Importance

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Abstract

A semiconductor memory such as a flash memory having addressable sectors of stored data with access to the stored data being controlled by control logic includes a register coupled to the control logic and having bits corresponding to data sectors to be protected and a protection code indicating that access to the identified sectors is to be controlled. The protection code can be identified by a single bit in the register to prevent either access to identified sectors or to prevent alteration of data in identified sectors. A plurality of memory sectors can be identified for protection in a single write cycle of the memory thereby improving system performance and simplifying firmware requirements.

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First Claim