Micron Technology Incorporated

Todd Legler

Poorna Kale

Christopher Joseph Bueb

William R Stafford

David Kiss

Chris Bueb

A memory device includes a serial interface buffer that receives a hardware-decodable command and an extended interface command. The memory device also includes a logic module that directs the hardware-decodable command to a register for execution by a microcontroller. The logic module additionally loads a command received following the extended interface command into a sub-op-code register, wherein the logic module remains passive after loading the command received following the extended interface command into the sub-op-code register. Also included is a microcontroller that interprets the command in the sub-op-code register.

Memory device using extended interface commands

A microelectronic memory may be password access protected. A controller may maintain a register with requirements for accessing particular memory locations to initiate a security protocol. A mapping may correlate which regions within a memory array are password protected. Thus, a controller can use a register and the mapping to determine whether a particular granularity of memory is password protected, what the protection is, and what protection should be implemented. As a result, in some embodiments, a programmable password protection scheme may be utilized to control a variety of different types of accesses to particular regions of a memory array.

Password accessible microelectronic memory

Example embodiments for providing enhanced addressability for a serial flash memory device may comprise providing an extended addressing mode to enable access to a larger range of memory locations.

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Shingle Springs, CA, United States of America

Todd Legler