TDK Developing a SAS Flash Controller

TDK
Corporation announced today the development of the GBDriver RS1 Series
NAND Flash memory controller LSI circuit. Sales will begin in March.

The
new GBDriver RS1 is compatible with 1.5 Gbps SATA I, and when
functioning as a NAND Flash memory controller IC can control the latest
4 Kbyte/page SLC (single-level cell) and MLC (multi-level cell) NAND
Flash memories.

NAND Flash memory capacities continue to increase
while prices fall, and the use of Flash memory as an alternative for
hard disc drives (HDDs) is expanding rapidly. TDK developed and
marketed the GBDriver RA series of parallel ATA (PATA) compatible NAND Flash memory controller ICs, but HDD data transfer formats are currently shifting from PATA to serial ATA (SATA).

Previously,
when NAND Flash memory was controlled using the SATA format, it was
necessary to have a Flash memory controller IC and an SATA converter
IC, but the new GBDriver RS1 performs both functions with a single
chip. The controller is supplied in a 64-pin TQFP package (12 mm x 12
mm).

GBDriver RS1 employs the NAND Flash memory control engine of
the latest GBDriver RA7, which has an established track record in
industrial applications and offers a high level of reliability.

TDK will begin releasing SATA-compatible silicon discs equipped with the new GBDriver RS1 starting in May 2008.

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 the silicon disc systems of hybrid PCs and other
devices is also anticipated.

Main Features

• Host Interface: The GBDriver RS1 is compatible with 1.5 Gbps SATA I and supports data transmission speeds up to 150 MB/s.
• Supported Flash Memory: The
  GBDriver RS1 controller supports the latest 4 Kbyte/page structure NAND
  Flash memories of all venders including new products. Since it is
  compatible with single-level and multi-level NAND Flash memory, the
  controller is suitable for a wide range of uses from storing embedded
  OSs to consumer applications such as music and streaming video storage.
• More Reliable Control: The
  GBDriver RS1 controller secures expanded spare space for future bad
  blocks, has improved block control structures within the controller,
  and is 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.
• Improved Power Interruption Tolerance: The
  GBDriver RS1 controller completely prevents collateral errors that
  result in corruption of data other than the data being written if power
  is interrupted when writing data.
• Error Correction and Recovery: The
  GBDriver RS1 is equipped with 8 bit/sector ECC. ECC functions have been
  improved to ensure adequate reliability with regard to the bit error
  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).

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 Function: 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.
  
  

Production and Sales Plan

• Sample price : 2,000 yen/unit
• Production location : Philippines
• Production capacity : 100,000 units/month (planned)
• Start of production : March 2008

TDK Corporation