Marvell International Limited

Sui-Hung Fred Au

Xueshi Yang

Lau Nguyen

Chen Kuo Huang

ChengKuo Huang

An integrated circuit including a first interface, a decoder, and a controller. The first interface is configured to (i) write encoded data in a portion of a flash memory, and (ii) read the encoded data back from the flash memory. The decoder is configured to (i) according to an error correction code, decode the encoded data read back from the flash memory, and (ii) based on the decoded data, determine a number of decoding errors corresponding to the decoded data. The controller is configured to, in response to the number of decoding errors being greater than or equal to a first threshold, cease accessing the portion of the flash memory. The first threshold is less than a number of errors correctable by the error correction code for the portion of the flash memory.

Method and apparatus for ceasing access to a portion of a flash memory when less than a number of errors correctable by an error correction code exists

A system includes a flash memory, an encoder, a first interface, a decoder and a controller. The encoder is configured to (i) receive data, and (ii) encode the data based on an error correction code. The first interface is configured to (i) write the encoded data to a memory cells in the flash memory, and (ii) read the encoded data back from the memory cells. The decoder is configured to (i) decode the encoded data read back from the memory cells, and (ii) based on the decoded data, determine a number of decoding errors for the plurality of memory cells. The controller is configured to, in response to the number of decoding errors being greater than or equal to a first threshold, cease accessing the memory cells. The first threshold is less than a maximum number of errors correctable by the error correction code for the memory cells.

Method and system for ceasing access to memory cells of flash memory when less than a maximum number of correctable errors for an error correction code exists

Apparatus having corresponding methods and computer-readable media comprise an encoder configured to provide encoded data according to an error correction code; a flash memory interface configured to write the encoded data to a location in flash memory, and to read the encoded data from the location in the flash memory; a decoder configured to decode the encoded data read from the location in the flash memory, and to indicate a number of resulting decode errors; and a retirement module configured to retire the location responsive to a number of resulting decode errors reaching an error threshold T.

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Fremont, CA, United States of America

Sui-Hung Fred Au