公开(公告)号：US20080250195A1

公开(公告)日：2008-10-09

申请号：US12139842

申请日：2008-06-16

申请人： David Q. Chow ,  Frank Yu ,  Charles C. Lee ,  Abraham C. Ma ,  Ming-Shiang Shen

发明人： David Q. Chow ,  Frank Yu ,  Charles C. Lee ,  Abraham C. Ma ,  Ming-Shiang Shen

IPC分类号： G06F12/02

CPC分类号： G06F12/0246 ,  G06F21/32 ,  G06F21/78 ,  G06F2212/1036 ,  G06F2212/7202 ,  G06F2212/7208 ,  G06K19/07 ,  G06K19/07354

摘要： A flash system has multiple channels of flash memory chips that can be accessed in parallel. Host data is assigned to one of the channels by a multi-channel controller processor and accumulated in a multi-channel page buffer. When a page boundary in the page buffer is reached, the page buffer is written to a target physical block if full, or combined with old data fragments in an Aggregating Flash Block (AFB) when the logical-sector addresses (LSA's) match. Thus small fragments are aggregated using the AFB, reducing erases and wear of flash blocks. The page buffer is copied to the AFB when a STOP command occurs. Each channel has one or more AFB's, which are tracked by an AFB tracking table.

摘要翻译： 闪存系统具有可以并行访问的多个闪存芯片的通道。 主机数据被多通道控制器处理器分配给一个通道，并且累积在多通道页缓冲器中。 当到达页面缓冲区中的页面边界时，如果逻辑扇区地址（LSA）匹配，则页缓冲区将被写入目标物理块（如果已满）或与聚合闪存块（AFB）中的旧数据片段组合。 因此，使用AFB聚集小片段，减少闪存块的擦除和磨损。 发生STOP命令时，页面缓冲区被复制到AFB。 每个通道都有一个或多个AFB，它们由AFB跟踪表进行跟踪。

公开(公告)号：US20080235443A1

公开(公告)日：2008-09-25

申请号：US12115128

申请日：2008-05-05

申请人： David Q. Chow ,  Frank Yu ,  Charles C. Lee ,  Abraham C. Ma ,  Ming-Shiang Shen

发明人： David Q. Chow ,  Frank Yu ,  Charles C. Lee ,  Abraham C. Ma ,  Ming-Shiang Shen

IPC分类号： G06F12/02

CPC分类号： G06F12/1416 ,  G06F3/0664 ,  G06F12/0851 ,  G06F12/0866 ,  G06F12/0897 ,  G06F21/32 ,  G06F21/78 ,  G06F21/79 ,  G06F2212/2022 ,  Y02D10/13

摘要： A flash memory system stores blocks of data in Non-Volatile Memory Devices (NVMD) that are addressed by a logical block address (LBA). The LBA is remapped for wear-leveling and bad-block relocation by the NVMD. The NVMD are interleaved in channels that are accessed by a NVMD controller. The NVMD controller has a controller cache that caches blocks stored in NVMD in that channel, while the NVMD also contain high-speed cache. The multiple levels of caching reduce access latency. Power is managed in multiple levels by a power controller in the NVMD controller that sets power policies for power managers inside the NVMD. Multiple NVMD controllers in the flash system may each controller many channels of NVMD. The flash system with NVMD may include a fingerprint reader for security.

摘要翻译： 闪存系统存储由逻辑块地址（LBA）寻址的非易失性存储器件（NVMD）中的数据块。 NVBA将对LBA进行重新配置以进行磨损均衡和坏块重定位。 NVMD在由NVMD控制器访问的通道中进行交织。 NVMD控制器具有缓存存储在该通道中的NVMD中的块的控制器高速缓存，而NVMD还包含高速缓存。 多级缓存可以减少访问延迟。 电源由NVMD控制器中的电源控制器以多级管理，为NVMD内的电源管理器设置电源策略。 闪存系统中的多个NVMD控制器可以各自控制多个NVMD通道。 具有NVMD的闪存系统可能包括用于安全性的指纹读取器。

公开(公告)号：US20080198545A1

公开(公告)日：2008-08-21

申请号：US12043398

申请日：2008-03-06

申请人： Jim Chin-Nan Ni ,  Charles C. Lee ,  Frank Yu ,  Abraham C. Ma ,  Ming-Shiang Shen

发明人： Jim Chin-Nan Ni ,  Charles C. Lee ,  Frank Yu ,  Abraham C. Ma ,  Ming-Shiang Shen

