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TDK Releases GBDriver® RA7 NAND Flash Memory Controller LSI

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TDK Releases GBDriver RA7 Series NAND Flash Memory Controller LSI

Compatible with new 4 Kbyte/page Flash memory structures and both SLC* and MLC* flash memory

http://www.global.tdk.com/news_center/pressTDK Press Release
GBDriver(R) RA7 Series NAND Flash Memory Controller LSI
GBDriver RA7 Series NAND Flash Memory Controller LSI

August 23, 2007

TDK Corporation announced today the development of the GBDriver RA7 Series NAND* Flash Memory controller LSI. Sales will begin in October.

The new GBDriver RA7 is the first controller IC in the TDK GBDriver series that supports MLC NAND Flash Memory. A single chip can control the latest 4 Kbyte/page SLC and MLC NAND Flash Memory chips. Storage structures from 1 GB to 16 GB are possible with SLC NAND, and from 2 GB to 32 GB with MLC NAND.

The memory control engine is the latest GBDriver RA6 internal core, improved and optimized for 4 Kbyte/page compatibility and MLC NAND use and features higher data reliability.

The same ATA interface used for the GBDriver RA6 is employed as the host interface, making use with a wide variety of applications possible. The controller is available in a TQFP 128 pin or VFBGA 100 pin package.

  • * NAND Flash Memory is available in two types: single-level cell(SLC) NAND, which stores one bit data in each memory cell, and multi-level cell(MLC) NAND, which stores two bits data in each cell. Generally, SLC NAND is used for industrial purposes, which require reliability from the perspectives of performance and endurance, and MLC NAND is employed for consumer applications where cost is a key factor.
Applications
The main applications are storage for operating systems, file systems, and user data on consumer and industrial embedded system devices and IT equipment. Use in camcorders, digital TVs, multifunction printers, CF cards, and ATA cards is also anticipated.
Main Features
  1. Supported Flash Memory
    The GBDriver RA7 controller supports the latest 4 Kbyte/page structure NAND Flash Memories of all venders including new products. It is compatible with SLC and MLC NAND and is suitable for a wide range of uses from storing embedded OSs to consumer applications such as music and streaming video storage.
  2. More Reliable Control
    The GBDriver RA7 secures expanded spare space for future bad blocks, has improved block control structures within the controller, and are equipped with an address control mechanism structure that can be used even when a large number of inherent bad blocks occur in the memory in a short period.
  3. Improved Power Interruption Tolerance
    The GBDriver RA7 controller completely prevents collateral errors that result in corruption of data other than the data being written if power is interrupted when writing data.
  4. High-Speed Read/Write
    The GBDriver RA7 supports the Ultra DMA host interface and adopts a new Flash Memory control format, enabling it to achieve a burst-write performance of 23 MByte/s (equivalent to 150x speed) and a host read performance of 24 MByte/s (equivalent to 160x speed). Optimized write control on the host side provides for write operations at stable transfer rates.
  5. Error Correction and Recovery
    The GBDriver RA7 is equipped with 8 bit/sector ECC. ECC functions have been substantially improved with regard to the bit error phenomenon seen when multi-level NAND Flash Memory is used. An auto-recovery function has also been added to correct bit errors automatically when reading data repeatedly (read-disturbance errors).
  6. Other Functions
    Total cluster number-setting function (clipping function)
    The number of times that data can be written to a flash memory chip can be increased by reducing the number of physical allocation blocks in the data area.
    Protection Functions
    Incorporation of an ATA-standard protection function allows customers to set and remove a password to protect important data.
    Smart Command Support
    Usage status and bad block status are easily managed on Flash Memory chips by using Smart Command.
  7. Customer Support
    TDK has independently developed and produced the GBDriver series of NAND Flash Memory controllers since 2000 and provides technical support to customers in Japan and overseas backed up by its advanced technologies including dispatch of field application engineers and implementation of reliability monitoring functions, for which there is strong demand in the embedded system market.
Production and Sales Plan
  • Sample price : 2,000 yen/unit
  • Production locations : Japan
  • Production capacity : 100,000 units/month (planned)
  • Start of production : October 2007

For further information, contact the Corporate Communications Dept.
Tel.: 81-3-6778-1055
E-mail: TDK.PR@tdk.com