Ultra-reliable flash memory systems for embedded applications

• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2047/D20211693

Based on its ruggedness, solid-state flash memory has been accepted as the basis of code and data storage in embedded systems applications for several decades. In more recent years, widespread mainstream acceptance of flash memory in consumer and enterprise applications has created tremendous downward cost pressures on flash memory manufacturers. The flash memory manufacturers have responded to these pressures by compromising on parameters that are most critical for flash memory's continued suitability for code storage in embedded computer applications. In particular, data retention specifications have been decreased from ten years to as low as one year. This is unacceptable for embedded systems applications that depend on flash memory systems to provide reliable code storage for many years of service.