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COMMITTED TO MEMORY
Flash Memory: Empowering A New Generation of Flash
Storage Devices
Toshiba invented flash memory in the 1980s as a new memory technology that
allowed stored data to be saved even when the memory device was disconnected
from its power source. Since then, flash memory technology has evolved into the
preferred storage media for a variety of consumer and industrial devices.
IN CONSUMER DEVICES, FLASH MEMORY IS WIDELY USED IN:
• Notebook computers • Digital cameras
• Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) • Electronic musical instruments
• Global Positioning Systems (GPS) • Cellular telephones
• Solid-state music players such as • Television set-top boxes
MP3 players • Pagers
• Personal computers
Flash memory is also used in many industrial applications where reliability and data
retention in power-off situations are key requirements, such as in:
• Security systems • Military systems
• Embedded computers • Solid-state disk drives
• Networking and communication products • Wireless communication devices
• Retail management products • Medical products
(e.g., handheld scanners)
Flash Card or USB Flash Drive Capacity
Some of a flash storage device’s listed capacity is used for formatting and other
functions and thus is not available for data storage.
When a flash storage device is manufactured, steps are taken to ensure that the device
operates reliably and to permit the host device (computer, digital camera, PDA, etc.)
to access the memory cells – i.e., to store and retrieve data on the flash storage device.
These steps – loosely called “formatting” – utilize some of the memory cells within
the device and thus reduce the capacity available for data storage by the end-user.
Formatting includes the following operations:
1.Testing each memory cell in the flash storage device.
2.Identifying all defective cells and taking steps to ensure that no data will be written
to or read from a defective cell.
Kingston’s enduring
commitment to service
and support make
Kingston an easy choice
for Flash memory.
FLASH MEMORY KINGSTON TECHNOLOGY 2
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2.0
kingston.com/flash