Get the Facts about Embedded Memory Design

Embedded memory drives technology for consumer, commercial, and industrial marketplaces. Virtually every bit of technology you use likely has some kind of embedded memory that allows it to function. There are many different types of embedded memory, designed for different devices used in a range of environments. For instance, industrial embedded memory can withstand the rugged operating conditions that are common for industrial devices. Although embedded memory design can vary, there are some standard features that are used across the board. Here are the facts you need to know.

Embedded Memory 101

As the name suggests, embedded memory is memory that is installed internally in a device, as opposed to external memory, such as a USB or external hard drive. In the past, it most frequently took the form of a mechanical disk that would spin to read and write data. This kind of memory design is known as a hard disk drive, or HDD.

Technological advances have moved embedded memory past HDDs to solid state drives, or SSDs, which rely on flash memory. SSDs don’t have any moving parts, so they are much less prone to failures than HDDs. Continued advances in embedded memory design have allowed SSDs to become smaller—meeting the demand for small devices—while offering more storage space than ever before.

Volatile and Non-Volatile Storage in Embedded Memory

Embedded memory usually has both volatile and non-volatile storage. With volatile memory, the stored information is lost when the device is not powered on. In contrast, the data saved in non-volatile storage are retained permanently. Volatile memory stores information that is needed in real time by the CPU. All embedded memory relies partially on the CPU and partially on software for read and write operations to work. Both forms of memory are necessary for storage space to be used efficiently and to maximize the speed of operations.

Flash Memory Design

With flash memory in an SSD, bits of data are stored on cells in the drive. These cells are arranged into blocks. The design for flash memory can vary depending on the grade of the storage, the interface, and other factors. For the industrial market, SLC, or single-level cell, flash memory is the most common design. With this form of flash memory, one bit of data is stored on each cell. This makes it both the most reliable and the fastest flash memory design. SLC flash memory can also withstand extended temperature ranges.

The amount of data stored on each cell is significant in flash memory design. For example, TLC, or triple-level cell, flash—in which three or more bits of data are stored on each cell—allows for greater storage capacity with lower data security. Flash memory design is constantly evolving, and new advances, such as QLC flash, are gaining in popularity.

Delkin provides an extensive range of solutions for industrial applications. Call us to discuss your application and to learn more about how we can help you find the right industrial memory solution.

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