Memory subsystem marries Flash and RAM benefits

Revolutionary memory subsystem blends key benefits of NOR, NAND and RAM in a unified architecture.

Silicon Storage Technology, has unveiled its All-in-OneMemory solution, a revolutionary memory subsystem that blends key benefits of NOR, NAND and RAM in a unified architecture that offers multiple gigabytes of execute-in-place (XIP) code storage and satisfies the growing data storage needs of embedded applications.

All-in-OneMemory technology provides a completely managed memory subsystem for a wide range of embedded system applications, including multimedia-enabled cellphones, portable media players, digital still/video cameras, personal navigation devices, set-top boxes, IPTVs and industrial systems.

By managing the system's key memory components in a single package, All-in-OneMemory simplifies the host interface, shortens design time, reduces overall system costs, and improves quality and reliability.

All-in-OneMemory technology arose from SST's extensive expertise in the areas of NAND controllers, NOR Flash, embedded Flash and advanced packaging technologies.

All-in-OneMemory consists of a memory controller with built-in user NOR, NAND Flash and random-access memory (RAM), all housed in a single package.

The memory controller features embedded SuperFlash NOR blocks for boot code, a Flash file system for NAND Flash management, and a cache memory controller for pseudo NOR (PNOR), that emulates high-density NOR Flash.

The RAM block is divided into two user-configured sections which offer direct access from the host.

These blocks include a cache partition for PNOR and a system RAM partition for the host.

The NAND Flash block is used as nonvolatile storage for the PNOR area and the memory-mapped ATA NAND disk area.

By using RAM and NAND to emulate high-density NOR, the expandable PNOR block replaces the pricy high-density NOR device in a conventional memory subsystem solution.

"The introduction of our All-in-OneMemory represents another important innovation from SST for the electronics industry", said Bing Yeh, President and CEO of SST.

"The increasing multimedia functions in cellphones and other digital consumer devices have caused system designers to re-evaluate the memory subsystem".

"Traditional methods of handling code and data storage often conflict with the shrinking sise and cost requirements of consumer electronics".

"Our All-in-OneMemory architecture provides system designers with an easy-to-use, single-package memory subsystem with the full benefits of NOR, NAND and RAM for code and data applications".

"With our solution, system designers will no longer have to delay their designs waiting for next generation NOR devices".

"The expandable pseudo NOR in our All-in-OneMemory enables designers to take full advantage of rapidly dropping NAND prices and the ever increasing densities that NAND Flash offers".

Mark DeVoss, Senior Analyst at iSuppli Corporation, added: "I am impressed with the approach SST has taken with its All-in-OneMemory technology".

"Overall it seems like a well thought out scheme for re-architecting the memory subsystem to address the cost and time to market needs of system designers working on mobile and consumer electronics".

"SST has taken the complexity out of hybrid memory architectures by enabling a single-bus memory subsystem that uses the standard SRAM host interface, which is a huge benefit for designers".

All-in-OneMemory offers several key benefits not found in alternative memory solutions.

It is the only single-bus, single-package solution that offers a completely managed memory subsystem which includes XIP, data and RAM.

By intelligently managing all memory components with a resident 32bit microcontroller, All-in-OneMemory offers instant secure boot, memory demand paging, NAND Flash management, and a standard ATA data storage protocol in a small footprint package; thereby, reducing system complexity and lowering overall cost.

Added benefits of All-in-OneMemory are fast boot time, large and expandable XIP area, optimised memory resource sharing, and MLC and SLC NAND Flash support - made possible by the dedicated SuperFlash boot NOR, expandable PNOR, built-in user RAM, programmable memory block boundaries and robust hardware error checking and correcting (ECC) circuit.

All-in-OneMemory is also a scalable solution that eliminates the need for complicated software and hardware development, providing a true plug-and-play solution and significantly reducing time to market.

The first series of SST products using All-in-OneMemory technology will be available in the second half of 2007.

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