|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|||
 |
|||||
 |
     
|
 |
Serial Flash Memory Saves SpaceBy Susan Hospod NexFlash Technology introduced the first in a family of new Serial Flash Memories ranging from 512Kb to 64Mb in density. The NX25F011B and NX26F011B 1M-bit Serial Flash memories provide a highly efficient non-volatile storage solution for applications with limited power, pins, and space. These Serial Flash products offer the lowest power -- less than 2.5mA active and 1 microamp standby -- and the simplest interface -- 2 or 4-pins -- of any flash memory available today. They are offered in a space saving 8-pin SOIC, as well as in alternate packages, such as TSOP and removable cards/modules. NexFlash Serial Flash products are targeted at emerging serial code-download and battery-operated data storage applications. “Serial code-download is by far one of the most compelling trends that the low-density flash market is addressing,” said Robin Jigour, vice president of marketing for NexFlash, “As controllers embed more DRAM or SRAM, program code can be downloaded upon power-up from external flash. Ordinary 32 or 48-pin parallel flash packages impose a significant overhead. By switching to a 2 or 4-pin Serial Flash interface, controller pin count, board space, power, system noise, and overall cost can be greatly reduced.” Serial Flash is well-suited for code-download in a wide range of controller-based applications, including disk drives, DVDs, graphics cards, printers, wireless LANs, DSL, and networking. The ultra-low power consumption of NexFlash Serial Flash memories makes them ideal for battery-operated data storage applications such as internet appliances, electronic toys, medical equipment, data-loggers, meters, hand-held terminals, organizers, pagers, radios, and phones. Unlike other low-density flash memories, NexFlash uses a patented single-transistor EEPROM technology that consumes minimal power. “Our new Serial Flash memories operate at power levels as low as 20% of typical flash,” said Jigour of NexFlash. The NX25F011B and NX26F011B Serial Flash memories operate with a single 5V or 3V power supply for erase, write and read operations. Active power consumption levels are as low as 7.5mW with stand-by power at less than 1 microamp. The NX25F011B supports the popular 4-pin Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI bus) found on many microcontrollers. The NX26F011B provides a 2-pin (NXS bus) clock and data interface. The Serial Flash array is organized as 512 sectors of 264-bytes each. Data can be read at rates of up to 20MHz. Other features include on-chip SRAM buffer, byte addressing, and hardware/software write protection. Pin-outs for 8-pin SOIC and 28-pin TSOP are compatible with some popular Serial Data Flash products. The NX25F011B (SPI bus) and NX26F011B (NXS bus) Serial Flash memories are priced at $1.30 in 10,000 unit quantities. The SFK Serial Flash Development Kit, priced at $149, interfaces to a PC parallel port and provides a hardware and software tool for designing and prototyping with NexFlash's Serial Flash products. Link: |
 |
|
|||||
Terms and Conditions Privacy Statement |
||||||||||
