Next-gen UFS devices suited to mobile applications for 5G networks

KIOXIA Europe GmbH offers its new, higher-performing UFS Ver. 4.0 embedded flash memory devices. These devices provide fast embedded storage transfer speeds in a small package and are aimed at various next-generation mobile applications, including leading-edge smartphones. The improved performance enabled by the company's UFS products enables these applications to take advantage of 5G's connectivity benefits, leading to faster downloads, reduced lag time and an improved user experience.

UFS Ver. 4.0 devices integrate the company's innovative BiCS FLASH 3D flash memory and a controller in a JEDEC-standard package. UFS 4.0 includes MIPI M-PHY 5.0 and UniPro 2.0 and supports theoretical interface speeds of up to 23.2Gbps per lane or 46.4Gbps per device. UFS 4.0 is backwards compatible with UFS 3.1.

Key features include performance improvement over earlier generation of +18% sequential write, +30% random write and +13% random read. It supports HS-LSS features with conventional UFS, Link Startup (M-PHY and UniPro initialisation sequence) between device and host is performed at low-speed PWM-G1 (3~9Mbps), but with HS-LSS, it can be performed at a faster HS-G1 Rate A (1248Mbps). This is expected to reduce the time for Link Startup by approximately 70% compared to the conventional method. It offers enhances security by utilising Advanced RPMB for faster read and write access to security data, like user credentials on RPMB area, and RPMB Purge to ensure discarded data is sanitised securely and rapidly. It supports Extended Initiator ID (Ext-IID): Intended to be used with Multi Circular Queue (MCQ) at the UFS 4.0 host controller for improved random performance.

"With the introduction of our new UFS 4.0 line-up KIOXIA again strengthens its position as a leading supplier of innovative UFS technology," states Axel Stoermann, vice president Memory Marketing and Engineering, KIOXIA Europe GmbH.