Semiconductor memory device, a sector-address conversion circuit, an address-conversion method, and operation method of the semiconductor memory device

Abstract

The present invention aims at providing a semiconductor memory device that can be operational in a desired boot block mode, regardless of the original boot block type of the device, by facilitating rewriting of the memory device. A sector address from an outside source is inputted into a sector-address conversion circuit, which converts the sector address into an internal address, and a memory cell array is accessed through an address decoder circuit. Suppose that each of banks of the memory device is configured as a bottom boot type. By converting the sector address by the sector-address conversion circuit such that the sector-address now appears to the outside in the reverse order, each of the banks now functions as a top boot type.

1 . A Method of reading a program from a memory area having one or more small sectors, comprising: 
 inputting a first sector address corresponding to a first type;    converting the first sector address into a second sector address corresponding to a second type which is different from the first type; and    accessing the memory area with the second sector address.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the initialization program is a boot program.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first type is a top boot type and the second type is a bottom boot type.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first type is a bottom boot type and the second type is a top boot type.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reading the program is performed when starting or resetting a system.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sector address is supplied from external of the memory area.  
   
   
       7 . A method of reading a program from a memory area having one or more small sectors, comprising: 
 inputting a sector address;    converting the sector address based on a signal or a command specifying a boot block type; and    accessing the memory area with the converted sector address.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the boot block type is a top boot type or a second boot type.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the signal and the command are supplied from external of the memory area.  
   
   
       10 . A method of rewriting data in a memory area being split into a first area and a second area, each area having one or more small sector and one or more uniform sectors which are larger than the small sectors, comprising: 
 loading a rewriting program to the small sector of the first area;    rewriting the uniform sector of a second area using said rewriting program stored in the first area;    loading a rewriting program to the small sector of the second area; and    rewriting the uniform sector of the first area using said rewriting program stored the second area.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the memory area is single memory device.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the rewriting program is a boot program.  
   
   
       13 . A system comprising: 
 a memory area having one or more small sectors and one or more uniform sectors which are larger than the small sectors;    an address conversion section converting a sector address based on a signal or a command specifying a boot block type; and    a memory control area accessing the memory area with the converted sector address.    
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , comprising: 
 a source supplying a sector address to the address conversion section.    
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 13 , comprising: 
 a source supplying the signal or the command specifying the boot block type to the address conversion section.    
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 13 , comprising: 
 a boot block type specifying terminal source supplying the signal or the command specifying the boot block type.    
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the boot block type is a top boot type or a second boot type.