Abstract: A motherboard of a computer system has a video display port, a reprogrammable non-volatile memory, a controller for the non-volatile memory, and a graphics controller circuit for outputting video signals to the video display port. A wired-OR circuit connects the graphics controller circuit to the controller to the port. Thus, the video display port can be used to output video signals from the computer system to a peripheral video display device, and the video display port can be used as an input port to reprogram the non-volatile memory. The present invention also relates to a non-volatile memory device which has an array of non-volatile memory cells and two ports for communication therewith. A first port receives a first communication protocol and interfaces with the array in the first communication protocol. A second port receives a second communication protocol and converts the second communication protocol into the first communication protocol.

Abstract: A memory system, an interface system for accessing a physical sector on an electrically erasable media based upon a logical block number, and a method for mapping a logical block number to a physical sector on an electrically erasable media are disclosed. The erasable media has an erase block size larger than a write block size. The interface system interfaces a host processor to an electrically-erasable memory, such as a flash media. The host processor requests access to the memory based on a logical block number. The interface system uses a first portion of the logical block number to determine from a master index table a physical sector number of a table of physical sector numbers corresponding to the logical block number. The interface system uses a second portion of the logical block number to determine from the table of physical sector numbers the physical sector number on the media corresponding to the logical block number.

Abstract: A circuit interfaces a host processor to an electrically-erasable memory in a memory space, such as a flash media. The memory space defines a plurality of segments, and each of the segments includes a plurality of sectors. A media interface circuit regulates access by the host processor to the electrically-erasable memory in the memory space. Sector valid indication reading circuitry reads at least one sector valid indication from a segment of the media. Sector valid determination circuitry determines a non-defective sector from the at least one sector valid indication read. Sector level segment defect map indication reading circuitry reads a sector-level segment defect map from the sector determined to be non-defective. Sector defect determination circuitry determines, from the sector-level segment defect map read, sectors within the segment that are valid. Access regulation circuitry regulates access to the memory space at least in part on the determinations by the sector defect determination circuitry.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory device has a plurality of blocks each of which can be erased simultaneously. Each block has a plurality of sectors. A status byte comprising of non-volatile memory cells is associated with each sector. A status circuit receives signals stored in each of the status bytes and generates a status signal indicative of the status of the block.