Flash Library Usage

The flash library can be used to program and erase the built-in flash, with the following considerations:

  • A minimum SYSCLK frequency of 1 MHz, sourced from a clock source with an error below ±10%, is required for safe operation of the flash library. The SYSCLK must be sourced from the RFCLK (48 MHz XTAL) to meet its accuracy requirement.

  • The MNVR section of flash, outside of the user-defined redundancy sector pointers, cannot be written using the flash library.

  • The endurance of flash is limited by the total time flash cells are subjected to program and erase currents. As a result, a number of flash operations provide options around the endurance of the flash cells:

    • Flash writes can use a one stage normal write or a two stage endurance write. For use cases where an area of flash is written many times, a two stage write is recommended.

    • Use of mass erase can speed up flash operations, as it is the quickest way to erase the whole flash array - but use of mass erase subjects the whole array to an erase current for significantly longer than seen with any sector erase operation.

    • Flash sector erases can use a endurance erase that attempts to erase the flash sector up to four times, using a short erase pulse to maximize the number of program/erase cycles that a flash sector can be subjected to. For use cases that require maximum retention time, the normal flash sector erase needs to be used.

For more information about the built-in flash memory, see the RSL15 Hardware Reference.