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Open NAND Flash Interface (ONFI) yesterday released a new specification for flash interface.
This is a great development for FIs. Imagine hardware that can read all kinds of flash devices in a consistent manner.
With the development of a consistent interface there will be no hacks, plug-ins, various versions and modules to read flash from any device! Mobile phone, flash drive, media/MP3 player, SSD, etc. All through the same solution, consistently and with integrity.
Okay, maybe that is a bit of a dream, but it is way better than what we have now.
I muck at chip level, so to me this is great news. I believe this will not only standardize the interface but the chip themselves - which facilitates my hobby. (Ever use a tweezer soldering iron?)
1.1. Goals and Objectives
This specification defines a standardized NAND Flash device interface that provides the means for a system to be designed that supports a range of NAND Flash devices without direct design pre-association. The solution also provides the means for a system to seamlessly make use of new NAND devices that may not have existed at the time that the system was designed.Some of the goals and requirements for the specification include
- Support range of device capabilities and new unforeseen innovation
- Consistent with existing NAND Flash designs providing orderly transition to ONFI
- Capabilities and features are self-described in a parameter page such that hard-coded chip ID tables in the host are not necessary
- Flash devices are interoperable and do not require host changes to support a new Flash device
- Define a higher speed NAND interface that is compatible with existing NAND Flash interface
- Allow for separate core (Vcc) and I/O (VccQ) power rails
- Support for offloading NAND lithography specific functionality to a controller stacked in the NAND package (EZ NAND)
What do you think? How will this impact our business?