Everything You Need To Know About NOR Flash

Image source  Rantle

NOR flash memory is one of the most notable developments in the world of semiconductor storage technology.

 It is one of the storage whose popularity has been perpetuated by Moore’s law, which highlighted the development of smaller but more powerful semiconductor products.

 There is no doubt that NOR flash memory ICs have revolutionized the world of data storage and data management.

 They are found in many electronic devices and appliances, both for domestic and industrial applications.

 The fact that NOR flash memory is a non-volatile memory chip means that it is quite reliable when it comes to data storage at all times.

 It can still retain its data even in the absence of a power supply.

 Being a product of semiconductor technology, NOR chip comes in the form of integrated circuits. Its make and structure comprise several semiconductor components.

In this article, we are going to discuss everything that you should know about NOR flash memory. You will get to know the details of what it is, how it works, where it is used, and how you can choose the best NOR flash memory for your application.

 What is NOR flash memory?

 NOR flash memory is a type of flash memory chip whose cells are arranged horizontally on a semiconductor wafer. The arrangement of these cells follows the NOR flash format whereby the cells are evenly distributed.

 NOR flash memory IC is made of  Floating Gate Metal Oxide  Field Effect Transistors. This is an electronic component that is designed to store data in binary forms (0 and 1). These components are what make up the memory cells of a NOR flash chip.

 The cells are arranged in a parallel pattern on the semiconductor material. This arrangement guarantees the speed and data integrity of the memory chip.

Being a non-volatile chip, data is retained in the NOR permanently unless you decide to modify or erase it.

 Furthermore, this chip uses an individual byte rather than the whole page. This is a feature that separates it from other flash memory chips such as NAND flash memory.

Features of NOR Flash memory

  Let’s look at some of the key features and attributes that characterize NOR flash memory chip

Non-volatile

As we have already mentioned, NOR is a non-volatile memory chip. This means that it can retain its data even without a constant supply of electric current. It also means that the chip is an ideal storage device for long-term data solutions It will preserve your data for long periods, and you won't have to worry about the quality and integrity of data over time.

Fast read time

 Read time refers to the period that a chip takes to access and retrieve data. Compared to its alternatives such as the NAND chip, NOR has a faster read time. This explains why it is a preferred chip for random access, or in any other applications where data must be extracted for immediate execution.

Reprogrammable

Being reprogrammable simply means that you can change the settings and the configurations of the NOR chip. A system data or program can be embedded into the chip to alter its working mechanism. The chip can be programmed to meet the needs of different application areas. This explains why NOR chip is used in different flexible and portable application areas.

High memory density

NOR chip has quite a significant memory density. It can be as high as 2GB. This makes the chip ideal for a wide range of applications. Being dense also refers to the fact that despite the chip having a small form factor, it can still hold a significant volume of data. The memory density of the NOR flash memory chip is higher than that of the NAND flash IC.

Parallel memory interface

Interface in this context refers to the arrangement of data cells on the semiconductor chip. NOR flash chip has a parallel interface, implying that the memory cells on the chip are arranged parallel to each other.

 There are numerous advantages of this interface on a memory chip. One of the is it increase the speed of data transfer within the chips. This is why NOR is faster than NAND memory chips.

 Random access and execute-in-place

 The fast speed of NOR flash IC ensures that it can give data random access to different memory locations in a device. For example, it can provide access to firmware data that are used for booting and running devices.

 The ability to offer random access is the reason why NOR is used for implementing execute in place (XIP) in electronic applications

How does NOR Fash work?

 The principle operation of NOR flash IC is based around the floating gate metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors(FGMOS).

 Each transistor on the chip has a dedicated region that is known as a floating gate.

The floating gate is then connected to the data cell.

Each floating gate can either trap or release electrons that are embedded within it.

 Once the transistor is turned on, the electrons will be trapped in the floating gate transistor.

 Each transistor serves as a representation of the memory cell. The transistor can either be in a state of high or low which are represented in the binary form of 0 or 1.

 Types of NOR flash  memory chips

NOR flash memory chips come in different designs, forms, and configurations. This is even though all are designed to perform the same function of implementing data storage and management.

There are two main types of NOR memory chips. These are serial NOR and parallel NOR. They derive their names from the arrangement of data cells on the semiconductor wafers.

So, how can I tell the difference between serial vs parallel NOR?

Serial NOR IC

Popularly known as SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) NOR, its structure comprises of sectors and pages.

A sector is a block of memory cells. A  serial NOR has several blocks.

Usually, sectors are larger than the pages.

While data in the memory cells can be erased at once, it has to happen block by block.  

Also, data is written on the pages of a memory chip.

