Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor mass storage system and architecture can be substituted for a rotating hard disk. The system and architecture avoid erase cycles each time information stored in the mass storage is changed. Erase cycle are avoided by programming an altered data file into an empty mass storage block rather than over itself as a hard disk would. Periodically, the mass storage will need to be cleaned up. These advantages are achieved through the use of several flags, and a map to correlate a logical block address of a block to a physical address of that block. In particular, flags are provided for defective blocks, used blocks, and old versions of a block.

Abstract: A computer card including a voltage detection circuit having Flash EEPROM devices and a controller device, the voltage detection circuit further including a variable voltage detector for determining the system voltage level provided by a power supply within the computer product and appropriately enabling a voltage regulator circuit for dividing the system voltage level to a level suited for operation by the Flash EEPROM devices and applying this operational voltage level to the Flash EEPROM devices. Upon determining the system voltage level provided by the power supply to be appropriately suited for operation of the Flash EEPROM devices, disabling the voltage regulator circuit and providing the system voltage level to the Flash EEPROM devices.