Everything You Need to Know About NAND FLASH IC

Image of NAND IC source Rantle

NAND Flash IC has been getting lots of attention in the world of electronics. This type of memory chip is based on the NAND gate. It is considered a perfect alternative to most memory modules that are on the market.

NAND flash is characterized by an internal macro cell model that has a linear structure. This make and design guarantee performance at all levels of applications.

 As a non-volatile memory technology, NAND flash memory has the capacity and capability to retain data even in the absence of a power supply. This feature alone keeps it a par with most alternative memory solutions that are also non-volatile.

A perfect use-case of NAND flash memory is on mobile phones. It is used for storing all types of data and files such as photos, videos, and documents.

The fact that NAND is small and lightweight makes it ideal for miniature devices such as mobile phones and tablets.

 Also known as memory chips, microSD, and USB chips are just some popular examples of NAND flash ICs.

If you are a manufacturer and are building a product that will need effective memory technology, you should consider adding NAND flash to your list.

 In this guide, we are going to discuss everything that you should know about NAND flash.

 The information that you will get here will help you make a smart decision on how to purchase the right NAND flash for your products. You will also gain tips on where to buy the best NAND flash.

 History and evolution of NAND flash IC

The history of NAND flash memory goes back to 1959 with the invention of the metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFET).

 MOSFET paved the way for the development of floating gate transistors.

 Developers realized that these transistors had the capability of holding states without relying on the constant supply of power.

 From this concept, the use of floating gates for memory applications was born.

Toshiba's designers were the first to develop flash memory cells for data storage. They also discovered that it was possible to erase blocks of data on the memory cells in a flash.

It was from the flash memory that the idea of NAND flash came to life.

 The very first NAND flash IC was manufactured in 1987 by Toshiba.

 A year later (1988) Intel manufactured the NOR flash.

It was up until the 1990s that we started seeing devices with NAND flash ICs dominating the electronic market.

 During the 1990s, most memory card devices were based on NAND.  They included removable microSD, miniSD, and SmartMedia.

They were popular mainly because of their small sizes. They also delivered better performance.

 The NAND memory technology went through some tremendous transformation between the 2000s and 2010. Manufacturers targeted all the key areas of this memory technology including performance, density, and reliability.

Most manufacturers embraced modern cell design technologies for storing data. Most of these technologies supported more data storage capacities.

Any other technological advancements paved the way for the modern NAND flash ICs that we have today.

How NAND flash IC works

Before we even look into the working principle and operation of this memory chip, we have to be cognizant of the fact that NAND flash is a special type of EEPROM.

 Data can be written and erased from the chip electrically. However, the chip can still function perfectly even when the power is turned off.

 The structure of the chip comprises rows and columns.  There are two transistors positioned at each intersection of the grid.

 One of the transistors at the grid is known as the floating gate while the other one is the control gate.  Each transistor has a special role to play in ensuring that the memory chip performs to the optimum levels. For instance, the control gate ensures that the floating gate is perfectly connected to the grid cell.

 Data is stored on the cell and it is in binary form This data can either be 0 or 1.

For a NAND IC to be relevant in its application area, it must be programmed. The process entails applying electric charges to the memory cells that make up the grid. These charges go through the control gate of the chip structure.

These electrons or charges are trapped by the floating gate in a process known as tunneling. Tunneling controls the placement of the electrons on the floating gate.

 Since the chip is connected to the power source, a signal voltage is sent to each memory cell on the grid. This signal will end up at the floating gate. This will drain the charges from the floating gate to the ground.

 Since a NAND flash IC has blocks and grids programming is executed sequentially. This means that one block is programmed after another.

Erasing is another key operation on the NAND flash IC. It entails removing data from the floating gate of the chip.   Like the charging process, the erasing process is executed block by block until all the charges are removed. The chip is supplied with adequate voltage so that all the information is erased.

How do I read data on the NAND IC? Like the erasion and programming operations,  you will need to connect the NAND IC chip to a voltage source to read its data. A flow of current through the memory cells will change the state of the charges that are embedded within each cell.

NAND chips have internal mechanisms to ensure that all these processes are executed seamlessly. For instance, modern chips come with special algorithms that determine the read and write operations.

Types of NAND flash ICs

NAND flash ICs come in different forms and configurations.

 The most common types include MLC, SLC,3D, TLC, and QLC NAND chips.

 The main differentiating factor between these chips is the number of bits per cell.

 Let’s take a look at each type and you will know what to expect.

· SLC NAND: SLC stands for single-level cells. This type of NAND is designed to store one bit per cell. This type is known for having the highest endurance levels. It is also the most expensive type of NAND flash memory on the market.

