Owner's manual

AT25DL081 [DATASHEET]

8732D–DFLASH–12/2012

8.4 Chip Erase

The entire memory array can be erased in a single operation by using the Chip Erase command. Before a Chip Erase

command can be started, the Write Enable command must have been previously issued to the device to set the WEL bit

of the Status Register to a Logical 1 state.

Two opcodes, 60h and C7h, can be used for the Chip Erase command. There is no difference in device functionality

when utilizing the two opcodes, so they can be used interchangeably. To perform a Chip Erase, one of the two opcodes

(60h or C7h) must be clocked into the device. Since the entire memory array is to be erased, no address bytes need to

be clocked into the device and any data clocked in after the opcode will be ignored. When the

CS pin is deasserted, the

device will erase the entire memory array. The erasing of the device is internally self-timed and should take place in a

time of t

CHPE

The complete opcode must be clocked into the device before the

CS pin is deasserted, and the CS pin must be

deasserted on an even byte boundary (multiples of eight bits); otherwise, no erase will be performed. In addition, if any

sector of the memory array is in the protected or locked down state, then the Chip Erase command will not be executed

and the device will return to the idle state once the

CS pin has been deasserted. The WEL bit in the Status Register will

be reset back to the Logical 0 state if the

CS pin is deasserted on uneven byte boundaries or if a sector is in the protected

or locked down state.

While the device is executing a successful erase cycle, the Status Register can be read and will indicate that the device

is busy. For faster throughput, it is recommended that the Status Register be polled rather than waiting the t

CHPE

time to

determine if the device has finished erasing. At some point before the erase cycle completes, the WEL bit in the Status

The device also incorporates an intelligent erase algorithm that can detect when a byte location fails to erase properly. If

an erase error occurs, it will be indicated by the EPE bit in the Status Register.

Figure 8-6. Chip Erase

SCK

MSB

2310

CCCCCCCC

6754

Opcode

High-impedance