The features of Flash memory include electrically erasable, no backup power to protect data, in-circuit programming, high-density memory, low cost, and so on, which rapidly increase the use of Flash memory in embedded systems.
The programming methods of Flash memory include Programmer Mode and In-Circuit Programmer Mode.
Programmer Mode means erasing/programming Flash by flash programming tool (programmer), with the purpose of writing programs into MCU.
MCU—Microcontroller Unit
. In-Circuit Programmer Mode means erasing/programming some region of Flash by MCU’s internal programs during run time, with the purpose of saving relevant data and preventing from lost after power off.
The programming method of the other MCUs in the whole Freescale S08/S12/ColdFire MCU family is similar.
Flash memory characteristics
The most perfect memory should be a high-speed, non-volatile, low-cost, and high-density memory. But only one or several specialties are implemented in general memory. With the maturity of its technology, flash memory has become an ideal memory in recent years.
It is endowed with characteristics such as electrical erasure, data preservation without power supply, in-system programming, high storage density, low power consumption, and low cost.
These are just what MCU is expecting because MCU with internal flash memory introduced in earlier years has some shortages in reliability and stability. With the maturity of the Flash technology, now more and more above characteristics are integrated into MCU and become an important part of it. Hence flash memory makes MCU progress enormously.
