Patent ID: 9021177
Filing Date: 2015-04-28
Classification: G06F,G11C

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a Flash memory array, the method comprising: allocating a first portion of spare blocks in the Flash memory array as a single level cell (SLC) and a first type of multi-level cell (MLC) spare block pool, and a second portion of spare blocks in the Flash memory array as a second type of MLC spare block pool; replacing bad SLC blocks and bad first type MLC blocks in the Flash memory array with spare blocks from the SLC and first type MLC spare block pool; and if the number of spare blocks in the SLC and first type MLC spare block pool is less than a minimum SLC and first type MLC spare pool threshold, then re-allocating spare blocks from the second type MLC spare block pool to the SLC and first type MLC spare block pool.