Bad block identification methods
AssigneeMediatek Inc.
InventorsMeng-Chang Liu, Pin-Chou Liu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bad block identification method for a memory is provided. The memory includes at least one memory block for storing data. A data decoding function is performed on the data, and it is determined whether the data decoding function was performed successfully. If the data decoding function was not performed successfully, at least one predetermined location in the memory block is checked. It is determined whether the predetermined location is marked by predetermined information. If the predetermined location is not marked by the predetermined information, the memory block is identified as a bad block.
Claims16
A bad block identification method for a memory, the memory comprising at least one memory block for storing data, and the bad block identification method comprising:
- performing a data decoding function on the data;
- determining whether the data decoding function was performed successfully based on a memory block status corresponding to a previous writing operation and based on data stored in at least one data-mark location of the memory block;
- in response to determination of an unsuccessful data decoding function, checking at least one predetermined location in the memory block;
- determining whether the at least one predetermined location is marked by predetermined information;
- and
- identifying the memory block as a bad block in response to a determination that the at least one predetermined location is marked by information other than the predetermined information, wherein the at least one data-mark location is different than the predetermined location.
A method for writing data into a memory comprising a plurality of memory blocks, comprising:
- identifying a first memory block among the plurality of memory blocks as a good block or a bad block, wherein identifying the first memory block comprises:
- performing a data decoding function on the data;
- determining whether the data decoding function was performed successfully based on a memory block status corresponding to a previous writing operation and based on data stored in at least one data-mark location of the memory block;
- checking one of the data-mark location and a predetermined location in the first memory block in response to the determination result of whether the data decoding function was performed successfully;
- identifying the first memory block as a good block if the checked location is marked by predetermined information;
- adding a data mark into at least one data-mark location in the first memory block if the first memory block is identified as a good block;
- performing a data encoding function on the data with the data mark;
- and
- writing encoded data into the first memory block.
A block characterization method for a memory including at least one memory block for storing data, the method comprising:
- performing a decoding operation on the data;
- determining whether the data decoding function was performed successfully based on a memory block status corresponding to a previous writing operation and based on data stored in at least one data-mark location of the memory block;
- in response to unsuccessful decoding of the data, checking at least one predetermined location in the at least one memory block;
- determining whether the at least one predetermined location is marked by predetermined information;
- and
- identifying the memory block as a good block in response to a determination that the at least one predetermined location is marked by the predetermined information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.