Memory Device and Method for Programming Flash Memory Utilizing Spare Blocks

Abstract

An access method for use in a memory device. The memory device comprises a data area having a plurality of data blocks and a spare area having a plurality of spare blocks. First, data from a host is received. A spare block is popped from the spare area and the received data is programmed into the popped spare block accordingly. A data block corresponding to the data is pushed to the spare area. The pushed data block is erased when the memory device is waiting for a specific instruction to be issued from the host.

1 . A method for accessing a memory device, wherein the memory device comprises a data area having a plurality of data blocks and a spare area having a plurality of spare blocks, comprising:
 receiving data from a host;   popping a spare block from the spare area and programming the received data into the popped spare block;   pushing a data block corresponding to the received data to the spare area; and   erasing the pushed data block before the memory device is receiving a specific instruction to be issued from the host.   
     
     
         2 . A memory device, comprising:
 a non-volatile memory, comprising a data area having a plurality of data blocks and a spare area having a plurality of spare blocks; and   a control unit, receiving data from a host, popping a spare block from the spare area, programming the received data into the popped spare block, pushing a data block corresponding to the received data to the spare area, and erasing the pushed data block before the memory device is receiving a specific instruction to be issued from the host.   
     
     
         3 . A method for accessing a memory device, wherein the memory device comprises a non-volatile memory and the non-volatile memory has a data area having a plurality of data blocks and a spare area having a plurality of spare blocks, comprising:
 programming data into a spare block, wherein the spare block is popped from the spare area;   marking a data block corresponding to the data and pushing the marked data block to the spare area; and   erasing at least one marked data block of the spare area before the memory device is receiving a specific instruction to be issued from a host.   
     
     
         4 . A method for accessing a memory device, wherein the memory device comprises a data area having a plurality of data blocks and a spare area having a plurality of spare blocks, comprising:
 receiving data from a host;   popping a spare block from the spare area and programming the received data into the popped spare block;   pushing a data block of the data blocks to the spare area; and   erasing at least a spare block before the memory device is receiving a specific instruction to be issued from the host.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the spared block is erased after the data block is pushed to the spare area. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the spared block is the data block pushed to the spared area. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the received data is for updating content of the pushed block. 
     
     
         8 . A memory device, comprising:
 a non-volatile memory, comprising a data area having a plurality of data blocks and a spare area having a plurality of spare blocks; and   a control unit, receiving data from a host, popping a spare block from the spare area, programming the received data into the popped spare block, pushing a data block of the data blocks to the spare area, and erasing at least a spare block before the memory device is receiving a specific instruction to be issued from the host.   
     
     
         9 . The memory device of  claim 8 , wherein the spared block is erased after the data block is pushed to the spare area. 
     
     
         10 . The memory device of  claim 8 , wherein the spared block is the data block pushed to the spared area. 
     
     
         11 . The memory device of  claim 8 , wherein the received data is for updating content of the pushed block. 
     
     
         12 . A method for accessing a memory device, wherein the memory device comprises a non-volatile memory and the non-volatile memory has a data area having a plurality of data blocks and a spare area having a plurality of spare blocks, comprising:
 programming data into a spare block, wherein the spare block is popped from the spare area;   pushing a data block of the data blocks to the spare area; and   erasing at least a spare block before the memory device is receiving a specific instruction to be issued from the host.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the spared block is erased after the data block is pushed to the spare area. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the spared block is the data block pushed to the spared area. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the received data is for updating content of the pushed block. 
     
     
         16 . A method for accessing a memory device, wherein the memory device comprises a data area having a plurality of data blocks and a spare area having a plurality of spare blocks, comprising:
 receiving data from a host;   popping a spare block from the spare area and programming the received data into the popped spare block;   pushing a data block which is not empty to the spare area; and   erasing at least a spare block after the data block which is not empty being pushed to the spare area.   
     
     
         17 . A memory device, comprising:
 a non-volatile memory, comprising a data area having a plurality of data blocks and a spare area having a plurality of spare blocks; and   a control unit, receiving data from a host, popping a spare block from the spare area, programming the received data into the popped spare block, pushing a data block which is not empty to the spare area, and erasing at least a spare block after the data block which is not empty being pushed to the spare area.   
     
     
         18 . A method for accessing a memory device, wherein the memory device comprises a non-volatile memory and the non-volatile memory has a data area having a plurality of data blocks and a spare area having a plurality of spare blocks, comprising:
 programming data into a spare block, wherein the spare block is popped from the spare area;   pushing a data block of the data blocks to the spare area, wherein the pushed data block is not empty; and   erasing at least a spare block of the spare blocks after the pushed block is pushed to the spare area.