Lexar Media, Inc.

Lexar Microsystems, Inc.

Iman, Berhau

Estakhri, Petro

Berhau Iman

Petro Estakhri

Ali R Ganjuei

A device is disclosed for storing mapping information for mapping a logical block address identifying a block being accessed by a host to a physical block address, identifying a free area of nonvolatile memory, the block being selectively erasable and having one or more sectors that may be individually moved. The mapping information including a virtual physical block address for identifying an 'original' location, within the nonvolatile memory, wherein a block is stored and a moved virtual physical block address for identifying a 'moved' location, within the nonvolatile memory, wherein one or more sectors of the stored block are moved. The mapping information further including status information for use of the 'original' physical block address and the 'moved' physical block address and for providing information regarding 'moved' sectors within the block being accessed.

Moving sectors within a block of information in a flash memory mass

A method and apparatus is disclosed for identifying a block being stored within flash memory devices using a cluster address for each block, the block being selectively erasable and having one or more sectors, the cluster address being stored in one of the sectors of the block. In an alternative embodiment, the cluster address is stored in at least two different sectors within the same block for ensuring that the information last written to the block is valid. Further disclosed is a novel way to use a defect flag for each block stored within the flash memory device for efficiently identifying non-defective blocks upon system power-up.

Growing community of inventors

Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Berhau Iman