Abstract: A memory system or flash card may be exposed to elapsed time or increased temperature conditions which may degrade the memory. For example, extended time periods or high temperature conditions may hinder data retention in a memory device. An estimate of elapsed time and temperature conditions may be useful for memory management. An algorithm that periodically identifies one or more sentinel blocks in the memory device and measures the data retention shift in those sentinel blocks can calculate a scalar value that approximates the combined effect of elapsed time and/or temperature conditions.

Abstract: A storage module and method for virtual abort are disclosed. In one embodiment, a virtual abort of a read command is provided. The read command triggers a read operation that comprises reading data from the storage module's memory, processing the data by at least one processing module as the data moves along a data path from the memory to the storage module's host interface module, and then providing the data to a host via the host interface module. When an abort command is received, the storage module allows the data that is read from the memory to be processed by the at least one processing module as the data moves along the data path to the host interface module but prevents the host interface module from providing the data to the host. In another embodiment, a virtual abort of a write command is provided.

Abstract: A storage module and method are provided for improved error correction by detection of grown bad bit lines. In one embodiment, a storage module is provided comprising a controller and a memory having a plurality of bit lines. The controller detects an uncorrectable error in a code word read from the memory, determines location(s) of grown bad bit line(s) that contributed to the error in the code word being uncorrectable, and uses the determined location(s) of the grown bad bit line(s) to attempt to correct the error in the code word.

Abstract: A storage module and method are provided for determining ready/busy status of a plurality of memory dies. In one embodiment, a bus has a ready/busy line that is shared among the plurality of memory dies, and a time-division multiplex signal on the shared ready/busy line is used to communicate the ready/busy status of each of the memory dies. In another embodiment, each of the memory dies sends its ready/busy status to the storage controller using a different one of a plurality of data lines in the bus. In yet another embodiment, each of the memory dies sends a pulse across the ready/busy line with a different pulse width. To avoid collisions, each memory die waits a different number of clock cycles before attempting to send its pulse status after determining that the shared ready/busy line is in use.

Abstract: A storage controller is configured to find a last-written page in a block in a memory by sending a command to the memory to read a page of data, receiving at least some of the data from that page, and analyzing the at least some of the data from that page to determine if that page is a written page. In one embodiment, the storage controller instructs the memory to read the page of data using a sense time that is shorter than a sense time used to read a page of data in response to a read request from a host controller. Additionally or alternatively, the amount of the data received by the storage controller can be less than the amount of data received when reading a page of data in response to a read request from a host controller.

Abstract: A memory device and method for performing a write-abort-safe firmware update are disclosed. In one embodiment, a location in a memory of a memory device for a firmware update is allocated. The firmware update is written into the allocated location in the memory. A pointer is written to the firmware update in a directory, and a pointer is written to the directory in a location in the memory that is read during boot-up. In another embodiment, a block in a memory of a memory device is allocated for updated file system data comprising a firmware update and a directory. The updated file system data is written into the allocated location in the memory. A pointer is written to the firmware update in the directory, and a pointer is written to the updated file system data in a boot block in the memory, wherein the boot block is read during boot-up.

Abstract: A memory device and method for performing a write-abort-safe firmware update are disclosed. In one embodiment, a location in a memory of a memory device for a firmware update is allocated. The firmware update is written into the allocated location in the memory. A pointer is written to the firmware update in a directory, and a pointer is written to the directory in a location in the memory that is read during boot-up. In another embodiment, a block in a memory of a memory device is allocated for updated file system data comprising a firmware update and a directory. The updated file system data is written into the allocated location in the memory. A pointer is written to the firmware update in the directory, and a pointer is written to the updated file system data in a boot block in the memory, wherein the boot block is read during boot-up.