Abstract: In some implementations, one or more semiconductor processing tools may form a metal cap on a metal gate. The one or more semiconductor processing tools may form one or more dielectric layers on the metal cap. The one or more semiconductor processing tools may form a recess to the metal cap within the one or more dielectric layers. The one or more semiconductor processing tools may perform a bottom-up deposition of metal material on the metal cap to form a metal plug within the recess and directly on the metal cap.

Abstract: The present invention provides a control method of the flash memory controller. In the control method, by establishing a valid page count table, a detailed valid page count table and/or a zone valid page count table according to deallocate command from the host device, the flash memory controller can efficiently and quickly determine if any one of the zones does not have any valid data, so that the flash memory controller can recommend the host device to send a reset command to reset the zone. In addition, after receiving the reset command from the host device, the flash memory controller can use a garbage collection operation or directly put the blocks corresponding to the erased zone into a spare block pool, for the further use.

Abstract: The present invention provides a control method of the flash memory controller. In the control method, by establishing a valid page count table, a detailed valid page count table and/or a zone valid page count table according to deallocate command from the host device, the flash memory controller can efficiently and quickly determine if any one of the zones does not have any valid data, so that the flash memory controller can recommend the host device to send a reset command to reset the zone. In addition, after receiving the reset command from the host device, the flash memory controller can use a garbage collection operation or directly put the blocks corresponding to the erased zone into a spare block pool, for the further use.

Abstract: The present invention provides a control method of the flash memory controller. In the control method, by establishing a valid page count table, a detailed valid page count table and/or a zone valid page count table according to deallocate command from the host device, the flash memory controller can efficiently and quickly determine if any one of the zones does not have any valid data, so that the flash memory controller can recommend the host device to send a reset command to reset the zone. In addition, after receiving the reset command from the host device, the flash memory controller can use a garbage collection operation or directly put the blocks corresponding to the erased zone into a spare block pool, for the further use.

Abstract: A data storage apparatus has a transmission interface, a nonvolatile memory and a controller. The controller records a non-completed flag. When the controller starts a card opening process, the nonvolatile memory is configured under card opening, and the non-completed flag is set non-completed status. When the controller receives a format command form the transmission interface, the nonvolatile memory is formatted and the non-completed flag is set as completed status. When the controller receives a write command, the write data are scrambled before being written to the nonvolatile memory. When in non-completed status, when the controller receives a read command from the transmission interface, no matter whether the data corresponding to the requested address are scrambled, the data are descrambled and descrambled are provided via the transmission interface.

Abstract: A data storage apparatus has a transmission interface, a nonvolatile memory and a controller. The controller records a non-completed flag. When the controller starts a card opening process, the nonvolatile memory is configured under card opening, and the non-completed flag is set non-completed status. When the controller receives a format command form the transmission interface, the nonvolatile memory is formatted and the non-completed flag is set as completed status. When the controller receives a write command, the write data are scrambled before being written to the nonvolatile memory. When in non-completed status, when the controller receives a read command from the transmission interface, no matter whether the data corresponding to the requested address are scrambled, the data are descrambled and descrambled are provided via the transmission interface.

Abstract: A method for performing data pattern management regarding data accessed by a controller of a Flash memory includes: when the controller receives a write command, generating a first random function, where the write command is utilized for instructing the controller to write the data into the Flash memory; and adjusting a plurality of bits of the data bit by bit to generate a pseudo-random bit sequence, and writing the pseudo-random bit sequence into the Flash memory to represent the data, whereby data pattern distribution of the data is adjusted. An associated memory device and the controller thereof are also provided, where the controller includes: a ROM arranged to store a program code; a microprocessor arranged to execute the program code to control the access to the Flash memory and manage a plurality of blocks; and a randomizer arranged to generate a random function. The controller can perform data pattern management.

Abstract: The invention provides a data storage device. In one embodiment, the data storage device is coupled to a host, and comprises a downgrade memory and a controller. The downgrade memory comprises a plurality of blocks, wherein each of the blocks comprises a plurality of pages, each of the pages comprises a plurality of sectors, and some of the sectors are defect sectors. The controller generates a defect table for recording a plurality of defect addresses of the defect sectors in the blocks, receives a plurality of data sectors to be written to the downgrade memory from the host, determines a plurality of first physical sector addresses for storing the data sectors according to the defect table, and sends write commands to the downgrade memory to direct the downgrade memory to write the data sectors to the downgrade memory according to the first physical sector addresses.

Abstract: The invention provides a data storage device. In one embodiment, the data storage device is coupled to a host, and comprises a downgrade memory and a controller. The downgrade memory comprises a plurality of blocks, wherein each of the blocks comprises a plurality of pages, each of the pages comprises a plurality of sectors, and some of the sectors are defect sectors. The controller generates a defect table for recording a plurality of defect addresses of the defect sectors in the blocks, receives a plurality of data sectors to be written to the downgrade memory from the host, determines a plurality of first physical sector addresses for storing the data sectors according to the defect table, and sends write commands to the downgrade memory to direct the downgrade memory to write the data sectors to the downgrade memory according to the first physical sector addresses.

Abstract: A method for performing data pattern management regarding data accessed by a controller of a Flash memory includes: when the controller receives a write command, generating a first random function, where the write command is utilized for instructing the controller to write the data into the Flash memory; and adjusting a plurality of bits of the data bit by bit to generate a pseudo-random bit sequence, and writing the pseudo-random bit sequence into the Flash memory to represent the data, whereby data pattern distribution of the data is adjusted. An associated memory device and the controller thereof are also provided, where the controller includes: a ROM arranged to store a program code; a microprocessor arranged to execute the program code to control the access to the Flash memory and manage a plurality of blocks; and a randomizer arranged to generate a random function. The controller can perform data pattern management.