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Do you know what is inside a flash memory?

Flash memory chips use EEPROM transistors. These transistors store charge on insulated gates. The charge gets there, and gets removed, by electrons tunneling through a very thin silicon dioxide layer. The electric fields required to force tunneling currents are enormous. The oxide layers can only withstand a relatively small number of cycles before they break down.

Particle defects are not a problem. The limitations on charge/discharge lifespan have to do with subtle oxide chemistry and structure effects. Process recipes for growing the oxides are closely-guarded secrets, and minor deviations can lead to reliability problems.

Lucky for us, the transistors these days are more reliable than General Motors paint jobs, but I still would not trust important information to a flash memory.


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  • Do you know what is inside a flash memory? - Al Sekela 08:40:40 03/08/07 (0)


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