Circuits, architectures, apparatuses, systems, methods, algorithms, software and firmware for using reserved cells to indicate defect positions

摘要

A circuit including a memory and an error correction code circuit. The memory including (i) a plurality of data storage cells and (ii) at least one reserved cell configured to store status information identifying a status of one or more of the plurality of data storage cells. Each of the data storage cells is configured to store a plurality of data bits. Each of the at least one reserved cell includes a multi-bit cell configured to store a lower density of information than each of the data storage cells. The error correction code circuit is configured to indicate, in a data stream formed from the memory, positions of data from the data storage cells for which status information is stored.