Status Register
ThedevicesprovideseveralWriteoperationstatus
flags that can be used to minimizethe application
write time. These signals are available on the I/O
portbits during programming cycleonly.
Data Polling bit (DQ7). During the internal write
cycle, any attempt to read the last byte written will
produce on DQ7 the complementary value of the
previously latched bit. Once the write cycle is fin-
ished the true logic value appears on DQ7 in the
readcycle.
Toggle bit (DQ6). The devices offer another way
for determining when the internal write cycle is
completed. During the internal Erase/Write cycle,
DQ6 will toggle from ”0” to ”1” and ”1” to ”0” (the
first read value is ”0”) on subsequent attempts to
read any byte of the memory. When the internal
cycle is completed the toggling will stop and the
data read on DQ7-DQ0 is the addressed memory
byte.The deviceis nowaccessiblefor a newRead
or Writeoperation.
PageLoadTimerStatusbit(DQ5). Duringa Page
Write instruction, the devices expectto receivethe
stream of data with a minimum period of time
between each data byte. This period of time
(tWHWH) is defined by the on-chipPage Load timer
whichrunning/overflowstatusis availableon DQ5.
DQ5 Low indicates that the timeris running, DQ5
High indicatesthe time-outafter whichthe internal
writecycle will start.
Software Data Protection
The devices offer a software controlled write pro-
tectionfacility thatallowstheusertoinhibitallwrite
modesto the device.This can be usefulin protect-
ing the memory from inadvertentwritecyclesthat
may occur due to uncontrolledbus conditions.
Thedevicesareshippedasstandardinthe”unpro-
tected” state meaning that the memory contents
canbe changedas required by the user. After the
Software Data Protection enable algorithm is is-
sued, the device enters the ”Protect Mode” of
operationwhere no furtherwrite commands have
any effect on the memorycontents.
The devices remain in this mode until a valid
SoftwareDataProtection(SDP)disablesequence
is received whereby the device reverts to its ”un-
protected”state. TheSoftware Data Protection is
fully non-volatile and is not changed by power
on/off sequences. To enable the Software Data
Protection (SDP) the device requires the user to
write(with a Page Write addressing three specific
databytestothreespecificmemorylocations,each
locationin a different page) as per Figure 6. Simi-
larly to disable the Software Data Protection the
userhas to writespecificdata bytes intosix differ-
ent locations as per Figure 5 (with a Page Write
adressing different bytes in differentpages).
Thiscomplexseriesensuresthattheuserwillnever
enable or disable the Software Data Protection
accidentally.
To write into the devices when SDP is set, the
sequence shown in Figure 6 must be used. This
sequence provides an unlock key to enable the
write action, and at the same time SDP continues
to be set.
Anextension tothis is where SDPis requiredto be
set, and data is to be written.
Using the same sequenceas above, the data can
be written and SDP is set at the same time, giving
both these actions in the same Write cycle (tWC).
DQ7 DQ6 DQ5 DQ4 DQ3 DQ2 DQ1 DQ0
DP TB PLTS X X X X X
DP = Data Polling
TB = Toggle Bit
PLTS = Page Load Timer Status
Figure 4. Status Bit Assignment
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