Delkin Blog

Conference communications systems have rapidly become high tech in recent years. Although audio and visual technology have always played a role in conferencing, today, people can attend the same conference from far corners of the world. Many technology organizations have to be able to view presentations, weigh in on conversations, and participate as though they were present. This evolution of conference communications systems has changed the way that companies are doing business, but it has also created the need for more powerful industrial storage solutions. This is where industrial microSD cards enter the picture. These cards, which are smaller versions of the standard SD memory card, offer the same benefits as full size SD cards, including fast performance with video and photos. As conference communications system applications become smaller and smaller, the demand for industrial microSD cards has increased. Here’s a closer look at industrial microSD for conference communications systems.

What is a microSD card?

SD cards are among the most widely used flash memory cards available today. They have been on the market since 1999, when they were introduced by the Secure Digital Association (SD Association). Since then, the SD Association has set strict design standards for any card that is manufactured with the SD name. These standards were established in order to ensure that all SD cards are compatible, no matter who makes them. Any company that makes SD cards has to be a member of the SD Association in order to receive access to the full product specifications.

Since its inception, the SD card has been a popular removable form of non-volatile memory in both consumer and industrial applications. Many people in the consumer market are familiar with SD cards because of their use in digital cameras and mobile phones.

MicroSD cards are the smallest version of SD card available. These cards are about the size of a fingernail, which makes them ideal for use in small form factor devices, such as mobile phones.  MicroSD cards are about one-fourth the size of full-size SD cards. Despite the small size, microSD cards provide enormous storage capacities, making them a good fit for any application that requires high-resolution video or photos.

What is the importance of industrial microSD for conference communications systems?

In most cases, the microSD cards that consumers are purchasing are commercial or consumer grade cards. This means that they are designed for 0° to 70° operating temperature and do not have a controlled nor a locked bill of material (BOM). Industrial grade microSD cards are built with a controlled and locked BOM.

• Reliability: Industrial grade flash memory is typically designed with SLC, or single-level cell, flash NAND. As the name suggests, with this kind of flash memory, one bit of data is stored per cell. Consumer flash can offer increased storage capacities, without changing the size of the device. For industrial applications, such as those used in automation, healthcare, and communications, an industrial flash storage solution is recommended.

• Ruggedness: Industrial grade microSD cards are available with extended temperature ranges. They can be used in rugged operating conditions with temperatures that range from -40 C° to 85 C° without any disruption. MicroSD cards can also tolerate high levels of shock and vibration.

• Locked BOM: Industrial grade microSD cards feature a locked BOM. This means none of the core features of the memory card, including the controller, will be changed by the manufacturer unless a new product number is issued. Further, these changes will not be made without providing advanced notice to customers, so that they can make any final orders necessary. This makes transitions to new memory cards smoother in industrial applications.

These features are particularly important for use in conference communications systems. Changes in microSD card controllers or other critical components could lead to failures that cause communications systems to stop working unexpectedly. Likewise, using lower grades of flash memory could lead to errors that prevent video and photo components of a conference presentation from being visible to participants, rendering the costly process of planning and executing a conference worthless.

What capacities of industrial microSD cards are available?

Despite the high demand for industrial microSD for conference communications systems, limited capacity can still be an issue. Presentations, particularly those that include videos, can be extremely large, and it’s necessary to have a memory card that provides adequate storage and fast, flawless playback.

Fortunately, microSD card capacity has grown larger in recent years, and it is now possible to get microSD cards with capacities of up to 1TB. This massive amount of storage in the tiny microSD card is made possible in part by 3D NAND technology. This offers more storage space without increasing the card size and without compromising the speed or lifespan—factors that are all essential for conference communications systems.

When shopping for a microSD card for a conference system, it’s important to check the video speed class and speed classifications. Because video playback and speed are such an important part of conference communications, it is generally worth investing in the highest classes of these features possible.

Are you in the market for industrial microSD for conference communications systems? Turn to Delkin. We offer a variety of industrial microSD, utility microSD, and commercial microSD cards with a wide range of capacities and video speed classes to ensure you get the best possible storage for your system. Our customer applications team is available to answer your questions today.

ORDER DELKIN INDUSTRIAL FLASH STORAGE TODAY through our distribution partner Newark.