Data storage device and flash memory control method

摘要

An identification technique for physically damaged blocks of a flash memory of a data storage device. In the data storage device, a controller coupled to the flash memory writes data into the flash memory with at least one time stamp corresponding to the data. The time stamp is taken into consideration by the controller to identify the physically damaged blocks of the flash memory, and thereby it is prevented from erroneously identifying a physically undamaged block as bad. Thus, the flash memory is prevented from being erroneously regarded as a write protected memory. The lifespan of the flash memory is effectively prolonged.

主权项

1. A data storage device, comprising:
a flash memory, providing a storage space which is divided into a plurality of blocks; and a controller coupled to the flash memory, wherein when storing data into the flash memory, the controller further stores at least one time stamp corresponding to the data into the flash memory, wherein, the controller determines whether one of the plurality of blocks for storage of the data is physically damaged by checking the time stamp corresponding to the data.