IPC分类号： G06F1/16

CPC分类号： G06F12/1416 ,  G06F3/0658 ,  G06F3/0679 ,  G06F21/32 ,  G06F21/78

摘要： An open-frame flash-memory drive has a printed-circuit board assembly (PCBA) with flash-memory chips, a controller chip, and a Serial AT-Attachment (SATA) connector soldered to it. The PCBA is only partially encased by left and right frames or by a U-shaped bracket frame. The frames have PCBA supports and guide posts that fit near edges of the PCBA. The frames do not cover the top and bottom of the PCBA, allowing chips on the PCBA to be ventilated by unblocked air flow. Screws that attach the PCBA to the frame have metal collars that ground the frame to the PCBA's ground plane. The screws form a current path to draw any electro-static-discharge (ESD) current off the frame and onto a PCBA ground. When the SATA connector is inserted into a host, the host ground sinks ESD currents collected by the open frame.

摘要翻译： 开放式闪存驱动器具有焊接到其上的具有闪存芯片的印刷电路板组件（PCBA），控制器芯片和串行AT附件（SATA）连接器。 PCBA仅部分地被左右框架或U形支架框架包围。 这些框架具有PCBA支撑和适合PCBA边缘附近的导向柱。 框架不覆盖PCBA的顶部和底部，允许PCBA上的芯片通过未阻塞的气流通风。 将PCBA连接到框架上的螺钉具有金属套环，将框架接地到PCBA的接地平面。 螺钉形成电流通道，以将任何静电放电（ESD）电流从框架上取出并插入PCBA接地。 当SATA连接器插入主机时，主机接地会吸收由开放框架收集的ESD电流。

公开(公告)号：US20080071975A1

公开(公告)日：2008-03-20

申请号：US11929810

申请日：2007-10-30

申请人： David Q. Chow ,  Frank I Yu ,  Charles C. Lee ,  Abraham C. Ma ,  Ming-Shiang Shen

发明人： David Q. Chow ,  Frank I Yu ,  Charles C. Lee ,  Abraham C. Ma ,  Ming-Shiang Shen

IPC分类号： G06F12/00

CPC分类号： G06F12/0246 ,  G06F12/1416 ,  G06F21/32 ,  G06F21/78 ,  G06F2212/7202 ,  G06F2212/7208 ,  G06K9/00087 ,  G06K19/07 ,  G06K19/07354 ,  G07C9/00087

摘要： An electronic data flash card is accessible by a host computer, and includes a processing unit connected to a flash memory device that stores a data file, and an input-output interface circuit activated so as to establish a communication with the host computer. In an embodiment, the electronic data flash card uses a USB input/output interface circuit for communication with the host computer. A flash memory controller includes an index for converting logical addresses sent by the host computer into physical addresses associated with sectors of the flash memory device. The index is controlled by arbitration logic referencing to values from various look up tables and valid data stored in the flash memory device. The flash memory controller further includes a first-in-first-out unit (FIFO) for recycling obsolete sectors of the flash memory device in the background process so that they are available for reprogramming.

公开(公告)号：US20080071974A1

公开(公告)日：2008-03-20

申请号：US11929730

申请日：2007-10-30

申请人： David Q. Chow ,  Frank I. Yu ,  Charles C. Lee ,  Abraham C. Ma ,  Ming-Shiang Shen

发明人： David Q. Chow ,  Frank I. Yu ,  Charles C. Lee ,  Abraham C. Ma ,  Ming-Shiang Shen

IPC分类号： G06F12/00

CPC分类号： G06F12/0246 ,  G06F12/1416 ,  G06F21/32 ,  G06F21/78 ,  G06F2212/7202 ,  G06F2212/7208 ,  G06K9/00087 ,  G06K19/07 ,  G06K19/07354 ,  G07C9/00087

摘要： An electronic data flash card is accessible by a host computer, and includes a processing unit connected to a flash memory device that stores a data file, and an input-output interface circuit activated so as to establish a communication with the host computer. In an embodiment, the electronic data flash card uses a USB input/output interface circuit for communication with the host computer. A flash memory controller includes an index for converting logical addresses sent by the host computer into physical addresses associated with sectors of the flash memory device. The index is controlled by arbitration logic referencing to values from various look up tables and valid data stored in the flash memory device. The flash memory controller further includes a first-in-first-out unit (FIFO) for recycling obsolete sectors of the flash memory device in the background process so that they are available for reprogramming.

