Flash

ry
Presented By…
Amit Parekh
Amrin
Bhagya Kumar
Harsh
Ankush Gandhi
Akash Verma
Abhishek
What is Computer
Memory?
Computer data storage, often called storage or memory,
refers to computer components, devices, and recording
media that retain digital data used for computing for
some interval of time.
Computer data storage provides one of the core
functions of the modern computer, that of
information retention.
It is one of the fundamental components of all modern
computers, and coupled with a central processing unit
(CPU, a processor),implements the basic computer
model used since the
1940s.
 Types Of Storage
 Primary storage, presently
known as memory, is the only one
directly accessible to the CPU. The
CPU continuously reads
instructions stored there and
executes them.
 Example..RAM
 Secondary storage, or storage in
popular usage, differs from
primary storage in that it is not
directly accessible by the CPU.
 Example..Hard Disk, Flash Memory
Continue…
 Static Memory
A form of volatile memory similar to DRAM with the exception
that it does not refresh on occasion.
 Dynamic Memory
A form of volatile memory which also requires the stored
information to be periodically re-read and re-written, or
refreshed, otherwise it would vanish.
 Volatile Memory
Requires constant power to maintain the stored information.
Since primary storage is required to be very fast, it
predominantly uses volatile memory.
 Non- Volatile Memory
Will retain the stored information even if it is not constantly
supplied with electric power. It is suitable for long-term
storage of information.
What is Flash Memory ?
Flash memory, sometimes called flash RAM, is a
type of semiconductor device that combines
important features of both memory & storage.
These features include high-speed access and
retention of data in the absence of a power supply.
Flash memory gets its name because the microchip
is organized so that a section of memory cells are
erased in a single action or "flash."
Flash memory refers to a particular type of
EEPROM, or Electronically Erasable Programmable
Read Only Memory. It is a memory chip that
maintains stored information without requiring a
power source.
How Flash Memory Works?
 It has a grid of columns and rows
with a cell that has two transistors
at each intersection.
 The two transistors are separated
from each other by a thin oxide
layer. One of the transistors is
known as a floating gate, and the
other one is the control gate.
 The floating gate's only link to the
row, or wordline, is through the
control gate. As long as this link is
in place, the cell has a value of 1.
 To change the value to 0 requires
a curious process called
Fowler-Nordheim tunneling.
Flash Memory: Tunneling
and Erasing
Tunneling is used to alter the placement of electrons in
the floating gate. An electrical charge, usually 10 to 13
volts, is applied to the floating gate. The charge comes
from the column, or bitline, enters the floating gate
and drains to a ground.
This charge causes the floating-gate transistor to act
like an electron gun. The excited electrons are pushed
through and trapped on other side of the thin oxide
layer, giving it a negative charge.
These negatively charged electrons act as a barrier
between the control gate and the floating gate.
A special device called a cell sensor monitors the level
of the charge passing through the floating gate.
Continue…
If the flow through the gate is above the 50 percent
threshold, it has a value of 1. When the charge passing
through drops below the 50-percent threshold, the value
changes to 0. A blank EEPROM has all of the gates fully
open, giving each cell a value of 1.
The electrons in the cells of a flash-memory chip can be
returned to normal ("1") by the application of an electric
field, a higher-voltage charge.
Flash memory uses in-circuit wiring to apply the electric
field either to the entire chip or to predetermined sections
known as blocks. This erases the targeted area of the
chip, which can then be rewritten.
Memory works much faster than traditional EEPROMs
because instead of erasing one byte at a time, it erases a
block or the entire chip, and then rewrites it.
Removable Flash Memory
Cards
 While your computer's BIOS
chip is the most common form
of Flash memory, removable
solid-state storage devices are
also popular.
 SmartMedia and
CompactFlash cards are both
well-known, especially as
"electronic film" for digital
cameras.
 Other removable flash-memory
products include Sony's
Memory Stick, PCMCIA
memory cards, and memory
cards for video game systems.
Continue…
There are a few reasons to use flash memory
instead of a hard disk:
It has no moving parts, so it's noiseless.
It allows faster access.
It's smaller in size and lighter.
So why don't we just use flash memory for
everything?
Because the cost per megabyte for a hard disk is
drastically cheaper, and the capacity is
substantially more.
 Continue…
 As shown below, SmartMedia
cards are extremely simple. A
plane electrode is connected to
the flash-memory chip by
bonding wires.
 The flash-memory chip, plane
electrode and bonding wires are
embedded in a resin using a
technique called over-molded
thin package (OMTP).
 This allows everything to be
integrated into a single package
without the need for soldering.
 The OMTP module is glued to a
base card to create the actual
card.
Advantage Of Flash Memory
The advantages of flash memory as compared
with HDDs are substantial.

Smaller in size
Light weight
Low power consumption
Longer life expectancy
Greatly improved shock resistance.
Disadvantage…
The main disadvantage at present is that the cost
per unit of storage capacity is still much higher
than that for HDDs.
However, the gap is gradually narrowing.
In contrast to RAM and like all types of EEPROMs, it
wears out after a certain number of write and erase
cycles. This is due to the degradation of the
insulating oxide layer around the microscopic cells
that are used to store data. Fortunately, however,
the number of cycles in most applications is
sufficiently low that this situation is not frequently
encountered.
Applications
 Flash memory is very useful in
a variety of applications
including:

§ Your computer BIOS

§ Memory Cards
§ Mp3 players
§ Modems
§ Video game cards
§ Digital cellular phones
§ Digital cameras
SanDisk offers backup solution using
flash memory
There is nothing more painful than losing data on a
laptop, especially when you’re traveling. All you have to
do is experience one failed hard drive to know how
much your files may mean to you.
SanDisk has now offered its solution to this problem.
The company has introduced the SanDisk FlashBack
Adapter. The adapter makes use of an SD flash memory
card to backup data which uses an ExpressCard slot in a
laptop.
Once the user sets up what files they want to backup,
the adapter will continuously back up data.
The adapter will also give you access to individual file
restores in case you accidentally delete a file.