
Am29LV800B
23
If the output is low (Busy), the device is actively 
erasing or programming. (This includes programming 
in the Erase Suspend mode.) If the output is high 
(Ready), the device is ready to read array data 
(including during the Erase Suspend mode), or is in 
the standby mode.
Table 2 shows the outputs for RY/BY#. Figures 13, 14, 
17 and 18 shows RY/BY# for read, reset, program, 
and erase operations, respectively.
DQ6: Toggle Bit I
Toggle Bit I on DQ6 indicates whether an Embedded 
Program or Erase algorithm is in progress or com-
plete, or whether the device has entered the Erase 
Suspend mode. Toggle Bit I may be read at any 
address, and is valid after the rising edge of the final 
WE# pulse in the command sequence (prior to the 
program or erase operation), and during the sector 
erase time-out.
During an Embedded Program or Erase algorithm 
operation, successive read cycles to any address 
cause DQ6 to toggle. (The system may use either 
OE# or CE# to control the read cycles.) When the 
operation is complete, DQ6 stops toggling.
After an erase command sequence is written, if all 
sectors selected for erasing are protected, DQ6 
toggles for approximately 100 μs, then returns to 
reading array data. If not all selected sectors are pro-
tected, the Embedded Erase algorithm erases the 
unprotected sectors, and ignores the selected sectors 
that are protected. 
The system can use DQ6 and DQ2 together to deter-
mine whether a sector is actively erasing or is erase-
suspended. When the device is actively erasing (that 
is, the Embedded Erase algorithm is in progress), 
DQ6 toggles. When the device enters the Erase 
Suspend mode, DQ6 stops toggling. However, the 
system must also use DQ2 to determine which 
sectors are erasing or erase-suspended. Alterna-
tively, the system can use DQ7 (see the subsection on 
“DQ7: Data# Polling”).
If a program address falls within a protected sector, 
DQ6 toggles for approximately 1 μs after the program 
command sequence is written, then returns to 
reading array data.
DQ6 also toggles during the erase-suspend-program 
mode, and stops toggling once the Embedded 
Program algorithm is complete.
Table 2 shows the outputs for Toggle Bit I on DQ6. 
Figure 6 shows the toggle bit algorithm. Figure 20 in 
the “AC Characteristics” section shows the toggle bit 
timing diagrams. Figure 21 shows the differences 
between DQ2 and DQ6 in graphical form. See also the 
subsection on “DQ2: Toggle Bit II”.
DQ2: Toggle Bit II
The “Toggle Bit II” on DQ2, when used with DQ6, indi-
cates whether a particular sector is actively erasing 
(that is, the Embedded Erase algorithm is in 
progress), or whether that sector is erase-suspended. 
Toggle Bit II is valid after the rising edge of the final 
WE# pulse in the command sequence.
DQ2 toggles when the system reads at addresses 
within those sectors that have been selected for era-
sure. (The system may use either OE# or CE# to 
control the read cycles.) But DQ2 cannot distinguish 
whether the sector is actively erasing or is erase-sus-
pended. DQ6, by comparison, indicates whether the 
device is actively erasing, or is in Erase Suspend, but 
cannot distinguish which sectors are selected for era-
sure. Thus, both status bits are required for sector 
and mode information. Refer to Table 2 to compare 
outputs for DQ2 and DQ6. 
Figure 6 shows the toggle bit algorithm in flowchart 
form, and the section “DQ2: Toggle Bit II” explains 
the algorithm. See also the “DQ6: Toggle Bit I” sub-
section. Figure 20 shows the toggle bit timing dia-
gram. Figure 21 shows the differences between DQ2 
and DQ6 in graphical form. 
Reading Toggle Bits DQ6/DQ2
Refer to Figure 6 for the following discussion. When-
ever the system initially begins reading toggle bit 
status, it must read DQ7–DQ0 at least twice in a row 
to determine whether a toggle bit is toggling. Typi-
cally, the system would note and store the value of 
the toggle bit after the first read. After the second 
read, the system would compare the new value of the 
toggle bit with the first. If the toggle bit is not tog-
gling, the device has completed the program or erase 
operation. The system can read array data on DQ7–
DQ0 on the following read cycle.
However, if after the initial two read cycles, the 
system determines that the toggle bit is still toggling, 
the system also should note whether the value of DQ5 
is high (see the section on DQ5). If it is, the system 
should then determine again whether the toggle bit is 
toggling, since the toggle bit may have stopped tog-
gling just as DQ5 went high. If the toggle bit is no 
longer toggling, the device has successfully com-
pleted the program or erase operation. If it is still tog-
gling, the device did not completed the operation 
successfully, and the system must write the reset 
command to return to reading array data. 
The remaining scenario is that the system initially 
determines that the toggle bit is toggling and DQ5 
has not gone high. The system may continue to 
monitor the toggle bit and DQ5 through successive 
read cycles, determining the status as described in 
the previous paragraph. Alternatively, it may choose 
to perform other system tasks. In this case, the 
system must start at the beginning of the algorithm 
when it returns to determine the status of the opera-
tion (top of Figure 6).
DQ5: Exceeded Timing Limits
DQ5 indicates whether the program or erase time has 
exceeded a specified internal pulse count limit. Under 
these conditions DQ5 produces a “1.” This is a failure 
condition that indicates the program or erase cycle 
was not successfully completed.