Parallel NOR IC

 This is the most common type of NOR   flash memory chip and is featured in a wide range of applications.

The chip has a parallel address bus that controls the flow of data in the memory cells. Parallel arrangements guarantee high levels of performance and reliability of the IC chip.

 Parallel NOR is faster than serial NOR in every aspect.

Advantages  of NOE flash IC

Here are some of the benefits of using NOR flash memory chips in devices:

· The chip guarantees fast reading time. The arrangement of semiconductors ensures that you can go through all the data at once.

· NOR is a non-volatile memory chip and hence can  be used for long-term data storage

· These memory chips are small and lightweight. They can easily fit into miniaturized devices

· Ideal for random access memories (RAM) and as well as execute-in-place functionality

· Long lifespan of not less than 10 years

· Shockproof since it is a solid-state memory chip. This means that it cannot be damaged easily even when exposed to some light to medium physical forces.

Limitations of NOR flash IC

What factors are preventing the maximum use of NOR chips?

Cost is a major limitation of using NOR flash IC. These chips are generally more expensive than most of their alternatives. They are expensive to manufacture.

Compared to NAND, NOR flash memories have slow writing time.

Comparing NOR vs NAND flash memory chips: What is the difference

 It is impossible to discuss NOR flash IC without covering the NAND flash memory chip. After all, both are semiconductor storage technologies.

 What is the difference between the two?

 Many features separate these two types of memory technologies.

When it comes to performance, we have to consider different areas of measuring the performance parameters of these two storage technologies. These parameters include access times, transfer speeds, reliability, and endurance levels.

Access time

 Access time is one of the key areas of comparison. NOR flash IC provides fast random-access times. This feature makes it suitable for applications that require dynamic access to data.  A perfect example of this is when an application requires firmware to load.

NAND flash memory, on the other hand, has a slower access time. The structure of the NAND chip ensures that the data process is executed sequentially, one memory cell after another. This means that it takes time to read and write data on the NAND chip. It is not an ideal memory chip where fast data accessibility is required.

 Transfer rate

 Transfer rate is another area of differentiating NAND and NOR memory chips. Usually, the speeds of data transfer will depend on the volume of data to be used.

Comparatively, NOR  has a slower write and erase speeds than NAND. This implies that it will take longer to process large chunks of data on NOR than on NAND flash memory.

 The working mechanism of NAND flash IC guarantees fast write and erase speeds. You can comfortably use it for transferring large volumes of data without worrying about the time that it will take for the process to be executed.

Endurance

 What about their endurance levels? Flash memory chips tend to suffer wear and tear with time.  Various factors can be attributed to this, among them are the writing and erasing processes.

 Memory cells tend to be affected by the wear and tear of the chip.

 In terms of comparison, NOR flash memory has a higher endurance level than NAND flash memory.

 The difference is that a NOR chip uses individual memory cells to store data while in a NAND chip, memory cells are designed to share the storage space and operations. This implies that in NAND, the wear and tear affect a large portion or section of the chip while in NOR the process is slowed down.

The good news is that advanced technology makes both NOR and NAND flash chips have high endurance levels.

 Reliability

 Closely related to the endurance is the chip reliability. Flash memory chips are vulnerable to various forms of risks that can affect their data storage and management

 Which one is more reliable between NAND and NOR flash memory chips?

 NOR flash IC is always considered more reliable than the NAND flash IC. This mainly stems from the fact that it utilizes individual memory cells hence minimizing the risk of total damage on the whole chip.

The fact that memory cells on the NAND IC work together as a unit means that the risk is spread to all the memory cells. The reliability level is lower than that of the NOR flash IC.

 Again, the advancements in manufacturing technologies are improving the reliability of these two memory chips. 

Conclusion

 In this article, we have covered the essentials of the NOR flash memory chip. With this comprehensive information, you can get into the market and choose the best NOR flash memory that will meet your business needs.

 The future of NOR memory is bright. We should expect more advancements in this memory storage technology.

If you are intending to use NOR flash IC in your application, you should prioritize getting the right one.

Check out the features and the specifications of the chip before you buy one.

You should also prioritize buying these chips from reputable sources. Choose the best NOR flash IC manufacturers and suppliers.

You can also use the services of a sourcing agent to streamline the whole process of buying NOR chips.

Rantle East Electronic is one such supplier. We are a reputable NOR flash IC distributor that is committed to meeting the needs of our clients.

With over 20 years of experience, we have what it takes to deliver what our customers need.

 It all starts with contacting us. From there, we will take care of everything until you get the right NOR flash memory chips.

Using our global effective and efficient supply chain, we will ensure the chips are delivered to your location.