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May 30, 2008 S29GL-N_00_B8
S29GL-N
39
Data
She e t
7.10.2
Password Sector Protection
A highly sophisticated protection method that requires a password before changes to certain sectors or sector
groups are permitted
7.10.3
WP# Hardware Protection
A write protect pin that can prevent program or erase operations in the outermost sectors.
The WP# Hardware Protection feature is always available, independent of the software managed protection
method chosen.
7.10.4
Selecting a Sector Protection Mode
All parts default to operate in the Persistent Sector Protection mode. The customer must then choose if the
Persistent or Password Protection method is most desirable. There are two one-time programmable non-
volatile bits that define which sector protection method is used. If the customer decides to continue using the
Persistent Sector Protection method, they must set the Persistent Sector Protection Mode Locking Bit.
This permanently sets the part to operate only using Persistent Sector Protection. If the customer decides to
use the password method, they must set the Password Mode Locking Bit. This permanently sets the part to
operate only using password sector protection.
It is important to remember that setting either the Persistent Sector Protection Mode Locking Bit or the
Password Mode Locking Bit permanently selects the protection mode. It is not possible to switch between
the two methods once a locking bit is set. It is important that one mode is explicitly selected when the
device is first programmed, rather than relying on the default mode alone. This is so that it is not
possible for a system program or virus to later set the Password Mode Locking Bit, which would cause an
unexpected shift from the default Persistent Sector Protection Mode into the Password Protection Mode.
The device is shipped with all sectors unprotected. The factory offers the option of programming and
protecting sectors at the factory prior to shipping the device through the ExpressFlash Service. Contact
your sales representative for details.
7.11
Advanced Sector Protection
Advanced Sector Protection features several levels of sector protection, which can disable both the program
and erase operations in certain sectors.
Persistent Sector Protection is a method that replaces the old 12V controlled protection method.
Password Sector Protection is a highly sophisticated protection method that requires a password before
changes to certain sectors are permitted.
7.12
Lock Register
The Lock Register consists of 3 bits (DQ2, DQ1, and DQ0). These DQ2, DQ1, DQ0 bits of the Lock Register
are programmable by the user. Users are not allowed to program both DQ2 and DQ1 bits of the Lock Register
to the 00 state. If the user tries to program DQ2 and DQ1 bits of the Lock Register to the 00 state, the device
aborts the Lock Register back to the default 11 state. The programming time of the Lock Register is same as
the typical word programming time without utilizing the Write Buffer of the device. During a Lock Register
programming sequence execution, the DQ6 Toggle Bit I toggles until the programming of the Lock Register
has completed to indicate programming status. All Lock Register bits are readable to allow users to verify
Lock Register statuses.
The Customer Secured Silicon Sector Protection Bit is DQ0, Persistent Protection Mode Lock Bit is DQ1, and
Password Protection Mode Lock Bit is DQ2 are accessible by all users. Each of these bits are non-volatile.
DQ15-DQ3 are reserved and must be 1's when the user tries to program the DQ2, DQ1, and DQ0 bits of the
Lock Register. The user is not required to program DQ2, DQ1 and DQ0 bits of the Lock Register at the same
time. This allows users to lock the Secured Silicon Sector and then set the device either permanently into
Password Protection Mode or Persistent Protection Mode and then lock the Secured Silicon Sector at
separate instances and time frames.