
May 30, 2008 S29GL-N_00_B8
S29GL-N
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Data
She e t
sectors switch the DYB bits to signify protected and unprotected, respectively. If there is a need to change the
status of the persistently locked sectors, a few more steps are required. First, the PPB Lock Bit must be
disabled to the “unfreeze state” by either putting the device through a power-cycle, or hardware reset. The
PPB bits can then be changed to reflect the desired settings. Setting the PPB Lock Bit once again to the
“freeze state” locks the PPB bits, and the device operates normally again.
To achieve the best protection, execute the PPB Lock Bit Set command early in the boot code, and protect
the boot code by holding WP# = VIL.
7.13.2
Persistent Protection Bit (PPB)
A single Persistent (non-volatile) Protection Bit is assigned to each sector. If a PPB is programmed to the
protected state through the “PPB Program” command, that sector is protected from program or erase
operations is read-only. If a PPB requires erasure, all of the sector PPB bits must first be erased in parallel
through the “All PPB Erase” command. The “All PPB Erase” command preprograms all PPB bits prior to PPB
erasing. All PPB bits erase in parallel, unlike programming where individual PPB bits are programmable. The
PPB bits have the same endurance as the flash memory.
Programming the PPB bit requires the typical word programming time without utilizing the Write Buffer.
During a PPB bit programming and all PPB bit erasing sequence executions, the DQ6 Toggle Bit I toggles
until the programming of the PPB bit or erasing of all PPB bits has completed to indicate programming and
erasing status. Erasing all of the PPB bits at once requires typical sector erase time. During the erasing of all
PPB bits, the DQ3 Sector Erase Timer bit outputs a 1 to indicate the erasure of all PPB bits are in progress.
When the erasure of all PPB bits has completed, the DQ3 Sector Erase Timer bit outputs a 0 to indicate that
all PPB bits have been erased. Reading the PPB Status bit requires the initial access time of the device.
7.13.3
Persistent Protection Bit Lock (PPB Lock Bit)
A global volatile bit. When set to the “freeze state”, the PPB bits cannot be changed. When cleared to the
“unfreeze state”, the PPB bits are changeable. There is only one PPB Lock Bit per device. The PPB Lock Bit
is cleared to the “unfreeze state” after power-up or hardware reset. There is no command sequence to unlock
or “unfreeze” the PPB Lock Bit.
Configuring the PPB Lock Bit to the freeze state requires approximately 100ns. Reading the PPB Lock Status
bit requires the initial access time of the device.
Table 7.7 contains all possible combinations of the DYB bit, PPB bit, and PPB Lock Bit relating to the status
of the sector. In summary, if the PPB bit is set, and the PPB Lock Bit is set, the sector is protected and the
protection cannot be removed until the next power cycle or hardware reset clears the PPB Lock Bit to
“unfreeze state”. If the PPB bit is cleared, the sector can be dynamically locked or unlocked. The DYB bit then
controls whether or not the sector is protected or unprotected. If the user attempts to program or erase a
protected sector, the device ignores the command and returns to read mode. A program command to a
protected sector enables status polling for approximately 1 s before the device returns to read mode without
having modified the contents of the protected sector. An erase command to a protected sector enables status
polling for approximately 50 s after which the device returns to read mode without having erased the
protected sector. The programming of the DYB bit, PPB bit, and PPB Lock Bit for a given sector can be
verified by writing a DYB Status Read, PPB Status Read, and PPB Lock Status Read commands to the
device.
Table 7.7 Sector Protection Schemes
Protection States
Sector State
DYB Bit
PPB Bit
PPB Lock Bit
Unprotect
Unfreeze
Unprotected – PPB and DYB are changeable
Freeze
Unprotected – PPB not changeable, DYB is changeable
Unprotect
Protect
Unfreeze
Protected – PPB and DYB are changeable
Unprotect
Protect
Freeze
Protected – PPB not changeable, DYB is changeable
Protect
Unprotect
Unfreeze
Protected – PPB and DYB are changeable
Protect
Unprotect
Freeze
Protected – PPB not changeable, DYB is changeable
Protect
Unfreeze
Protected – PPB and DYB are changeable
Protect
Freeze
Protected – PPB not changeable, DYB is changeable