Abstract: A multi input multi output (MIMO) receiver for receiving signals having a synchronization (SYNC) module being responsive to a plurality of received baseband signals for processing the same to generate maximum ratio combining (MRC) parameters, complementary code keying (CCK) modulated signals and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulated signals, said SYNC module for using said MRC parameters to process said OFDM modulated signals to generate a plurality of aligned OFDM signals in time domain, said MIMO receiver for processing said plurality of aligned OFDM signals to generate a plurality of subcarriers, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The MIMO receiver further including a time domain CCK MRC module being responsive to said MRC parameters for processing said CCK modulated signals in time domain to generate aligned signals, said aligned signals being combined to generate an adjusted signal for demodulation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for identifying a block being stored within flash memory devices using a cluster address for each block, the block being selectively erasable and having one or more sectors, the cluster address being stored in one of the sectors of the block. In an alternative embodiment, the cluster address is stored in at least two different sectors within the same block for ensuring that the information last written to the block is valid. Further disclosed is a novel way to use a defect flag for each block stored within the flash memory device for efficiently identifying non-defective blocks upon system power-up.