Abstract: An embedded memory system is disclosed. A main interface is configured to communicate with an electronic system via a main bus. A memory-sharing auxiliary interface is configured to communicate with the electronic system via a memory-sharing auxiliary bus. An arbiter is configured to arbitrate among the main interface, the memory-sharing auxiliary interface, a primary memory, and a secondary memory. Accordingly, the electronic system is capable of sharing either the primary memory or the secondary memory via the memory-sharing auxiliary interface and the memory-sharing auxiliary bus, and the embedded memory system is capable of sharing a system memory of the electronic system via the memory-sharing auxiliary interface and the memory-sharing auxiliary bus.

Abstract: A memory controller and controlling method adaptable to a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) are disclosed. A DRAM controller is configured to manage flow of data to and from the DRAM. A write buffer is controlled by the DRAM controller to temporarily store an entry of data to be written to the DRAM. The data to be written is stored in the write buffer if the write buffer is empty, and the stored data and a succeeding data to be written are both written to the DRAM.

Abstract: An external bridge system includes a host interface, a first device interface and a second device interface, which uses a communication protocol different from that of the first device interface. A bridge controller translates signals compliant with the communication protocol of a host to or from signals compliant with the communication protocol of the first or second device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a memory device with protection capability and a method of accessing data therein. A spreader encrypts input user data according to an entered password, and the encrypted data is then stored in a storage area. A despreader performs reverse process of the spreader on the stored data according to the entered password.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory system and a method for reading data therefrom are provided. The data comprises a first sub-data and a second sub-data. The non-volatile memory system comprises a first storage unit and a second storage unit, adapted for storing the two sub-data respectively. The first storage unit reads a first command from the controller, and stores the first sub-data temporarily as the first temporary sub-data according to the first command. The second storage unit reads a second command from the controller, and stores the second sub-data temporarily as the second temporary sub-data according to the second command. The first temporary sub-data is read from the first storage unit. Then, the first storage unit reads a third command from the controller. The second temporary sub-data is also read from the second storage unit while reading the third command. The time for reading data from the non-volatile memory system is reduced.

Abstract: A secured storage device uses a user key set by user to encrypt a primary key that is for encryption or decryption of user data, to produce a first encrypted data. In the secured storage device, neither the primary key nor the user key is stored, but the first encrypted data, and a secondary key and a second encrypted data produced from the secondary key encrypted with the user key for verifying the password inputted by user are stored. Therefore, even though a storage medium in the secured storage device is detached and read, the primary key and the user key cannot be obtained by a third party for reading out any encrypted user data from the secured storage device.

Abstract: A secure erase system for a solid state memory device is disclosed. A memory area provides a data block for storing data and a key block for storing at least one key. A translation unit maps a logical address to a physical address associated with the memory area. An encryption unit encrypts plaintext data to be written to the memory area with the associated key and decrypts the encrypted data to be read by a host with the associated key. The key associated with a logical erase group to be secure erased is deleted after receiving a command requesting to erase the data associated with the logical erase group.

Abstract: A hierarchical mechanism for preventing concentrated wear on single physical block or a specific set of physical blocks in the physical memory is proposed. The logical blocks mapping to the physical blocks in the physical memory are classified into two different levels for implicitly representing the modification times of the physical blocks. A modify count and a maximum modify count are further included for counting the modification times in a single process of the hierarchical mechanism and for limiting the modification times in single process, leading to the probabilities of all the physical blocks being modified in the physical memory being balanced. The breakdown of the physical memory caused by the breakdown of a specific set of physical blocks or single physical block is thus prevented.

Abstract: A virtual SATA port multiplier and a virtual SATA device are provided for a SATA system. The virtual SATA port multiplier uses a SATA physical layer for data transfer between it and a SATA host, and a non-physical layer for direct data transfer between it and the virtual SATA device. Since the data transfer between the virtual SATA port multiplier and the virtual SATA device is not carried out by way of SATA physical layers, no physical layer circuits are required accordingly, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost, power consumption and hardware size of the SATA system.

Abstract: A method of reducing coupling effect in a flash memory is disclosed. A neighboring page is read, and a flag is set active if the neighboring page is an interfering page. Data are read from the neighboring page at least two more times using at least two distinct read voltages respectively. The threshold-voltage distributions associated with an original page and the neighboring page are transferred according to the read data and the flag.

Abstract: A method of twice programming a multi-bit per cell non-volatile memory with a sequence is disclosed. At least one page at a given word line is firstly programmed with program data by a controller of the non-volatile memory, and at least one page at a word line preceding the given word line is secondly programmed with the same program data by the controller.

Abstract: A method of wear leveling for a non-volatile memory is disclosed. A non-volatile memory is divided into windows and gaps, with each gap between two adjacent windows. The windows comprise physical blocks mapped to logical addresses, and the gaps comprise physical blocks not mapped to logical addresses. The windows are shifted through the non-volatile memory in which the mapping to the physical blocks in the window to be shifted is changed to the physical blocks in the gap.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory system has a controller chip connected to a memory medium and several nonvolatile memory chips. The memory medium stores program codes for the controller chip to distribute an operation of the nonvolatile memory chips upon an instruction over time, so as to decentralize the peak current caused by the operation and thereby improve the stability of the system.

Abstract: A wear leveling limit and/or an overall erase count threshold used for activating wear leveling in a non-volatile memory may be adjusted by determining a stage according to a highest erase count, and determining the wear leveling limit and/or the overall erase count threshold corresponding to the stage. Wear leveling may then be performed according to the wear leveling limit and/or the overall erase count threshold.

Abstract: A uniform coding system for a flash memory is disclosed. A statistic decision unit determines a coding word according to a plurality of inputs. An inverse unit controllably inverts input data to be encoded. The input data are then encoded into encoded data according to a statistic determined by the statistic decision unit.

Abstract: A method and system of finding a read voltage for a flash memory is disclosed. Data are read from array cells of the flash memory with a default read voltage, and a recorded state bit number that is recorded during programming is also read. Determine an optimal read voltage if the readout data do not pass the error correction control (ECC). Data are then re-read from the array cells of the flash memory with the determined optimal read voltage.

Abstract: A configurable coding system and method of multiple error correcting codes (ECCs) for a memory device or devices are disclosed. The system includes an ECC codec that selectively performs different error corrections with different parameters. The system also includes means for providing a selected parameter to the ECC codec for initializing the ECC codec. The parameter used for initializing the ECC codec is an error-free parameter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of generating the soft value for a memory device is disclosed. Memory read-related parameters are set, and data are read out of the memory device according to the set parameters. The data reading is performed for pre-determined plural iterations, thereby obtaining the soft value according to the read-out data and the set parameters.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory device, and a method for accessing the non-volatile memory device are provided. The non-volatile memory device is connected to a host via a bus. The non-volatile memory device comprises an MCU. By independently processing the particular commands using only the auxiliary circuit, the MCU can cease to operate, thus saving power. By setting the bus into power saving mode when the non-volatile memory device is busy, the host and the non-volatile memory device would not communicate mutually, thus, saving power.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a memory device with protection capability and a method of accessing data therein. A spreader encrypts input user data according to an entered password, and the encrypted data is then stored in a storage area. A despreader performs reverse process of the spreader on the stored data according to the entered password.