Toshiba and SanDisk Introduce a One Gigabit NAND Flash Memory Chip, Doubling Capacity of Future Flash Products
LAS VEGAS & TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 12, 2001-- Toshiba Corporation and SanDisk Corporation jointly introduced today the world's first commercial one gigabit (1Gbit, or 1024Megabit) NAND flash memory chip, a new generation of flash memory that effectively doubles the amount of storage that the two companies can put in their flash memory cards. It is based on the patented multi-level cell (MLC) technology pioneered by SanDisk that allows two bits of data to be stored in one memory cell, doubling memory capacity. This commercialization of NAND MLC flash is viewed by both companies as a crucial step for improving margins, expanding existing markets and enabling new markets for flash memory data storage.
Two 1Gbit dies also can be stacked in a single TSOP (Thin Small Outline Package) to produce 2Gbits or 256 Megabytes of memory. Use of the MLC technology, either as embedded chips or in removable cards, is expected to greatly expand the data storage capabilities of cell phones, digital cameras, MP3 audio players, streaming audio and streaming video. Both companies will independently market the chips to their respective customers. It is expected that new CompactFlash, MultiMediaCard and Secure Digital card products based on the 1Gbit flash memory chip will commence production in the first half of 2002. On Nov. 5, 2001, SanDisk introduced a 1 Gigabyte CompactFlash card, the first product using the 1Gbit NAND, MLC technology.
The 1Gbit NAND memory chips will be produced for both companies using 0.16 micron process technology in Toshiba's advanced fabrication production facility at Yokkaichi, Japan, and at the Dominion Semiconductor manufacturing plant in Virginia under the FlashVision Joint Venture established by Toshiba and SanDisk. The two companies expect to apply the MLC technology to chip capacities below 1Gbit, as well as to future generations of NAND flash with capacities beyond 1Gbit.
The MLC gigabit flash chip employs new advanced concepts and operational algorithms that greatly increase MLC write speed, thereby enabling the MLC chip to deliver essentially the same performance as standard NAND chips.
