Abstract: A flash memory based file memory device built in an information processing apparatus enables fast file access. The file memory device is provided with a parallel arrangement of memory element groups having a unit erasure block size greater than the data bus width of the memory device and a data access width smaller than the data bus, a file division unit for dividing file data that consists of one or more unit storage data blocks into combined blocks that consists of a combination of arbitrary unit storage data blocks, a data distribution unit for combining arbitrarily data on the data bus in terms of the unit data size equal to the data access width and making the combined data correspondent to an arbitrary combination of memory element groups equal in number to the unit size data, and a control unit for controlling the data distribution unit such that each combined block is stored in the file memory device by being correspondent to one of the arbitrary combinations of memory element groups.

Abstract: A semiconductor disk storage apparatus is coupled with a system bus for receiving a write request accompanied with first and second blocks of data through the system bus. A plurality of nonvolatile flash semiconductor memories store the first and second blocks of data therein. A buffer memory holds the first and second blocks of data as write data to be written into the flash memories. A control means carries out read operations of the write data from the buffer memory and write operations of the write data read out from the buffer memory into the flash memories, responsive to the write request. The control means responsive to the write request, sends a first write command to write the first block of data into one of the flash memories and a second write command to write the second block of data into a different flash memory.

Abstract: A semiconductor disk pack comprising a plurality of flash memories which operate slower in writing data thereinto than in reading data therefrom, a write buffer memory in which data are temporarily held, a processor which controls the data writing operation and which transfers and analyzes commands and statuses, an address controller which generates physical addresses, a circuit which generates a writing supply voltage Vpp for the flash memories, a memory address bus, and a data bus. The semiconductor disk pack is connected to a standard bus in a personal computer or the like. The processor writes the data of one word into a desired one of the flash memories, and it continuously writes the data of one word into an accessible one of the other flash memories during a latency which extends until the desired flash memory becomes capable of writing the next data of one word thereinto.

Abstract: A semiconductor file system features a first nonvolatile memory electrically erasable, a second nonvolatile memory not electrically erasable, a volatile memory, a controller, and a control section which controls the controller wherein a physical address corresponding to a logical address specified from an external system is accessed. The first nonvolatile memory stores data for the external system to perform operations, first management information indicating correspondence between physical and logical addresses, and second management information indicating a state of the first nonvolatile memory. The second nonvolatile memory previously stores interface information. The controller determines a physical sector address.

Abstract: A semiconductor disk wherein a flash memory into which data is rewritten in block unit is employed as a storage medium, the semiconductor disk including a data memory in which file data are stored, a substitutive memory which substitutes for blocks of errors in the data memory, an error memory in which error information of the data memory are stored, and a memory controller which reads data out of, writes data into and erases data from the data memory, the substitutive memory and the error memory. Since the write errors of the flash memory can be remedied, the service life of the semiconductor disk can be increased.

Abstract: A semiconductor file system features a first nonvolatile memory electrically erasable, a second nonvolatile memory not electrically erasable, a volatile memory, a controller, and a control section which controls the controller wherein a physical address corresponding to a logical address specified from an external system is accessed. The first nonvolatile memory stores data for the external system to perform operations, first management information indicating correspondence between physical and logical addresses, and second management information indicating a state of the first nonvolatile memory. The second nonvolatile memory previously stores interface information. The controller determines a physical sector address.

Abstract: A semiconductor file memory device, and an information processing system incorporating the device, uses flash memories to achieve fast file access performance.

Abstract: A semiconductor disk wherein a flash memory into which data is rewritten in block unit is employed as a storage medium, the semiconductor disk including a data memory in which file data are stored, a substitutive memory which substitutes for blocks of errors in the data memory, an error memory in which error information of the data memory are stored, and a memory controller which reads data out of, writes data into and erases data from the data memory, the substitutive memory and the error memory. Since the write errors of the flash memory can be remedied, the service life of the semiconductor disk can be increased.

Abstract: In a semiconductor disk wherein a flash memory into which data is rewritten in block unit is employed as a storage medium; a semiconductor disk comprising a data memory in which file data are stored, a substitutive memory which substitutes for blocks of errors in the data memory, an error memory in which error information of the data memory are stored, and a memory controller which reads data out of, writes data into and erases data from the data memory, the substitutive memory and the error memory. Since the write errors of the flash memory can be remedied, the service life of the semiconductor disk can be prolonged.

Abstract: A semiconductor disk wherein a flash memory into which data is rewritten in block unit is employed as a storage medium, the semiconductor disk including a data memory in which file data are stored, a substitutive memory which substitutes for blocks of errors in the data memory, an error memory in which error information of the data memory are stored, and a memory controller which reads data out of, writes data into and erases data from the data memory, the substitutive memory and the error memory. Since the write errors of the flash memory can be remedied, the service life of the semiconductor disk can be increased.

