Semiconductor Insights: Toshiba 70nm 8Gb MLC NAND Flash Recognized as Most Innovative Non-Volatile Memory

Semiconductor Insights (SI), the leader in technical and patent analyses of integrated circuits and electronic systems, today announced that it has awarded Toshiba's 70nm 8Gb MLC NAND Flash the 2006 INSIGHT Award for Most Innovative Non-Volatile Memory. "Toshiba has traditionally relied on its multi-level cell architecture to be competitive in the NAND market, while using an older, more mature process technology. With a 70nm MLC NAND flash, it is clear that Toshiba can deliver both leading edge circuitry and process," stated Geoff MacGillivray, SI's Technology Manager for Memory. "Toshiba started 2006 strongly, gaining share in the NAND flash market, reportedly at the expense of Samsung. This device lays the technical foundation to continue their growth."

There are two main architectures in NAND flash - single bit per cell (SBC) and multi-bit per cell (MBC), with multi-level (MLC) being one incarnation of multi-bit. MLC devices tend to lag SBC devices by at least one process generation and vendors have traditionally elected to push either the circuit or process envelope, but not both. This architectural divide goes to the center of the rivalry between Toshiba (MLC) and Samsung (SBC).

"We are pleased with Semiconductor Insights' recognition of Toshiba's leading edge MLC NAND technology. The density advantages of Toshiba's MLC NAND help make it the memory of choice for many consumer electronics applications, while enabling cost/performance characteristics well-suited to market requirements," said Scott Nelson, Director, Memory Marketing, for Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc.

SI's recent analysis of Toshiba's 8Gb 70nm MLC NAND Flash (TC58NVG3D4CTG00) revealed twice the capacity of its previous 4Gb 90nm generation with a less than 6% corresponding increase in die size. "Toshiba's 70nm flash delivers a density-die size rating in excess of 55 Mb/mm2, making it the most efficient NAND flash design we have analyzed to date," said MacGillivray.


Additional Information:

- About Toshiba's 8Gb MLC NAND flash in 70nm process
- About the INSIGHT Awards
  ( http://www.semiconductor.com/insightawards/index.asp )
- About Semiconductor Insights
  ( http://www.semiconductor.com/about_si/index.asp )

About Semiconductor Insights

Semiconductor Insights (SI) is the leading technical advisor to the world's microelectronics community. SI supports its clients in asserting their intellectual property (IP) rights and developing and commercializing new technologies and products, through in-depth technical investigation of integrated circuits and electronic systems. Typical clients are major electronics and semiconductor corporations in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Europe, and North America and their representing law firms. SI has participated in virtually every major semiconductor licensing campaign since the company's inception in 1989 and clients include such hallmarks as Infineon, Intel, TSMC, and Texas Instruments.

Contacts: Semiconductor Insights Jill Perry 1 (613) 599-6500 ext. 4444 jillp@semiconductor.com