
60
S29GL-N MirrorBit Flash Family
S29GL-N_00_B3  October 13, 2006
D a t a  S h e e t
Once the Password is written and verified, the Password Protection Mode Lock Bit in the
 Lock 
Register
 must be programmed in order to prevent verification. The Password Program com-
mand is only capable of programming 
0
s. Programming a 
1
 after a cell is programmed as a 
0
 results in a time-out by the Embedded Program Algorithm
TM
 with the cell remaining as a 
0
. 
The password is all F’s when shipped from the factory. All 64-bit password combinations are 
valid as a password.
The Password Read command is used to verify the Password. The Password is verifiable only 
when the Password Protection Mode Lock Bit in the 
Lock Register
 is not programmed. If the 
Password Protection Mode Lock Bit in the 
Lock Register
 is programmed and the user attempts 
to read the Password, the device always drives all F’s onto the DQ databus.
The lower two address bits (A1–A0) for word mode and (A1–A-1) for by byte mode are valid 
during the Password Read, Password Program, and Password Unlock commands. 
W riting a 
1
 to any other address bits ( A
MAX
-A2)  aborts the Passw ord Read and Passw ord Pro-
gram commands.
The Password Unlock command is used to clear the PPB Lock Bit to the 
unfreeze state
 so that 
the PPB bits can be modified. The exact password must be entered in order for the unlocking 
function to occur. This 64-bit Password Unlock command sequence takes at least 2 μs to pro-
cess each time to prevent a hacker from running through the all 64-bit combinations in an 
attempt to correctly match the password. If another password unlock is issued before the 
64-bit password check execution window is completed, the command is ignored. If the wrong 
address or data is given during password unlock command cycle, the device may enter the 
write- to- buffer abort state.  I n order to ex it the write- to- abort state,  the 
write-to-buffer-abort-reset command must be given. Otherwise the device hangs.
The Password Unlock function is accomplished by writing Password Unlock command and data 
to the device to perform the clearing of the PPB Lock Bit to the 
unfreeze state
. The password 
is 64 bits long. A1 and A0 are used for matching in word mode and A1, A0, A-1 in byte mode. 
Writing the Password Unlock command does not need to be address order specific. An exam-
ple sequence is starting with the lower address A1-A0= 00, followed by A1-A0= 01, A1-A0= 10, 
and A1-A0= 11 if the device is configured to operate in word mode.
Approximately 2 μs is required for unlocking the device after the valid 64-bit password is 
given to the device. It is the responsibility of the microprocessor to keep track of the entering 
the portions of the 64-bit password with the Password Unlock command, the order, and when 
to read the PPB Lock bit to confirm successful password unlock. In order to re-lock the device 
into the Password Protection Mode, the PPB Lock Bit Set command can be re-issued.
Note: 
The Password Protection Command Set Exit command must be issued after the exe-
cution of the commands listed previously to reset the device to read mode. Otherwise the 
device hangs.
Note: 
Issuing the Password Protection Command Set Exit command re-enables reads and 
writes for the main memory.
Non-Volatile Sector Protection Command Set Definitions
The Non-Volatile Sector Protection Command Set permits the user to program the Persistent 
Protection Bits (PPB bits), erase all of the Persistent Protection Bits (PPB bits), and read the 
logic state of the Persistent Protection Bits (PPB bits). 
The 
Non-Volatile Sector Protection Command Set Entry
 command sequence must be is-
sued prior to any of the commands listed following to enable proper command execution.
Note that issuing the 
Non-Volatile Sector Protection Command Set Entry
 command 
dis-
ables reads and w rites for the main memory
. 
 PPB Program Command