Intel Advanced+ Boot Block Flash Memory (C3)
May 2005
Intel Advanced+ Boot Block Flash Memory (C3)
Datasheet
50
Order Number: 290645, Revision: 023
11.1.1
Locking Operation
The locking status of each block can be set to Locked, Unlocked, or Lock-Down, each of which
The following paragraph concisely summarizes the locking functionality.
11.1.1.1
Locked State
The default state of all blocks upon power-up or reset is locked (states [001] or [101]). Locked
blocks are fully protected from alteration. Any Program or Erase operations attempted on a locked
block will return an error on bit SR[1]. The state of a locked block can be changed to Unlocked or
Lock Down using the appropriate software commands. An Unlocked block can be locked by
writing the Lock command sequence, 0x60 followed by 0x01.
11.1.1.2
Unlocked State
Unlocked blocks (states [000], [100], [110]) can be programmed or erased. All unlocked blocks
return to the Locked state when the device is reset or powered down. The status of an unlocked
block can be changed to Locked or Locked Down using the appropriate software commands. A
Locked block can be unlocked by writing the Unlock command sequence, 0x60 followed by 0xD0.
11.1.1.3
Lock-Down State
Blocks that are Locked-Down (state [011]) are protected from Program and Erase operations (just
like Locked blocks), but their protection status cannot be changed using software commands alone.
A Locked or Unlocked block can be Locked Down by writing the Lock-Down command sequence,
0x60 followed by 0x2F. Locked-Down blocks revert to the Locked state when the device is reset or
powered down.
The Lock-Down function depends on the WP# input pin. When WP# = 0, blocks in Lock Down
[011] are protected from program, erase, and lock status changes. When WP# = 1, the Lock-Down
function is disabled ([111]), and Locked-Down blocks can be individually unlocked by software
command to the [110] state, where they can be erased and programmed. These blocks can then be
relocked [111] and unlocked [110] as required while WP# remains high. When WP# goes low,
blocks that were previously Locked Down return to the Lock-Down state [011], regardless of any
changes made while WP# was high. Device reset or power-down resets all blocks, including those
in Lock-Down, to Locked state.
11.2
Reading Block-Lock Status
The Lock status of each block can be read in read-identifier mode of the device by issuing the read-
identifier command (0x90). Subsequent reads at Block Address + 0x00002 will output the Lock
status of that block. The Lock status is represented by DQ0 and DQ1:
DQ0 indicates the Block Lock/Unlock status and is set by the Lock command and cleared by
the Unlock command. It is also automatically set when entering Lock Down.
DQ1 indicates Lock-Down status and is set by the Lock-Down command. It cannot be cleared
by software—only by device reset or power-down.