· MLC/Multi-level stores: This type of NAND IC is designed to hold two bits per cell. This design ensures that the erasure and write cycles are executed two more times. Its endurance level is higher than that of SLC.

· TLC/Triple-level cells: The design of NAND  IC is designed to hold three bits per cell. It is quite a common IC in most consumer devices.  Its popularity stems from the fact that it is cheap yet still capable of delivering satisfactory levels of performance. However, its performance is lower than the above two chips.

· QLC/ Quad-level cells: This  NAND chip type is designed to hold four bits per cell. Even though it is less expensive, it has low endurance levels.

NAND Flash IC vs NOR Flash IC:  What is the difference?

NAND and NOR are the two most popular types of flash memory chips. They derive their names from their respective logic gates. What is the difference between the two and which one should I choose?

Both NAND and NOR flash memories allow data reading and writing.  This implies that both can be used in any data applications that define modern electronics.

You will fund either NAND or NOR flash memory chips in desktop computers, laptops, digital cameras, smartphones, video games, medical devices, and scientific calculators, among others. The small sizes of these chips make them applicable to most portable devices.

In terms of speed, NAND flash IC has faster read and write speeds. However, it takes longer to erase data from a NAND chip than from a NOR  chip.

 What about endurance levels? NAND  has better endurance levels than NOR flash memory. This is mainly because it has more density per bit than the NOR chip. To be precise, the endurance of a NAND IC is 10 times that of a NOR chip.

Density is also a key factor when it comes to the data capacity of a flash memory chip. By having more density, we can easily conclude that  NAND IC has a higher memory capacity than NOR IC.

Price is also a differentiating factor between these two types of memory chips.  NAND  flash IC is more expensive than NOR. Having a higher density is just one of the reasons why it costs more than NOR.

While both NAND and NOR are used in the same devices, there are some slight differences in the way that they are used. For example, NAND cannot be used as a ROM while NOR can be used.

The main reason why NAND cannot serve as a flash memory is that it is not designed to offer byte-level random access. This is the basic requirement for a chip to be used with ROM.

On the other hand, NOR  flash memory is a perfect alternative for RAM and ROM. This is because it delivers byte-level random access to data.

 NAND flash memory is a perfect solution for secondary data storage. The speed and large data capacities make this chip an ideal storage device.

Is there are NAND flash shortage?

We cannot deny the fact that there is a high demand for NAND flash ICs. Modern electronic devices and applications rely on these chips for their memory solutions.

 The high demand has had an impact on the shortage of these chips.

 The NAND flash IC  shortage started in 2016 and extended to 2023.

 Apart from the high demand, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 made the situation worse. It slowed down the production and even disrupted the supply chain of these chips.

 Change in the manufacturing technique is another factor that contributed to the NAND shortage. Most IC manufacturers transitioned from 2D manufacturing to denser 3D NAND IC manufacturing. This change caused some disruption to the supply chain.

 The good news is the market is in recovery mode and the supply of these memory chips is reverting to normalcy.

 You can also protect yourself from the impact of chip shortage by working with reputable suppliers and distributors.

What are the limitations of NAND  flash IC?

 Despite the strength and popularity of NAN flash memory chips, they also have some limitations.

NAND flash chips have a defined number of read and write cycles. Once exceeded, their performance and integrity will deteriorate. Most NAND flash chips are rated 100,00 P/E. The good news chips have high ratings that can even go up to 1 million P/E.

Another major limitation is in the erasion of the NAND flash memory. While read and write is done block by block, the erase operation covers the entire block. This can be quite time-consuming, especially f the chip has a massive volume of data.

Conclusion

 In general, NAND flash is an innovative and futuristic memory technology that has transformed the world of electronics.

 Solutions that utilize this type of memory technology are often deemed superior to those that don’t. For example, NAND-powered SSDs are always better than the traditional HDDs in several aspects such as performance, efficiency, and reliability.

This implies that including NAND in your product will enhance its performance in many different aspects.

However, this will work only if you get the right NAND  flash IC for your application. A wrong chip will be detrimental to the results that you intend to get.

 Pay attention to the quality and as well as the technical specifications of the NAND IC before you make that purchase.

Another important factor that you should always consider is where to buy these memory chips.

A reliable and reputable NAND flash IC supplier will guarantee high-quality products.

 If you intend to buy NAND flash ICs in China, then you should consider choosing Rantle East Electronic.

We are a reputable electronic components distributor. NAND flash IC is among the products in our catalog.

 All you need is to contact us directly and we will be glad to deliver.

 Being a global NAND flash IC supplier, we can deliver anywhere regardless of your location.