NexFlash serial flash simplifies  consumer device updating

By Bernard Cole
iApplianceWeb
(12/14/04, 7:52:39 GMT)

San Jose, Ca. – Targeting the needs of connected computing and consumer-oriented applications, NexFlash Technologies, Inc., has just introduced what it considers the most architecturally flexible member of its spiFlash line of Serial Peripheral Interface-enabled Serial Flash memories. 

According to Robin Jigour, vice president of marketing at NexFlash, 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. 

The key to its flexibility, he said, is the use of a memory segmentation architecture 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.  

It 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 Jigour.

"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. “ 

He said 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.  

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).  

Jigour said 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. It 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, he said, since 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.  

It supports transfer rates of up to 40MHz for fast-read and 33MHz for standard-read operation. For more information, go to www.nexflash.com.

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