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Flash Memory: What is it, what is it for and how does it work?

UPDATED ✅ A flash memory is one that allows reading and writing data in multiple memory locations ⭐ ENTER HERE ⭐ and Learn more

the flash memories have become one of the most important elements today for most users, that is how they have become a simple and easy-to-use tool for store and transport documents or files with great ease.

They are currently used in USB drives and memory cardswhere it is a memory that can be rescheduled and deletedallowing its users to be able to store, modify and delete all kinds of information. Because of this, many people use them to transfer files from mobile to computer or vice versa.

Taking into account its benefits and importanceit can be said that you are flash memories They have gradually replaced other recording systems because it presents a compact design and a large space storage. According to this, here we explain a little more about this unit and what its function is.

What is a flash memory and what is it for in computing?

What is a flash memory and what is it for in computing?



The flash memory is a device capable of storing large amounts of information and files in a reduced space, being thus as it allows reading and writing of multiple positions through a series of electrical impulses. Thanks to all this, it allows higher operating speeds to be achieved compared to EEPROM technologywhich only allows acting on a single memory cell in each of programming operations.

In other words, this memory is a chip which is mainly used to store and transfer data between different digital devicessuch as from a computer to a smartphone or tablet. It can be reprogrammed or erased electronically. Therefore, these flash drives can be found in MP3 players, digital cameras, solid state drives, USB sticks, among other.

In this way, these units are a different type of EEPROM, which can be program in large blockswhere they incorporate the use of floating gate transistors that allows to fulfill the function of power save information and data on a large scale.

The 10 best-selling Flash Memories

We know that when buy a flash drive it is difficult to choose one, that is why we will show you below a list with the 10 best-selling memories of the moment.

How do file systems work on flash memory?

These units are mainly characterized by offering a high memory density, this is because they only require a few components for each of memory cells. The structure of this cell is very similar to the EEPROMbut each of flash memory cells has a basic channel with its source and drain electrons that are separated by each of the channels.

about each of the channels of the cells of this unit one is found gate floating which is separated from the channel by an extremely thin layer of oxide. The quality of this layer is very important for what will be the correct memory function.

Above the floating door is the control gatewhich is used to charge the gate capacitance during the write phase. All this ensures that the operation is adequate.

As usual, memory cells They work by storing charge in the floating door, while cell programming involves a process known as “Hot electron injection”. Now when you schedule the control gate is connected to a programming voltage. While the drain will have a voltage approximately half this value when the source is on land.

the voltage It is coupled to the floating gate by the system of dielectricwhich allows raising the floating gate at the programming voltage and thus inverting the channel below. All this generates as a result that the channel electrons can get one higher speed drift and greater Kinetic energy. Thus offering better results and better performance.

What are the uses that you can give to a flash memory?

One of the advantages of this storage unit is that it can be used in different ways, this will offer its users to be able to get a better performance and get the most out of memory.

Therefore, here we explain what are the main uses you can give to this unit:

as a hard drive

Being an extremely small storage unit, it offers an advantage that is portabilityThis allows it to be taken anywhere without any problem.

Despite being small in size, it has a large amount of space to store information and file. This will give you the ability to use it as a external hard drive where you can save information, programs and data from the computer so you have access to them whenever you need them no matter where you are.

This is how they are currently being manufactured. hard drives with flash memories 320GB NAND or with very similar sizes. However, these hard drives have a drawback when compared to traditional hard drives and it is that they present a limited number of accesses.

as RAM



Another advantage that we can find with the flash memories is that we can use it as a RAMthat is, it will allow you to access the information stored in it more quickly, having a shorter waiting time than you can have with other devices.

As we already know the RAM memories usually they are usually temporary way, as when shutting down or restarting the system these are blank again, thus offering a space available all the time. So if you have a flash drive you can start to take advantage of it and use it as a kind of RAM in your computer.

This is how, since 2012, several attempts have been made to use these flash memory as RAMbut so far they are still slower than the conventional DRAM. However, these they use less energy than conventional ones and are much cheaperwhich offers an advantage for its users.

NAND and NOR How are the main types of flash memory different?

NAND and NOR How are the main types of flash memory different?

exist two types of flash memory currentlythese are known as NAND and NOR, each of them differ depending on the user’s needs. Therefore, you must take into account what each of them consists of so that you can use the correct type.

In the case of NOR it is a little slower when wanting save or delete the information stored in itbut allows random access storage. That is, it uses the address and complete data buses and the information contained there does not have to be updated from time to time.

In the case of file systems that work with the NOR types incorporate different mechanisms that are unnecessary for the NAND typewhich requires additional mechanisms, which, like the previous case, result unnecessary for the NOR type.

While the NAND type its alot faster than NORbut it does not use the random access memory. Therefore, the use of each of them will basically depend on the needs of the user. If what you are looking for is a ROM chip replacement then it is best to use the NOR version. But in case you want replace memory cards it is best to use the NAND type.

What type of flash memory do USB devices use?

What type of flash memory do USB devices use?

USB sticks or also known as USB stick, external memory, flash drive or drive They usually use a device data storage who uses NAND type flash memorywhich allows save data and information at a higher speed.

It’s like this flash memory type that they use allows them what is the reading and writing of multiple positions during the same operation. All this is done through electrical impulses that allow the necessary speeds to be achieved.

This type of NAND memories they usually work differently, since they usually use a injection tunnel for write and erase tunnel. In addition, by making use of another type of gate, it has a much lower cost than the NOR type, as well as being more resistant to operations.

It is also important to mention that the great expansion that has NAND is due to its easy erase mechanismwhich makes it more cost-effective device creation with this kind of memory card.

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