Flash memory devices extend life of NAND

By integrating the error management techniques in the same NAND package, Micron claims the new ClearNAND devices alleviate the challenges traditionally found in process shrinks. The range has been designed for more advanced NAND process generations to be used in enterprise servers, tablet pcs, portable media players, and other consumer applications. Micron's products incorporate a traditional raw NAND interface, and include new features that are optimised for high capacity and high performance applications. The ClearNAND products are first designed using the company's 25nm multi level cell (MLC) process, and are available in standard or advanced versions. The devices come in 8 to 32GB packages, and are intended to remove error correction code problems from the host processor with 'minimal protocol changes' compared to raw NAND. The standard range is targeted for portable media players and other consumer electronic devices. The enhanced portfolio incorporates new features said to enable high capacity designs and deliver improved performance and reliability. Capacities are available in 16 to 64GB packages. The enhanced products are targeted at enterprise and computing applications, and enable 25nm MLC NAND to be used in these applications. "The pace of NAND scaling is largely responsible for the incredible growth and success the industry has seen to date, and for helping to create new flash based storage solutions," said Glen Hawk, vice president of Micron's NAND Solutions Group. "While the advantages in NAND scaling are evident, so are the challenges with the technology becoming increasingly more difficult to manage. Micron's ClearNAND products remove this management burden for our customers and extend the life of this all important technology."