Datalight to Support Latest JEDEC e.MMC Standard

Datalight announced an initiative to provide software support for JESD84-B45, Embedded Multi-media Card (e.MMC), Electrical Standard (4.5 Device), just published by JEDEC, enabling device manufacturers and their customers to make full use of the performance characteristics inherent in flash memory.

Although most mobile device manufacturers have replaced hard drives with flash memory for data storage, many are still using a hard drive-style software interface, seriously limiting performance, reliability and security. The new JEDEC e.MMC (4.5) standard defines an interface designed to leverage the broader capabilities of flash memory and by embracing this new interface Datalight products will give OEMs access to the latest hardware innovations.

"Our members are making great leaps forward in hardware performance and efficiency," said John Kelly, president of JEDEC. "We are very pleased that Datalight will be providing software support for these new standards across a broad set of embedded operating environments."

The historical disk interface, developed in the 1950’s, is based on mechanical and magnetic technology, and is defined in terms of cylinders, heads sectors and assumes a slow mechanical seek operation. The JEDEC e.MMC standard is changing that paradigm to a flash memory and silicon storage paradigm.

"OEMs demand solutions that differentiate their products, reduce returns and maximize the end user experience," said Datalight CEO Roy Sherrill. "The products from our new initiative will significantly change the way consumers use the mobile and embedded devices these companies produce."

The Datalight file system manages data to maximize the performance and reliability of the storage media and unlike other file systems it does not assume a hard disk style interface. As part of the initiative, Datalight is examining the entire software stack from file system to hardware device interface for opportunities to improve performance and leverage the advanced features of e.MMC as well as future advanced flash storage mechanisms and standards. Datalight is working with the JEDEC standards committees that are authoring the e.MMC and UFS specifications.

Flash memory conforming to embedded MMC versions 4.4 & 4.41 are available today from major Flash vendors and it is anticipated 4.5 chips will be sampling in early 2012. The company plans to release the new e.MMC-optimized software products for Android, Linux and other embedded operating systems in 2011.