
Intel StrataFlash Wireless Memory (L18)
Intel StrataFlash Wireless Memory (L18) with A/D-Multiplexed I/O
Datasheet
July 2006
58
Order Number: 313295-002US
12.0
Erase Operations
Flash erasing is performed on a block basis. An entire block is erased each time an
erase command sequence is issued, and only one block is erased at a time. When a
block is erased, all bits within that block read as logical ones. The following sections
describe block erase operations in detail.
12.1
Block Erase
Block erase operations are initiated by writing the Block Erase Setup command to the address of the block to
be erased (see
command is written to the address of the block to be erased. Erasing can occur in only one partition at a time;
all other partitions must be in a read state.
If the device is placed in standby (CE# deasserted)
during an erase operation, the device completes the erase operation before entering
standby.V
PP must be above VPPLK and the block must be unlocked
During a block erase, the Write State Machine (WSM) executes a sequence of
internally-timed events that conditions, erases, and verifies all bits within the block.
Erasing the flash memory array changes “zeros” to “ones.” Memory array bits that are
ones can be changed to zeros only by programming the block (see
Section 11.0,The Status Register can be examined for block erase progress and errors by reading
any address within the partition that is being erased. The partition remains in the Read
Status Register state until another command is written to that partition. Issuing the
Read Status Register command to another partition address sets that partition to the
Read Status Register state, allowing erase progress to be monitored at that partition’s
address. SR[0] indicates whether the addressed partition or another partition is
erasing. The partition’s Status Register bit SR[7] is set upon erase completion.
Status Register bit SR[7] indicates block erase status while the sequence executes.
When the erase operation has finished, Status Register bit SR[5] indicates an erase
failure if set. SR[3] set would indicate that the WSM could not perform the erase
operation because VPP was outside of its acceptable limits. SR[1] set indicates that the
erase operation attempted to erase a locked block, causing the operation to abort. CE#
or OE# must be toggled to update Status Register contents.
Before issuing a new command, the Status Register contents should be examined and
then cleared using the Clear Status Register command. Any valid command can follow
once the block erase operation has completed.
12.2
Erase Suspend
Issuing the Erase Suspend command while erasing suspends the block erase operation.
This allows data to be accessed from memory locations other than the one being
erased. The Erase Suspend command can be issued to any device address; the
corresponding partition is not affected. A block erase operation can be suspended to
perform a word or write-buffer program operation, or a read operation within any block
When a block erase operation is executing, issuing the Erase Suspend command
requests the WSM to suspend the erase algorithm at predetermined points. The
partition that is suspended continues to output Status Register data after the Erase
Suspend command is issued. Block erase is suspended when Status Register bits