SANDISK ANNOUNCES WORLD’S FIRST HIGH PERFORMANCE 4-BITS-PER-CELL (X4) FLASH MEMORY TECHNOLOGY
- Highest capacity flash memory-enables 64Gb single die memory
chip
- Maintains performance on par with today's MLC technology
- Production of 64Gb X4 based on SanDisk's mature 43nm technology
is planned for the first half of 2009
ISSCC CONFERENCE, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.,
Feb. 10, 2009- Building on its leadership in multi-level
cell (MLC) technology, SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) today
announced that it will begin mass-production of the world's first
high performance 4-bits-per-cell (X4) flash memory. Using
43-nanometer (nm) process technology, this breakthrough enables
64-gigabit (Gb) memory in a single die - the highest capacity in
the industry and suitable for the most demanding storage
applications. SanDisk has also produced an advanced X4 controller,
which is necessary to effectively manage the complexities and
performance requirements of X4 memory. The X4 memory chip combines
with the X4 controller chip in a multi-chip package (MCP) to
provide a complete, integrated and low-cost storage solution.
"The development of X4 memory and controller technologies is a
major milestone for flash memory storage that will provide
significant long term benefits to SanDisk and play a critical role
in future NAND flash scaling," said Khandker Quader, senior vice
president, memory technology & product development, SanDisk.
"64Gb X4 is the result of numerous key innovations, and
demonstrates SanDisk's leadership in driving multi-bit flash memory
with performance and cost suitable for storage-intensive
applications such as music, movies, photos, GPS, games and
more."
X4 Flash Memory Breakthrough
SanDisk co-developed the 64Gb X4 flash memory chip on 43nm
technology with Toshiba Corporation, which cooperates with SanDisk
in the development and manufacturing of advanced flash memory. The
new 43nm 64Gb X4 chip is the highest capacity and highest density
flash memory die in the world to enter production this year,
boasting a 7.8MB/sec memory write performance that is comparable
with current multi-level cell technologies. SanDisk's patented
All-Bit-Line (ABL) architecture as well as the newly introduced
three-step programming (TSP) and sequential sense concept (SSC)
serve as key enablers to X4's impressive performance.
X4 Controller Technology Is Key
SanDisk developed a number of innovative solutions for advanced
system management that address the difficulties posed by this
complex 4-bits-per-cell technology. The X4 controller, developed
and owned by SanDisk, utilizes a first-of-its-kind error correcting
code (ECC) scheme specifically developed for use in storage
systems, and tailored to support the 16 levels of distribution
needed for 4-bits-per-cell.
"The inherent challenges in producing 4-bits-per-cell technology
with good performance and low costs require advanced system level
innovations in multi-level storage," said Menahem Lasser, vice
president, future technologies and innovation, SanDisk. "Our X4
controller technology with its memory management and signal
processing schemes is crucial to meeting the unique demands of
4-bits-per-cell memory, and demonstrates SanDisk's ability to
conceptualize and produce sophisticated flash memory
solutions."
Today, at the 2009 International Solid State Circuits Conference
(ISSCC), SanDisk and Toshiba presented a technical paper describing
the key technology advancements that led to the development of 64Gb
4-bits-per-cell NAND flash memory on 43nm technology node. This
announcement comes one year after SanDisk unveiled its X3
(3-bits-per-cell NAND) technology at the 2008 ISSCC and was
subsequently honored with the ISSCC 2009 Lewis Winner Outstanding
Paper Award
About SanDisk
SanDisk Corporation, the inventor and world's largest supplier of
flash storage cards, is a global leader in flash memory - from
research, manufacturing and product design to consumer branding and
retail distribution. SanDisk's product portfolio includes flash
memory cards for mobile phones, digital cameras and camcorders;
digital audio/video players; USB flash drives for consumers and the
enterprise; embedded memory for mobile devices; and solid state
drives for computers. SanDisk (www.sandisk.com/corporate)
is a Silicon Valley-based S&P 500 company, with more than half
its sales outside the United States.
SanDisk's product and executive images can be downloaded from http://www.sandisk.com/corporate/media.asp
SanDisk's web site/home page address: http://www.sandisk.com
* 1 megabyte (MB) = 1 million bytes; performance may vary depending
upon host device.
SanDisk and the SanDisk logo are trademarks of SanDisk
Corporation. Other brand names mentioned herein are for
identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their
respective holder (s).
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements,
including expectations for technological advancements, new product
introductions, lower costs, applications, markets, and customers
that are based on our current expectations and involve numerous
risks and uncertainties that may cause these forward-looking
statements to be inaccurate. Risks that may cause these
forward-looking statements to be inaccurate include among others:
unexpected delays, or difficulties in producing x4 NAND, new
products may not be released when or in the capacities expected,
market demand for our products may grow more slowly than our
expectations or there may be a slower adoption rate for these
products in new markets that we are targeting, our products may not
perform as expected and the other risks detailed from time-to-time
in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports,
including, but not limited to, our most recent Annual Report filed
on Form 10-K and our subsequent Quarterly Reports filed on Form
10-Q. We do not intend to update the information contained in this
press release.
| Media Contact: |
| SanDisk Corporation |
| Mike Wong |
| 408-801-1240 |
| 650-740-8436 (Cell) |
| mwong@sandisk.com |