Patent ID: 7366029

Claim:
A flash memory device, comprising: at least one memory array comprised of non-volatile memory cells arranged in rows and columns; a data register, for storing data corresponding to stored states of the memory cells in the at least one memory array; and control circuitry, coupled to the data register, coupled to input/output terminals, and coupled to a plurality of control terminals, for receiving data from the input/output terminals and for presenting data to the input/output terminals, and for controlling the operation of the device in a normal operating mode and in an advanced mode, responsive to control signals received at the control terminals; wherein, in the normal operating mode, the control circuitry presents data words at the input/output terminals responsive to transitions of a selected polarity of a read data strobe signal received at a first one of the plurality of control terminals, the read data strobe signal having a maximum available frequency in the normal operating mode; wherein, in the advanced operating mode, the control circuitry presents read data strobe signals at the one of the plurality of control terminals, and presents data words at the input/output terminals responsive to transitions of a selected polarity of the read data strobe signal; and wherein the read data strobe signal in the advanced data transfer mode has a frequency higher than the maximum available frequency in the normal operating mode.