Novachips Acquires HLNAND Flash Memory Technology

Novachips Co., Ltd. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire HyperLink NAND (HLNAND) flash memory technology assets, including 256 HLNAND flash memory and system patents, from Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc., formerly MOSAID Technologies.

Novachips plans to integrate the assets into its NAND flash storage processor portfolio and flash-based terabyte-class SSD products. The purchase will further increase the breadth of Novachips’ offerings in flash memory-based storage solutions.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed by the end of January 2015.

HLNAND flash memory technology is based upon a point-to-point ring architecture that outpaces the parallel bus architecture used in most industry standard NAND Flash products. An HLSSD (HyperLink SSD) with a HyperLink interface utilizes a serial, point-to-point, daisy-chain topology to connect up to 255 memory devices in a single memory channel, called a ‘Ring’.

Because each HLNAND device is only connected to the next device in the Ring, it is driving just one load. Therefore, maximum operational speed is maintained regardless of the number of devices populated in the Ring.

HLNAND flash technology is redefining the capacity and performance of SSDs used in the enterprise storage systems that are the backbone of big data networks. It is offering large-capacity, low-power SSD products that provide up to 10x the storage capacity of today’s SSDs.

Novachips recently unveiled an HLNAND-powered flash storage processor that provides 16TB capacity, as well as an HLSSD with 8TB capacity in a 2.5″ form factor supporting PCIe with NVMe host interface – using a single ASIC SSD controller in 28nm process technology.

The addition of Conversant’s HLNAND technology will provide Novachips’ customers access to quality Flash storage solution for a set of interfaces and form-factors for enterprise storage applications and industry or consumer applications.

Novachips, a South Korean company, has released several high performance SSD controllers. Dubbed NVS3600-series, these controllers for automotive, industrial, servers, and military fields that require performance, reliability and security have been in volume production.

In 2014, Novachips developed a quad-combo SSD controller in 28nm process technology for SSDs that is capable of packing 16TB of data. It supports HLNAND flash that the company jointly developed with Conversant.

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Scheduled for availability in mid-2013