21

AT25DF161

Figure 9-4.

Unprotect Sector

9.5

Global Protect/Unprotect

The Global Protect and Global Unprotect features can work in conjunction with the Protect Sector and Unprotect Sector

functions. For example, a system can globally protect the entire memory array and then use the Unprotect Sector

command to individually unprotect certain sectors and individually reprotect them later by using the Protect Sector

command. Likewise, a system can globally unprotect the entire memory array and then individually protect certain sectors

as needed.

Performing a Global Protect or Global Unprotect is accomplished by writing a certain combination of data to the Status

Register using the Write Status Register Byte 1 command (see “Write Status Register Byte 1” on page 33 for command

execution details). The Write Status Register command is also used to modify the SPRL (Sector Protection Registers

Locked) bit to control hardware and software locking.

To perform a Global Protect, the appropriate WP pin and SPRL conditions must be met, and the system must write a logical

“1” to bits five, four, three, and two of the first byte of the Status Register. Conversely, to perform a Global Unprotect, the

same WP and SPRL conditions must be met but the system must write a logical “0” to bits five, four, three, and two of the

first byte of the Status Register. Table 9-2 details the conditions necessary for a Global Protect or Global Unprotect to be

performed.

Sectors that have been erase or program suspended must remain in the unprotected state. If a Global Protect operation is

attempted while a sector is erase or program suspended, the protection operation will abort, the protection states of all

sectors in the Flash memory array will not change, and WEL bit in the Status Register will be reset back to a logical “0”.

SO

SI

SCK

CS

3687H–DFLASH–5/2013