System and method for safe high-temperature operation of a flash memory

Abstract

The proposed system for safe high-temperature operation of a flash memory is suitable, more particularly, for use in automotive technology, for example, for a transmission controller, the flash memory being programmed prior to use at high temperatures such that each data set in the flash memory is saved redundant. The system is provided with a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature characterizing the temperature of the flash memory, and with a control unit connected to the temperature sensor and the flash memory. The control unit, including a timer, is configured such that it receives the temperature signals from the temperature sensor and is able to establish an accumulated heat load value of the flash memory by integrating the resulting temperature values versus time. When the accumulated heat load value exceeds a predefined heat load limit and the temperature characterizing the actual temperature of the flash memory drops below a predefined temperature limit selected such that a safe clearing/programming of the flash memory is possible, the control unit checks the sets of data for consistency, it then—when it has established consistency of a data set—being able to refresh the storage locations of the flash memory which are associated with the data set and then—when it has established that one of the redundant memorized sets of data is not consistent with the one or more corresponding sets of data matching therewith—being able to repair the incorrect data set in the flash memory by reprogramming on the basis of a correct data set such that it is consistent with the correct data set.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.