A Look at MLC Compact Flash

If you’ve used portable electronic devices at any time since 1994, chances are that you’ve used Compact Flash—also known as CompactFlash or CF. CompactFlash was one of the earliest forms of flash memory on the market, and it is one of the most successful. Despite the fact that it has been around for decades, CF remains a popular form of flash memory for a wide range of devices, particularly devices that store high-quality images or videos. CF is available in SLC and MLC flash formats, but MLC Compact Flash is very popular, even for industrial applications.

Differences Between SLC and MLC CompactFlash

SLC and MLC CompactFlash are both popular choices for embedded storage. SLC stands for single-level cell. It refers to flash storage in which one bit of data is stored per cell. Storing a single bit of data on each cell reduces the risk of data loss caused by failures during write operations. It also allows read and write operations to occur as quickly as possible. This makes it attractive to many industrial application developers.

c per cell slightly decreases the security of the data and the speed of the memory device. It also shortens the lifespan of the memory device. However, it allows for greater storage capacity, which is a priority for many developers.

MLC CompactFlash in Industrial Applications

Conventional wisdom says that SLC flash is to be used in industrial grade applications, while MLC flash is appropriate for commercial grade devices. However, MLC Compact Flash can be—and often is—used by industrial application engineers and designers. The reason for this is the additional storage capacity that can be achieved with MLC flash. Storing two bits of data per cell allows the storage capacity to be twice that of SLC flash storage without increasing the size of the storage device. For industrial applications in which high-quality images must be stored, MLC flash provides the additional capacity that’s needed.

Additionally, MLC Compact Flash is available with industrial features, such as extended temperature ranges and resistance to high levels of shock and vibration. This allows this type of flash storage to be used in industrial applications that need a mix of security and generous storage capacities.

Delkin offers a range of CF storage options, including MLC Compact Flash. For more information about our rugged embedded storage products, contact us today.

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