公开(公告)号：US20080071931A1

公开(公告)日：2008-03-20

申请号：US11929756

申请日：2007-10-30

申请人： David Q. Chow ,  Frank I. Yu ,  Charles C. Lee ,  Abraham C. Ma ,  Ming-Shiang Shen

发明人： David Q. Chow ,  Frank I. Yu ,  Charles C. Lee ,  Abraham C. Ma ,  Ming-Shiang Shen

IPC分类号： G06F13/38

CPC分类号： G06F12/0246 ,  G06F12/1416 ,  G06F21/32 ,  G06F21/78 ,  G06F2212/7202 ,  G06F2212/7208 ,  G06K9/00087 ,  G06K19/07 ,  G06K19/07354 ,  G07C9/00087

摘要： An electronic data flash card is accessible by a host computer, and includes a processing unit connected to a flash memory device that stores a data file, and an input-output interface circuit activated so as to establish a communication with the host computer. In an embodiment, the electronic data flash card uses a USB input/output interface circuit for communication with the host computer. A flash memory controller includes an index for converting logical addresses sent by the host computer into physical addresses associated with sectors of the flash memory device. The index is controlled by arbitration logic referencing to values from various look up tables and valid data stored in the flash memory device. The flash memory controller further includes a first-in-first-out unit (FIFO) for recycling obsolete sectors of the flash memory device in the background process so that they are available for reprogramming.

公开(公告)号：US07333364B2

公开(公告)日：2008-02-19

申请号：US11737336

申请日：2007-04-19

申请人： Frank Yu ,  Charles C. Lee ,  Abraham C. Ma ,  Ming-Shiang Shen

发明人： Frank Yu ,  Charles C. Lee ,  Abraham C. Ma ,  Ming-Shiang Shen

IPC分类号： G11C16/06

CPC分类号： G11C11/5621 ,  G11C11/5642 ,  G11C29/00 ,  G11C2211/5634 ,  G11C2211/5641

摘要： A flash memory has multi-level cells (MLC) that can each store multiple bits per cell. Blocks of cells can be downgraded to fewer bits/cell when errors occur, or for storing critical data such as boot code. The bits from a single MLC are partitioned among multiple pages to improve error correctability using Error Correction Code (ECC). An upper reference voltage is generated by a voltage reference generator in response to calibration registers that can be programmed to alter the upper reference voltage. A series of decreasing references are generated from the upper reference voltage and are compared to a bit-line voltage. Compare results are translated by translation logic that generates read data and over- and under-programming signals. Downgraded cells use the same truth table but generate fewer read data bits. Noise margins are asymmetrically improved by using the same sub-states for reading downgraded and full-density MLC cells.

摘要翻译： 闪存具有多级单元（MLC），每个单元可以存储多个位。 当发生错误时，单元块可以降级到较少的位/单元，或用于存储关键数据（如引导代码）。 来自单个MLC的位在多个页面之间进行分区，以使用错误校正码（ECC）来提高错误的可校正性。 响应于校准寄存器，由参考电压发生器产生较高的参考电压，校准寄存器可编程为改变上参考电压。 从较高参考电压产生一系列减小的参考值，并将其与位线电压进行比较。 比较结果由翻译逻辑翻译，生成读取数据和编程过程中和编程不足的信号。 降级的单元格使用相同的真值表，但生成较少的读取数据位。 通过使用相同的子状态来读取降级和全密度MLC单元，噪声余量被不对称地改善。

公开(公告)号：US07930531B2

公开(公告)日：2011-04-19

申请号：US11838192

申请日：2007-08-13

申请人： David Q. Chow ,  Charles C. Lee ,  Frank Yu ,  Tzu-Yih Chu ,  Ming-Shiang Shen

发明人： David Q. Chow ,  Charles C. Lee ,  Frank Yu ,  Tzu-Yih Chu ,  Ming-Shiang Shen

IPC分类号： G06F1/00

CPC分类号： G06F21/568 ,  G06F21/575 ,  G06F2221/2105 ,  G06F2221/2153

摘要： A multi-partition Universal Serial Bus (USB) device has a flash memory with multiple partitions of storage. Some partitions are for different operating systems and store OS images. Another partition has a control program while a user partition stores user data and user configuration information. The control program can test the multi-partition USB device and instruct the host computer BIOS to mount a partition from its flash memory as a drive of the host computer. The host computer can then be rebooted. The OS image from the flash memory is loaded into main memory during rebooting, and the host computer executes a new operating system using the new OS image. The user can press buttons on the multi-partition USB device to select which OS to load, and to begin rebooting. Virus removal programs in the alternate OS can help recover from a virus in the primary OS.

