NexFlash Unveils First Serial Flash Memory with Boot-Block Features That Streamline13 December 2004
NexFlash Technologies, Inc. (www.nexflash.com), a pioneer in Serial Flash technology, today announced the newest and most architecturally flexible member of the NexFlash spiFlash(TM) line of Serial Flash memories with the popular Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI). The new spiFlash NX25B40, a four-megabit (4Mb) device, is the first Serial Flash memory to feature dedicated boot and parameter sectors that can simplify code updates in a wide range of computer and consumer-oriented applications, including DVD and CD-ROM drives. NexFlash also announced that it is now ramping volume production of the NX25B40.
The NX25B40's highly flexible architecture provides memory segmentation similar to boot-block Parallel Flash devices, resulting in a more convenient and efficient use of Serial Flash memory for boot code and data storage. The NX25B40 also enhances code security by allowing boot code to be write-protected while other areas of memory are being updated.
"Serial Flash memories allow application-specific controllers significant savings in pin-count and space compared to ordinary Parallel Flash," said Robin Jigour, vice president of marketing at NexFlash. "As the migration to Serial Flash memories continues at its steady pace, it's understandable that popular features that designers are accustomed to, such as a boot-block architecture, would become available, too. The spiFlash NX25B40 is the first Serial Flash memory to offer this type of architecture, which has already been adopted by leading manufacturers of DVD and CD-ROM drives. This same flexibility is ideal for a wide range of other electronic applications, as well."
Compatibility, Flexibility, Security and Speed
The NX25B40 is fully pin- and instruction-compatible with NexFlash's standard NX25P40 4Mb Serial Flash memory, enabling manufacturers an easy migration path for taking advantage of the NX25B40 features. Unlike other Serial Flash devices with uniform 64-kilobyte (64KB) erasable-sectors, the NX25B40 has variable sector sizes, including two 4KB, one 8KB, one 16KB, one 32KB, and seven 64KB sectors. The small sectors are located at the bottom of the memory "bottom-boot" (standard) or optionally at the top of memory "top-boot" (special order). The organization is ideal for storing an application's fundamental boot code, which must be maintained while the rest of the Flash memory is being updated. Typically the boot code uses far less than 64KB, making the NX25B40 more memory efficient than other Serial Flash devices.
The NX25B40 provides software and hardware protection of the small sectors so that boot code can be secure from accidental erasing or programming. This is not possible with ordinary Serial Flash, as it protects only larger memory areas such as one-eighth and one-quarter segments, and typically only from the top down. The small sectors are also useful for parameter and configuration data that frequently changes, since the smaller sectors erase and program faster than larger 64KB sectors. The NX25B40 clock is also fast, supporting transfer rates of up to 40MHz for fast-read and 33MHz for standard-read operation. The NX25B40 supports power-supply levels from 2.7V to 3.6V and operating temperature from minus-45 to plus-85 degrees centigrade.
Availability, Pricing
The NX25B40 is housed in an 8-pin, 150-mil SOIC that is offered in standard and "green" (lead-free, RoHS compliant) packaging. The NX25B40 is immediately available and priced at $0.85 in 10,000-unit quantities. Please contact NexFlash for lead time and specific pricing.
About NexFlash
NexFlash Technologies, Inc. is a developer and provider of Serial Flash Memory products for today's emerging electronic applications. The company's spiFlash memories are tailored for serial code storage applications such as DVD/CD drives, hard disk drives, wireless LANs, network cards, DSL models, printers, set-top boxes, FPGAs and more. NexFlash was founded in October 1998 and is a partially owned subsidiary of Winbond Electronics Corp. NexFlash holds numerous patents on its technology and has established strategic alliances with Sharp Corporation and Winbond Electronics. For more information please visit the NexFlash Website at www.nexflash.com
NexFlash and spiFlash are trademarks of NexFlash Technologies Inc. All other product names that appear in this material are for identification purposes only and are acknowledged to be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Source: Business Wire
All trademarks and copyrighted information contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
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