A flash memory system is disclosed. The flash memory system includes a flash
memory
comprising more than one physical block and more than one page, where each page
can be in an enabled state, a blank state or a disabled state. In use, a merge
control section reads data on an enabled page from a predetermined physical block
using a read section, and writes the data onto a blank page using a write section,
thereby copying the data on the enabled page onto the blank page. A merge control
section then disables the enabled page using a page-disabling section. When the
copying of the data from all the enabled pages in the predetermined physical block
is finished, the merge control section collectively erases all the data in the
physical block using an erase section.