Abstract: In a semiconductor integrated circuit device, a command decoder is adapted to receive not only an external command but also an internal command. An ECC controller has a command generator and an address generator. When the command decoder decodes an external entry command, the command generator instructs encoding to an ECC-CODEC circuit and the address generator sequentially produces addresses which are supplied to a memory array. The ECC-CODEC circuit produces check bits for error detection/correction with reference to information data of the memory array. Upon completion of an encoding operation of writing the check bits into a predetermined region of the memory array, the ECC controller delivers an end signal to the command decoder as the internal command to make a super self-refresh control circuit start a super self-refresh operation.

Abstract: A memory controller and method for managing the issuance of read and write requests to a system memory is provided. The number of outstanding read requests and write requests issued to the system memory are separately monitored and further issuance of read and write requests to the system memory is separately controlled based on the number of outstanding read and write requests, respectively. For example, the issuance of read and write requests can be managed by independently halting and resuming the issuance of read and write requests to the system memory to maintain the number of outstanding read requests between first and second read thresholds and to maintain the number of outstanding write requests between first and second write thresholds, respectively.

Abstract: An integrated memory has individually addressable normal and redundant units of memory cells. A memory unit is used to store, in a normal mode, an address for one of the normal units which needs to be replaced by one of the redundant units. A comparison unit compares an address which is present on an address bus with an address stored in the memory unit and activates one of the redundant units in the event of a match being identified. The memory also has a test circuit which can be activated by a test mode signal, can reset the memory unit to an initial state, and can store an address for one of the redundant units in the memory unit for subsequently writing an identification code to this redundant unit.

Abstract: A device contains a memory that stores a WOM codeword that encodes successive generations of data values. When the codeword must be updated to represent a new data value, the device determines which updates of the dataword can be realized by feasible single bit updates to the WOM (Write Once Memory) codeword. If no feasible single bit update is possible, feasible two-bit updates are considered. Under control of the new data values a connection circuit routes feasibility signals for various updates, that signal the single-bit feasibility of the updates. Routing brings together pairs of feasibility signals for updates that together produce a WOM codeword that encodes the new data value. A pair is selected in which both feasibility signals indicate feasibility and the codeword is updated according to the updates involved in the pair.

Abstract: The storage control system reads out new-version firmware from a newly installed new disk type storage device to a region in the cache memory, shared memory, or a maintenance terminal. Old-version firmware of one or more disk type storage devices selected from a plurality of in-operation disk type storage devices that were installed prior to the new disk type storage device is then updated to the read-out new-version firmware.