5.2 Error Correction Code (ECC)

ECC is a fundamental technique used in NAND Flash devices to ensure data integrity in the presence of bit errors, which can occur due to wear, charge leakage or electrical interference. NAND Flash devices, especially high-density or low-cost variants, are particularly susceptible to such errors, making ECC essential for reliable operation. ECC algorithms detect and correct bit-level errors during read operations and help validate data during system boot. Systems like those based on the SAM9X60 and SAM9X7 MPUs rely on hardware-accelerated ECC engines (such as PMECC and PMERRLOC) to efficiently implement robust schemes such as BCH, which can correct multiple bit errors per data sector.