Abstract: A semiconductor disk pack comprising a plurality of flash memories which operate slower in writing data thereinto than in reading data therefrom, a write buffer memory in which data are temporarily held, a processor which controls the data writing operation and which transfers and analyzes commands and statuses, an address controller which generates physical addresses, a circuit which generates a writing supply voltage Vpp for the flash memories, a memory address bus, and a data bus. The semiconductor disk pack is connected to a standard bus in a personal computer or the like. The processor writes the data of one word into a desired one of the flash memories, and it continuously writes the data of one word into an accessible one of the other flash memories during a latency which extends until the desired flash memory becomes capable of writing the next data of one word thereinto.

Abstract: A control method and system when a flash memory is used. as a semiconductor disk or a main memory in an information processing system. A semiconductor file system comprises a first nonvolatile memory electrically erasable, a second nonvolatile memory not electrically erasable, a volatile memory, a controller which controls the memories, and a control section which controls the controller wherein a physical address corresponding to a logical address specified from an external system is accessed. The first nonvolatile memory stores data for the external system to perform operations, first management information indicating the correspondence between physical addresses at which the data is stored and logical addresses, and second management information indicating a state of the first nonvolatile memory. The second nonvolatile memory previously stores interface information required for inputting and outputting the data from and to the external system and read-only data of the data.

Abstract: A semiconductor file memory device, and an information processing system incorporating the device, uses flash memories to achieve fast file access performance.

Abstract: A semiconductor file memory device, and an information processing system incorporating the device, uses flash memories to achieve fast file access performance.

Abstract: A semiconductor disk storage apparatus is provided which is coupled to a system bus for receiving a write request accompanied with first and second sector data, each of 512 bytes, through the system bus from an external information processing system. A buffer memory is provided to hold the first and second sector data as write data to be written into a plurality of non-volatile flash semiconductor memories. A control means is also provided which is responsive to the write request to send a first write command to write the first sector data into one of the flash memories, and, after the first write command has been sent, to send a second write command to write the second sector data into another of the flash memories, such that the sending of the second sector data accompanied with the second write command occurs while the write operation of the first sector data is still being carried out.

Abstract: A semiconductor disk wherein a flash memory into which data is rewritten in block units is employed as a storage medium, said a semiconductor disk comprises a data memory in which file data are stored, a substitutive memory which substitutes for blocks of errors in the data memory, an error memory in which error information of the data memory are stored, and a memory controller which reads data out of, writes data into and erases data from the data memory, the substitutive memory and the error memory. Since the write errors of the flash memory can be remedied, the service life of the semiconductor disk can be increased.

Abstract: A control method and system when a flash memory is used as a semiconductor disk or a main memory in an information processing system. A semiconductor file system comprises a first nonvolatile memory electrically erasable, a second nonvolatile memory not electrically erasable, a volatile memory, a controller which controls the memories, and a control section which controls the controller wherein a physical address corresponding to a logical address specified from an external system is accessed. The first nonvolatile memory stores data for the external system to perform operations, first management information indicating the correspondence between physical addresses at which the data is stored and logical addresses, and second management information indicating a state of the first nonvolatile memory. The second nonvolatile memory previously stores interface information required for inputting and outputting the data from and to the external system and read-only data of the data.

Abstract: A control method and system when a flash memory is used as a semiconductor disk or a main memory in an information processing system. A semiconductor file system comprises a first nonvolatile memory electrically erasable, a second nonvolatile memory not electrically erasable, a volatile memory, a controller which controls the memories, and a control section which controls the controller wherein a physical address corresponding to a logical address specified from an external system is accessed. The first nonvolatile memory stores data for the external system to perform operations, first management information indicating the correspondence between physical addresses at which the data is stored and logical addresses, and second management information indicating a state of the first nonvolatile memory. The second nonvolatile memory previously stores interface information required for inputting and outputting the data from and to the external system and read-only data of the data.

Abstract: A control method and system when a flash memory is used as a semiconductor disk or a main memory in an information processing system. A semiconductor file system comprises a first nonvolatile memory electrically erasable, a second nonvolatile memory not electrically erasable, a volatile memory, a controller which controls the memories, and a control section which controls the controller wherein a physical address corresponding to a logical address specified from an external system is accessed. The first nonvolatile memory stores data for the external system to perform operations, first management information indicating the correspondence between physical addresses at which the data is stored and logical addresses, and second management information indicating a state of the first nonvolatile memory. The second nonvolatile memory previously stores interface information required for inputting and outputting the data from and to the external system and read-only data of the data.

Abstract: A semiconductor storage device such as a disk pack includes a plurality of flash memories, a write buffer memory in which data are temporarily held, a processor which controls data writing and erasing operations and which transfers and analyzes commands and statuses to and from the flash memories, and a circuit which generates a writing supply voltage Vpp, different from a reading supply voltage, for the flash memories. The processor operates to send a first instruction for writing or erasing data of one word into a first one of the flash memories, and it continuously writes the data of one word into an accessible one of the other flash memories before the first one of the flash memories becomes capable of accepting the next write or erase instruction. The processor determines whether each nonvolatile memory has individually become ready to accept a new write or erase instruction. A plurality of instructions for writing or erasing data for consecutive addresses may thus be distributively, e.g.