摘要翻译： 多分区通用串行总线（USB）设备具有具有多个存储分区的闪存。 一些分区用于不同的操作系统并存储操作系统映像。 另一个分区具有控制程序，而用户分区则存储用户数据和用户配置信息。 控制程序可以测试多分区USB设备，并指示主机BIOS将其闪存中的分区作为主机的驱动器安装。 然后可以重新启动主机。 重新启动时，闪存中的OS映像将加载到主内存中，主机使用新的操作系统映像执行新的操作系统。 用户可以按多分区USB设备上的按钮选择要加载的操作系统，并开始重新启动。 备用操作系统中的病毒清除程序可以帮助从主操作系统中的病毒恢复。

公开(公告)号：US07649743B2

公开(公告)日：2010-01-19

申请号：US12043398

申请日：2008-03-06

申请人： Jim Chin-Nan Ni ,  Charles C. Lee ,  Frank Yu ,  Abraham C. Ma ,  Ming-Shiang Shen

发明人： Jim Chin-Nan Ni ,  Charles C. Lee ,  Frank Yu ,  Abraham C. Ma ,  Ming-Shiang Shen

IPC分类号： H05K5/00

CPC分类号： G06F12/1416 ,  G06F3/0658 ,  G06F3/0679 ,  G06F21/32 ,  G06F21/78

摘要： An open-frame flash-memory drive has a printed-circuit board assembly (PCBA) with flash-memory chips, a controller chip, and a Serial AT-Attachment (SATA) connector soldered to it. The PCBA is only partially encased by left and right frames or by a U-shaped bracket frame. The frames have PCBA supports and guide posts that fit near edges of the PCBA. The frames do not cover the top and bottom of the PCBA, allowing chips on the PCBA to be ventilated by unblocked air flow. Screws that attach the PCBA to the frame have metal collars that ground the frame to the PCBA's ground plane. The screws form a current path to draw any electro-static-discharge (ESD) current off the frame and onto a PCBA ground. When the SATA connector is inserted into a host, the host ground sinks ESD currents collected by the open frame.

摘要翻译： 开放式闪存驱动器具有焊接到其上的具有闪存芯片的印刷电路板组件（PCBA），控制器芯片和串行AT附件（SATA）连接器。 PCBA仅部分地被左右框架或U形支架框架包围。 这些框架具有PCBA支撑和适合PCBA边缘附近的导向柱。 框架不覆盖PCBA的顶部和底部，允许PCBA上的芯片通过未阻塞的气流通风。 将PCBA连接到框架上的螺钉具有金属套环，将框架接地到PCBA的接地平面。 螺钉形成电流通道，以将任何静电放电（ESD）电流从框架上取出并插入PCBA接地。 当SATA连接器插入主机时，主机接地会吸收由开放框架收集的ESD电流。

公开(公告)号：US07649742B2

公开(公告)日：2010-01-19

申请号：US11309843

申请日：2006-10-11

申请人： Jim Chin-Nan Ni ,  Abraham C. Ma ,  Charles C. Lee ,  Ming-Shiang Shen

发明人： Jim Chin-Nan Ni ,  Abraham C. Ma ,  Charles C. Lee ,  Ming-Shiang Shen

IPC分类号： H05K1/14

CPC分类号： H05K5/0269

摘要： A flash-memory drive replaces a hard-disk drive using an integrated device electronics (IDE) interface. The flash drive has a printed-circuit board assembly (PCBA) with a circuit board with flash-memory chips and a controller chip. The controller chip includes an input/output interface circuit to an external computer over the IDE interface, and a processing unit to read blocks of data from the flash-memory chips. The PCBA is encased inside an upper case and a lower case, with an IDE connector that fits through and opening between the cases. The cases can be assembled with the PCBA by a snap-together, ultrasonic-press, screw-fastener, or thermal-bond adhesive method. Center lines formed on the inside of the cases fit between rows of flash-memory chips to improve case rigidity. The connector has two rows of pins that straddle the center line of the circuit board for a balanced design.

摘要翻译： 闪存驱动器使用集成设备电子（IDE）接口替换硬盘驱动器。 闪存驱动器具有带有闪存芯片的电路板和控制器芯片的印刷电路板组件（PCBA）。 控制器芯片包括通过IDE接口连接到外部计算机的输入/输出接口电路，以及从闪速存储器芯片读取数据块的处理单元。 PCBA被封装在上壳体和下壳体内，并具有适合通过壳体和壳体之间打开的IDE连接器。 这些情况可以通过卡扣，超声波压力机，螺纹紧固件或热粘合粘合剂方法与PCBA组装。 形成在壳体内部的中心线适配在闪存芯片的行之间，以提高外壳刚度。 连接器具有跨越电路板中心线的两排销，用于平衡设计。