Memory and method of writing data
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorNoboru Asauchi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Semiconductor memory devices 10 are each furnished with a memory array 100 having an EEPROM array 101 and a mask ROM array 102. Identifying information for identifying each semiconductor memory device 10 is stored at the beginning three addresses of the EEPROM array 101. 8-bit data relating to ink level is stored at the ninth address to sixteenth address of the EEPROM array 101. The seventeenth address to the twenty-fourth address of the EEPROM array 101 is provided with a usage history information storage area for storing 8-bit usage history information that is rewriteable under certain conditions.
Claims14
A memory device comprising:
- a nonvolatile memory array, the memory array having a prescribed bit unit of usage history data information storage area for storing data relating to usage history information;
- an input/output portion for input and output of data;
- a decision portion configured to decide whether the value of the write data input via the input/output portion and to be stored in the usage history data information storage area is greater than the value of the usage history information data currently stored in the usage history data information storage area;
- a write module configured to execute writing in the prescribed bit unit to the memory array;
- and
- a control module configured to execute, by way of the write module, writing of the write data to the usage history data information storage area in the memory array, in the event that the value of the write data is greater than the value of the usage history information data currently stored in the usage history data information storage area.
A memory device comprising:
- a nonvolatile memory array, the memory array having a prescribed bit unit of usage history data information storage area for the purpose of storing data relating to usage history information;
- an input/output portion for input and output of data;
- a decision portion configured to decide whether the value of write data input via the input/output portion and to be stored in the usage history data information storage area is less than the value of the usage history information data currently stored in the usage history data information storage area;
- a write module configured to execute writing in the prescribed bit unit to the memory array;
- and
- a control module configured to execute, by means of the write module, writing of the write data to the usage history data information storage area in the memory array, in the event that the value of the write data is less than the data value of the usage history information data currently stored in the usage history data information storage area.
A method of writing write data to a memory device including a nonvolatile memory array, the memory array having a prescribed bit of usage history data information storage area for the purpose of storing data relating to usage history information, comprising the steps of:
- determining whether the value of the write data input and to be stored in the usage history data information storage area is greater than the value of the usage history information data currently stored in the usage history data information storage area;
- and
- writing the write data to the usage history data information storage area in the memory array, in the event that the value of the write data is greater than the value of the usage history information data currently stored in the usage history data information storage area.
A method of writing write data to a memory device including a nonvolatile memory array, the memory array having a prescribed bit of usage history data information storage area for the purpose of storing data relating to usage history information, comprising the steps of:
- determining whether the value of the write data input and to be stored in the usage history data information storage area is less than the value of the usage history information data currently stored in the usage history data information storage area;
- and
- writing the write data to the usage history data information storage area in the memory array, in the event that the value of the write data is less than the data value of the usage history information data currently stored in the usage history data information storage area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.