Flash EEPROM Family Thrives On Code-Storage And ISP Tasks

Said to be cost- and feature-optimized to address a host of program-storage and in-system programmable (ISP) applications, such as in pagers, computers, peripherals, video games, and modems, the Multi-Purpose Flash (MPF) family of SuperFlash EEPROMs currently includes two devices- the 2-Mbit (256K x 8), 70-ns access speed SST39SF020 and 4-Mbit (512K x 8), 90-ns SST39VF040- with 512K and 1M devices in a x8 organization and x16 4M to 16M densities also scheduled to debut soon. MPF memories are made using a CMOS-compatible process and a cost-reduced architecture that employs a sector erase/byte programming scheme based on large, uniform, 4-Kbyte sectors and that eliminates pager buffers to support page write. The memories are available for 5V or 2.7V operation, boast of an 100,000-cycle endurance spec, and can retain data for 100 years. The SuperFlash ICs come in 32-pin PDIPs, PLCCs and TSOPs.