FLASH Memory Technology: Considerations for Application Design

From Microchip Technology, Inc. Many times, choosing a FLASH memory device is driven by which manufacturer has the cheapest offering. Regardless of its use as a stand-alone device or as the program memory of a microcontroller, what is often overlooked are the many key design parameters, or the features that the memory may offer to the application. Endurance, data retention, temperature, operating voltage and frequency, and programming time all play significant roles in the reliability of the device. Selections based on cost alone may be penny-wise but dollarfoolish; the application may be the cheapest on the market but its overall quality can negatively impact the customer?s perception and therefore, their future purchases. Carefully balancing these factors can make the difference between an application that?s a long term superstar or a one hit wonder EPROM Erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) chips are programmable, reusable computer chips that can be erased using ultraviolet light and reprogrammed with a PROM programmer or PROM burner. Search by Specification | Learn more about EPROM EPROM Type: EPROM Density: At least 22 kbits At least 261 kbits At least 1,219 kbits At least 6,438 kbits Number of Words: Less than 44 k 44 to 112 k 112 to 300 k 300 to 800 k 800 k and up SRAM Memory Chips Static random access memory (SRAM) chips do not need to be refreshed like DRAM chips. This makes SRAM chips faster and more reliable. Learn more about SRAM Memory Chips Memory Chips Memory chips are internal storage areas in computers. Although the term "memory chip" commonly refers to a computer's random access memory (RAM), this product area includes many different types of electronic data storage. Computer memory stores data electronically in cells. Without memory chips, a computer could not read programs or retain data. Search by Specification | Learn more about Memory Chips EEPROM Electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) chips are similar to PROM devices, but require only electricity to be erased. Search by Specification | Learn more about EEPROM --------------------------------------------------------------------------------