CHANDLER, Ariz., Oct. 28, 2014 [NASDAQ:  MCHP] — Microchip Technology Inc., a leading provider of microcontroller, mixed-signal, analog and Flash-IP solutions, today announced a new family of 1.8V Serial Quad I/O™ (SQI) SuperFlash® Memory devices—SST26WF016B.  This device offers 16-Mbit of memory and is manufactured with Microchip’s high-performance SuperFlash technology, which provides the industry’s fastest erase times and superior reliability.

The SST26WF016B provides the fastest erase times of any competing device due to the use of SuperFlash technology.  Sector and block erase commands are completed in just 18 ms and a full chip erase operation is completed in 35 ms.  Competing devices require in the range of 10 to 20 seconds to complete a full chip erase operation, making SST26WF016B approximately 400 times faster.  The fast erase times can provide a significant cost savings to customers by minimizing the time required for testing and firmware updates, therefore increasing their manufacturing throughput.

The SQI interface is a high-speed 104 MHz 4-bit multiplexed I/O serial interface which allows for high-data throughput in a low pin-count package.  This interface enables low latency execute-in-place (XIP) capability, allowing programs to be stored and executed directly from the Flash memory and eliminating the need for code shadowing on a RAM device.  The SST26WF016B provides faster data throughput than a comparable x16 parallel Flash device without the associated high cost and high-pin count of parallel Flash.  The SQI interface also offers full command-set backwards compatibility to traditional Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) protocol.

Designed for low-power consumption, the SST26WF016B helps maximize battery life in portable applications.  Standby current consumption is 10 µA typical and a deep power-down mode further reduces current consumption to 2.5 µA typical.  Active read current at 104 MHz is 15 mA typical.  The combination of 1.8V operation with low-power consumption and small form factor packaging makes the SST26WF016B an excellent choice for applications such as portable medical devices, Bluetooth® headsets, GPS, camera modules and hearing aids.

The SST26WF016B offers excellent quality and reliability with 100 years data retention and device endurance of over 100,000 erase/write cycles.  Enhanced safety features include software write protection of individual blocks for flexible data/code protection and a One-Time  Programmable (OTP) 2 Kbyte Secure ID area.  These features protect against unauthorized access and malicious read, program and erase intentions.  The device also includes a JEDEC-compliant Serial Flash Discoverable Parameter (SFDP) table, which contains identifying information about the function and capability of the SST26WF016B in order to simplify software design.  

“The new SST26WF016B devices combine the benefits of low-power 1.8V operation and fast Serial Quad I/O operation with the reliability and industry fastest erase times inherent to our SuperFlash technology,” said Randy Drwinga, vice president of Microchip’s Memory Products Division.  “This combination provides designers with an ideal Flash memory solution for portable battery-powered embedded designs.”