Researchers Submit Patent Application, 'Method To Support High Reliability Multiple Times Program Non-Volatile Configuration Setting', for Approval (USPTO 20220244883)

摘要

News editors obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors:““Field“The present invention relates to integrated circuit memory devices, such as flash devices, that supportuser configurability, and particularly to non-volatile semiconductor memory devices having high reliabilityfor use in multiple times program (MTP) configuration operations.“Description of Related Art“In many modern computer memory devices, the system is configured by the user using configurationregisters provided on the memory chip. For devices implementing default configuration registers withvolatile setting data only, the user needs to change the configuration register after power on if the defaultconfiguration setting cannot fulfill the system requirement such as performance or security requirements.“While there are perceived advantages to this approach, the user may not be able to change theconfiguration register before boot. In this case, the user needs to access the memory chip with thedefault configuration setting in the system boot procedure, this may induce some performance or securitydisadvantage such as longer boot time or easier for a hacker to attack during the system boot procedure.“It is desirable to provide mechanisms for safely changing default configuration settings data, thatsupport, maintain or improve device reliability.”