US5592669A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
File structure for a non-volatile block-erasable semiconductor flash memory
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1995-12-01
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Granted: 1997-01-07
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Expires: 2015-12-01
Abstract
Abstract A non-volatile semiconductor memory that is erasable only in blocks is described. Each bit of the non-volatile semiconductor memory cannot be overwritten from a first logical state to a second logical state without a prior erasure. Each bit of the non-volatile semiconductor memory can be overwritten from a second logical state to a first logical state without a prior erasure. The non-volatile semiconductor memory comprises an active block for storing a first file, a reserve block for storing a second file, and a directory block. The second file is a copy of the first file. The copy is made during a clean-up operation prior to erasure of the active block. The directory block comprises a directory entry for identifying the first file.
Inventors
- 👤 Kurt B. Robinson
- 👤 Dale K. Elbert
- 👤 Markus A. Levy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:32
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/06; G06F3/0601; G06F12/00; G06F12/02; G06F12/0223; G06F12/023; G06F12/0238; G06F12/0246; G06F12/06; G06F12/0638; G11; G11C; G11C16/00; G11C16/02; G11C16/06; G11C16/34; G11C16/349; G06F2212/00; G06F2212/72; G06F2212/7211; G06F3/0628; G06F3/0662; G06F3/0664
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
A processor-controlled method of file management for a nonvolatile semiconductor memory with a plurality of physical erase blocks, wherein bits of the memory cannot be overwritten from a first logical state to a second logical state without a prior erasure, wherein erasure is by physical erase block and not on an individual byte basis, the method comprising the steps of: (1) allocating a first portion of the memory in a first physical erase block for storing an active file and a deleted file; (2) allocating a second portion of the memory in a second physical erase block for storing a copy of the active file; (3) storing in an allocated third portion of the memory information as to whether a portion of the memory has been allocated to store the active and deleted files or allocated to store the copy of the active file; (4) reclaiming memory space by storing in the second portion of the memory the copy of the active file and by erasing the first physical erase block including the first portion of the memory in order to permit reuse of the first portion of the memory for storage; (5) storing data in the first and second portions of the memory in a inked-list variable file structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
44 words
The processor-controlled method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: (7) reallocating the second portion of the memory for storing the active file and the deleted file; (8) reallocating the first portion of the memory for storing the copy of the active file.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The processor-controlled method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing in an allocated fourth portion of the memory an indication as to whether a portion of the memory is in use or not in use.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The processor-controlled method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing in an allocated fourth portion of the memory an indication as to whether a portion of the memory is defective or not defective.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The processor-controlled method of claim 1, wherein the first and second portions of the memory are allocated to have a variable-length file structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The processor-controlled method of claim 5, further comprising the step of storing in an allocated fourth portion of the memory information concerning the file structure of the memory.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The processor-controlled method of claim 6, wherein the information concerning the file structure comprises a file structure type.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The processor-controlled method of claim 6, wherein the information concerning the file structure comprises a file name.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The processor-controlled method of claim 6, wherein the information concerning the file structure comprises information concerning whether a file is active or deleted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The processor-controlled method of claim 1, wherein the active file comprises a linked list.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
149 words
A processor-controlled method of file management for a nonvolatile semiconductor memory with a plurality of physical erase blocks, wherein bits of the memory cannot be overwritten from a first logical state to a second logical state without a prior erasure, wherein erasure is by physical erase block and not on an individual byte basis, the method comprising the steps of: (1) reclaiming memory space by copying active files and not deleted files from a first portion of a first physical erase block of the memory to a second portion of a second physical erase block of the memory and then erasing the first physical erase block including the first portion; (2) storing in a third portion of the memory information as to whether a portion of the memory is free for further data storage or in use; (3) storing data in memory free space in a sectored file structure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
The processor-controlled method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of: (1) tracking a number of times a portion of the memory has been cycled and storing the number as a cycle count in an allocated fourth portion of the memory; (2) minimizing cycling distributions between physical erase blocks of the memory by choosing for reclamation a portion of the memory with a lowest cycle count.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The processor-controlled method of claim 11, further comprising the step of storing in a fourth portion of the memory information as to a total number of physical erase blocks within the memory.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The processor-controlled method of claim 11, further comprising the step of storing in a fourth portion of the memory a checksum.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The processor-controlled method of claim 11, further comprising the step of storing in a fourth portion of the memory information regarding erase and write voltages.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
176 words
A processor-controlled method of file management for a nonvolatile semiconductor first memory with a plurality of physical erase blocks, wherein bits of the first memory cannot be overwritten from a first logical state to a second logical state without a prior erasure, wherein erasure is by physical erase block and not on an individual byte basis, the method comprising the steps of: (1) reclaiming memory space of the first memory by copying active files and not deleted files from a first portion of a first physical erase block of the first memory to a random access memory, then erasing the first physical erase block including the first portion, and then copying active files from the random access memory back to free space of the first physical erase block of the first memory; (2) storing in a second portion of the first memory information as to whether a portion of the first memory is free for further data storage or in use; (3) storing data in free space of the first memory in a sectored file structure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-01-07 | 2000-07-08 | 2001-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-01-07 | 2004-07-08 | 2005-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-01-07 | 2008-07-08 | 2009-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |