Toshiba to Introduce Flash Memory Cards

2 March, 1995


TOKYO -- Toshiba Corporation today announced two flash memory cards based on the its 16-megabit NAND flash electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM). The memory cards offer advantages in size, weight, resistance to shock, access speed and power consumption over hard disk drives, and are suited for data storage for portable computers and personal digital assistants.

The new devices support the PCMCIA (Rel.2.1) interface and can be freely switched among PCs, PDAs and any other information/ communications equipment with a PCMCIA slot, facilitating simple, quick data exchanges.

Two versions of the memory cards will be provided to meet users' differing demands. FLASH MEMORY CARD/ATA conforms to the world standard format PC CARD ATA and incorporates microcontrollers (MCU) to offer high read/write speeds. Six ATA cards are available, with storage capacities ranging from 3 megabytes (MB) to 40MB. FLASH MEMORY CARD/NAND is based on Toshiba's original data format, Small Block Flash Format (SBFF); it uses a gate array to form the interface with the computer, so achieving lower levels of power consumption and lower prices. Six NAND cards are available, with storage capacities ranging from 2MB to 24MB. Sample shipment starts today at the prices listed below.

Main features of FLASH MEMORY CARD/ATA
  1. Based on PC Card ATA format
  2. Built-in microcontroller averages program times in each
    sector, extending card life.
  3. Error correction assures data reliability.
  4. Short access time of 0.8ms.

Main features of FLASH MEMORY CARD/NAND
  1. Gate array for interface simplifies circuits and realize low
    manufacturing costs.
  2. Low power consumption is suitable for use in portable PCs and
    PDAs.
  3. Uses SBFF, Toshiba's original data format that will be
    released soon by JEIDA/PCMCIA as an international standard.
  4. Program time of 300 microseconds per page.

Line-ups
FLASH MEMORY CARD/ATA:
Volumes:  3       5       10      20      30     40MB
PCMCIA
Types:    I       I        I       I      II      II
Sample
Prices: 29,000  35,000  53,000  86,000 120,000 150,000
(yen)

FLASH MEMORY CARD/NAND:
Volumes:  2       4       6       8       16     24MB
PCMCIA
Types:    I       I       I       I        I       I
Sample
Prices: 11,900  18,000  24,000  30,400  54,900  79,600
(yen)
Note:     Type I is 3.3 x 54.0 x 86.5mm.
          Type II is 5.0 x 54.0 x 86.5mm


Specifications

FLASH MEMORY CARD/ATA:
Interface:                  PCMCIA Rel. 2.1     PC CARD ATA
Composition Parts:          Memory:16-megabit NAND flash memory
                            Controller: MCU
                            Other: Buffer memory (DRAM)
Supply voltage:             Single 5V


FLASH MEMORY CARD/NAND:
Interface:                  PCMCIA Rel. 2.1     I/O Memory Card
Composition Parts:          Memory:16-megabit NAND flash memory
                            Interface: ASIC
                            Other: Attribute (EEPROM)
Supply voltage:             Single 5V

Information in the press releases, including product prices and specifications, content of services and contact information, is current on the date of the press announcement,but is subject to change without prior notice.