The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 05, 2006
Filed:
Jan. 07, 2005
Takashi Ishidoshiro, Aichi-ken, JP;
Yoshiiku Sonobe, Gifu, JP;
Takashi Ishidoshiro, Aichi-ken, JP;
Yoshiiku Sonobe, Gifu, JP;
Buffalo Inc., Nagoya, JP;
Abstract
By providing registers for each block constituting the flash memory, based on the use state and the erase count information stored in the registers, the plurality of blocks are classified into n groups according to the erase count by the control circuit, and of the blocks that can be used for writing of one classified group, writing of data is performed in the block constitution sequence. When all the blocks of one group are used, data is written to blocks that can be used for writing of another group selected in a specified sequence. Sequentially between n groups, the item in charge for selecting the blocks used for data writing are alternated, and data is written to the selected block. As a result, considering leveling of the flash memory block erase count, it is possible to perform the write capability block selection process using hardware.