13
8715E–SFLSH–11/2017
AT25DF081A
8.2 Dual-Input Byte/Page Program
The Dual-Input Byte/Page Program command is similar to the standard Byte/Page Program command and can be
used to program anywhere from a single byte of data up to 256-bytes of data into previously erased memory loca-
tions. Unlike the standard Byte/Page Program command, however, the Dual-Input Byte/Page Program command
allows two bits of data to be clocked into the device on every clock cycle rather than just one.
Before the Dual-Input Byte/Page Program command can be started, the Write Enable command must have been
previously issued to the device (see “Write Enable” on page 17) to set the Write Enable Latch (WEL) bit of the Sta-
tus Register to a logical “1” state. To perform a Dual-Input Byte/Page Program command, an opcode of A2h must
be clocked into the device followed by the three address bytes denoting the first byte location of the memory array
to begin programming at. After the address bytes have been clocked in, data can then be clocked into the device
two bits at a time on both the SOI and SI pins.
The data is always input with the MSB of a byte first, and the MSB is always input on the SOI pin. During the first
clock cycle, bit seven of the first data byte would be input on the SOI pin while bit six of the same data byte would
be input on the SI pin. During the next clock cycle, bits five and four of the first data byte would be input on the SOI
and SI pins, respectively. The sequence would continue with each byte of data being input after every four clock
cycles. Like the standard Byte/Page Program command, all data clocked into the device is stored in an internal
buffer.
If the starting memory address denoted by A23-A0 does not fall on an even 256-byte page boundary (A7-A0 are
not all 0), then special circumstances regarding which memory locations to be programmed will apply. In this situa-
tion, any data that is sent to the device that goes beyond the end of the page will wrap around back to the
beginning of the same page. For example, if the starting address denoted by A23-A0 is 0000FEh, and three bytes
of data are sent to the device, then the first two bytes of data will be programmed at addresses 0000FEh and
0000FFh while the last byte of data will be programmed at address 000000h. The remaining bytes in the page
(addresses 000001h through 0000FDh) will not be programmed and will remain in the erased state (FFh). In addi-
tion, if more than 256-bytes of data are sent to the device, then only the last 256-bytes sent will be latched into the
internal buffer.
When the CS pin is deasserted, the device will take the data stored in the internal buffer and program it into the
appropriate memory array locations based on the starting address specified by A23-A0 and the number of data
bytes sent to the device. If less than 256-bytes of data were sent to the device, then the remaining bytes within the
page will not be programmed and will remain in the erased state (FFh). The programming of the data bytes is inter-
nally self-timed and should take place in a time of tPP or tBP if only programming a single byte.
The three address bytes and at least one complete byte of data must be clocked into the device before the CS pin
is deasserted, and the CS pin must be deasserted on even byte boundaries (multiples of eight bits); otherwise, the
device will abort the operation and no data will be programmed into the memory array. In addition, if the address
specified by A23-A0 points to a memory location within a sector that is in the protected state (see “Protect Sector”
on page 19) or locked down (see “Sector Lockdown” on page 25), then the Byte/Page Program 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 program cycle aborts due to an incomplete address
being sent, an incomplete byte of data being sent, the CS pin being deasserted on uneven byte boundaries, or
because the memory location to be programmed is protected or locked down.
While the device is programming, 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 tBP or tPP time to
determine if the data bytes have finished programming. At some point before the program cycle completes, the
WEL bit in the Status Register will be reset back to the logical “0” state.
The device also incorporates an intelligent programming algorithm that can detect when a byte location fails to pro-
gram properly. If a programming error arises, it will be indicated by the EPE bit in the Status Register.