Multiple copies of firmware code for controlling operation of a non-volatile flash memory system are stored at different suitable locations of the flash memory of a memory system. A map of addresses of these locations is also stored in the flash memory. Upon initialization of the memory system, boot code stored in the memory controller is executed by its microprocessor to reference the address map and load one copy of the firmware from the flash memory into a controller memory, from which it may then be executed by the microprocessor to operate the memory system to store and retrieve user data. An error correction code (ECC) is used to check the data but the best portions of the two or more firmware copies stored in the flash memory are used to reduce the need to use ECC. The firmware code may be stored in the flash memory in two-states when user data is stored in the same memory in more than two-states.

Flash memory system startup operation

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention relate to suppressing deterioration in rigidity and dynamic characteristics of a tab even when an initial point of contact between a tab and a ramp during unloading is set closer to the outer periphery of a disk. A data storage device in one embodiment of the present invention includes a head, a ramp for unloading the head, a load beam having a head support portion for supporting the head and a tab adapted to slide on a sliding surface of the ramp on a front end side with respect to the head support portion, and an actuator having the load beam and adapted to actuate the head for loading and unloading. During unloading, a portion of the tab offset from the center in the transverse direction of the tab first comes into contact with the sliding surface of the ramp. The load beam has a flange formed to be bent and continuously from the front end portion of the tab up to both ends of the head support portion.

Data storage device

An apparatus includes a flash memory data storage device (100) and a host (106, 350) operably coupled to the data storage device (100) via an interface (108). The flash memory data storage device (100) includes a plurality of memory chips (118a, 118b, 218). The host (106, 350) includes a host activity monitoring engine (360) configured to monitor (402) activity of the host (106, 350) and a garbage collection control engine (358) configured to control (408) the background garbage collection performed on the memory chips (118a, 118b, 218).

Host control of background garbage collection in a data storage device

A method for communicating commands between a host and a flash memory data storage device includes populating a circular command queue of a driver on the host with commands for retrieval by the data storage device, transferring commands from the circular command queue to the data storage device via a device initiated direct memory access operation, populating, via a direct memory access operation initiated by the data storage device, a circular response queue of the host with responses by the data storage device for retrieval by the host device, where each response acknowledges the reception of a command from the host by the data storage device, and consuming responses from the circular response queue at the host.

Circular command queues for communication between a host and a data storage device

A method of storing data in a flash memory data storage device that includes a plurality of memory chips is disclosed. The method includes determining a number of memory chips in the data storage device, defining, via a host coupled to the data storage device, a first partition of the data storage device, where the first partition includes a first subset of the plurality of memory chips and defining a second partition of the data storage device via a host coupled to the data storage device, where the second partition includes a second subset of the plurality of memory chips. First data is written to the first partition while reading data from the second partition, and first data is written to the second partition while reading data from the first partition.

RAID configuration in a flash memory data storage device

A method of switching between two or more images of firmware on a host device includes storing two or more images of firmware in non-volatile memory of the host device and loading one of the images upon startup in response to a user-controllable indicator A host device that runs firmware during operation may include a non-volatile memory unit that stores a boot code module and is configured to hold two or more firmware images, a processor for executing the boot code module and firmware, said processor being in communication with the non-volatile memory and a switch in communication with the processor, where the boot code module is configured to cause the processor to execute a particular firmware image in response to a position of the switch Alternatively, a host device that runs firmware during operation may include a non-volatile memory unit that stores a boot code module and at least one firmware image, a processor for executing firmware that communicates with the non-volatile memory unit and a digital flag associated with each firmware image in the non-volatile memory unit, where the boot code module is configured to execute a particular firmware image in response to the digital flags

Method and system of switching between two or more images of firmware on a host device

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To measure influence as a result for a host device by performing switching between an old firmware version and a new firmware version a plurality of times to analyze a problem of new firmware as a fault and correct it. SOLUTION: A method of switching between two or more images of firmware on the host device includes storing two or more images of firmware in non- volatile memory of the host device and loading one of the images upon startup in response to a user-controllable indicator. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Method of switching between tow or more images of firmware

Verfahren zum Wechseln zwischen zwei oder mehreren Firmwareabbildungen auf einer Hostvorrichtung, mit folgenden Schritten: Speichern von zwei oder mehreren Firmwareabbildungen (100a, 100b) in einem nichtfluchtigen Speicher (101) einer Hostvorrichtung (108a, 108b); beim Hochfahren der Hostvorrichtung (108a, 108b), Laden und Ausfuhren (120) eines Bootmoduls (102a, 102b); Uberprufen (121) des nichtfluchtigen Speichers (101) auf die neueste Firmwareabbildung der zwei oder mehreren Firmwareabbildungen (100a, 100b); Uberprufen (122; 132) eines benutzersteuerbaren Indikators (106; 130a, 130b), der anzeigt, ob die neueste Firmwareabbildung aus dem nichtfluchtigen Speicher (101) ausgefuhrt werden soll; falls der benutzersteuerbare Indikator (106; 130a, 130b) anzeigt, dass die neueste Firmwareabbildung ausgefuhrt werden soll, Laden (124) der neuesten Firmwareabbildung aus dem nichtfluchtigen Speicher (101); und falls der benutzersteuerbare Indikator (106; 130a, 130b) anzeigt, dass die neueste Firmwareabbildung nicht ausgefuhrt werden soll, Laden (125) einer alternativen Firmwareabbildung aus dem nichtfluchtigen Speicher (101), wobei der benutzersteuerbare Indikator (106;...

Verfahren und System zum Wechsel zwischen zwei oder mehreren Firmwareabbildungen auf einer Hostvorrichtung

A method of switching between two or more images of firmware 100a, 100b on a host device 108, 108a includes storing two or more images of firmware 100a, 100b in non-volatile memory 101 of the host device 108, 108a and executing one of the images 100a, 100b upon startup in response to a user-controllable indicator (figure 1, 106) A host device 108 that runs firmware during operation may include a non-volatile memory unit 101 that stores a boot code module 102a and is configured to hold two or more firmware images 100a, 100b a processor 107 for executing the boot code module (102) and firmware, said processor being in communication with the non-volatile memory and a switch (figure 1, 106) in communication with the processor, where the boot code module is configured to cause the processor to execute a particular firmware image 100a, 100b in response to a position of the switch 106 Alternatively, a host device that runs firmware during operation may include a non-volatile memory unit that stores a boot code module and at least one firmware image, a processor for executing firmware that communicates with the non-volatile memory unit and a digital flag 130a, 130b associated with each firmware image in the non-volatile memory unit, where the boot code module is configured to execute a particular firmware image in response to the digital flags 130a, 130b The firmware images may be acquired in the usual ways by download over a network, a LAN or the internet, or from a local source such as a disk drive The non-volatile memory is preferably flash memory (a variant of EEPROM or PROM)

Bill Torrey

Papers

Method and system of switching between two or more images of firmware on a host device

Method of switching between tow or more images of firmware

Verfahren und System zum Wechsel zwischen zwei oder mehreren Firmwareabbildungen auf einer Hostvorrichtung

User selected switching between two or more firmware images held in non-volatile memory of a host device

Procede et systeme de commutation entre deux images ou plus d'un progiciel sur un dispositif hote