said write state machine containing instructions for performing said operations on said array of memory cells, said instructions being stored in read only memory associated with said write state machine, said write state machine being adapted to suspend an execution of one of said operations during an action on a block in the flash memory which is not being accessed by said write state machine.
A method of operating a nonvolatile memory system for storing data values comprising the acts of:
- performing a portion of an operation on an array of flash memory cells with a write state machine which is responsive to instructions stored in a read only memory associated with said write state machine;
- suspending said operation;
- performing an act on a block of said flash memory cells which is not being accessed by said write state machine;
- and
- completing said operation.
A nonvolatile memory system for storing data values, said nonvolatile memory system comprising:
- an array of memory cells;
- and
- a write state machine for controlling operations on said array of memory cells;
- said write state machine containing instructions for performing said operations on said array of memory cells, said instructions being stored in read only memory associated with said write state machine, said instructions including an instruction adapted to suspend an execution of said instructions.
A processor system comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a nonvolatile memory device coupled to said processor, said nonvolatile memory device comprising:
- an array of memory cells;
- and
- a write state machine for controlling operations on said array of memory cells;
- said write state machine containing instructions for performing said operations on said array of memory cells, said instructions being stored in read only memory associated with said write state machine, said instructions including an instruction adapted to suspend an execution of said instructions.
A method of operating a nonvolatile memory system for storing data values comprising the acts of:
- performing an operation on an array of flash memory cells with a write state machine which is responsive to instructions stored in a read only memory associated with said write state machine;
- and
- executing a suspend instruction of said instructions stored in read only memory so as to suspend said operation of said write state machine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.