Toshiba’s new LBA-NAND(TM) Flash Memory to Launch in Global Market

2 August, 2006, TOKYO - Toshiba Corporation today announced that it has brought logical block addressing (LBA) to NAND Flash memory, and that it would launch LBA-NANDTM, a new line-up of high-capacity devices integrating the new addressing method. LBA-NANDTM are designed for use in mobile consumer products, such as digital audio players and personal media players, and will support manufacturers in developing products that can take full advantage of advances in NAND Flash memory capacity while minimizing development costs. Toshiba will start to release samples of the new NAND Flash from August 2006.

NAND Flash memory currently uses the physical address access method that defines each physical page of a memory, from the chip to the block, to the page and down to the cell. Product manufacturers have to develop host side and driver specifications that can recognize and accommodate this physical addressing, and must bear the R&D costs for developing new product specifications and drivers to absorb advances in NAND Flash memory capacity.

The logical address access method of LBA assigns each cell a unique address that is not geometry dependent. The first cell is simply 0, and numbering continues to cover every cell. Memory increases can be accommodated by assigning a new address to each cell. This approach also allows block management, error correction (ECC process) and wear-leveling, all of which are conventionally controlled by the host side, to be handled on the memory side by the LBA-NAND controller. LBA-NANDTM are also fully compliant with the standard NAND Flash interface. As a result, LBA-NANDTM supports developers in minimizing development costs and improving time to market for new and upgraded products.

Development Background
As digital consumer products make continued progress in image resolution and quality and audio support, they increasingly rely on the high capacity data storage offered by NAND Flash memory. In this fast growing market, Toshiba is determined to remain in the vanguard in meeting global demand for innovative NAND Flash solutions that support product advances and end-product development. The Company will release a new solution product integrating NAND Flash memory and controller interface. As it continues to promote market-winning advances in NAND Flash technology and products, Toshiba will pioneer innovations such as the fast addressing .of LBA-NANDTM .

* LBA-NANDTM is Toshiba’s trade mark for a NAND interface controller and NAND flash memory that applies the LBA logical address access method.

Key Features
1. Adopts logical address access method
LBA-NANDTM controls the processes of block management, ECC process and wear-leveling, and will contribute to shorter R&D schedules and costs for the development of host controller and driver software.
2. While LBA-NANDTM are also fully compliant with the standard NAND Flash interface, it is possible to connect to the interface of current NAND flash memory controller.
3.

LBA-NANDTM supports capacities of over 2GB, facilitating development of high capacity storage (35hrs* of music recording for audio data) for digital audio players and personal media player.
*Assuming 128kbps data rate


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.

Contact Information

Corporate Communications Office

Toshiba Corporation

Contact via E-mail