Introduction
SanDisk CompactFlash Card OEM Product Manual
1.7.1
Technology Independence
The 512-byte sector size of the CompactFlash Memory Card is the same as that in an IDE
magnetic disk drive. To write or read a sector (or multiple sectors), the host computer software
simply issues a Read or Write command to the card. This command contains the address and
the number of sectors to write/read. The host software then waits for the command to
complete.
The host software does not get involved in the details of how the flash memory is erased,
programmed or read. This is extremely important as flash devices are expected to get more and
more complex in the future. Because the CompactFlash Memory Card Series uses an
intelligent on-board controller, the host system software will not require changing as new flash
memory evolves. In other words, systems that support CompactFlash Memory cards now, will
be able to access future SanDisk cards built with new flash technology without having to
update or change host software.
1.7.2
Defect and Error Management
CompactFlash Memory cards contain a sophisticated defect and error management system.
This system is analogous to the systems found in magnetic disk drives and in many cases
offers enhancements. If necessary, the cards will rewrite data from a defective sector to a good
sector. This is completely transparent to the host and does not consume any user data space.
The CompactFlash Memory Card soft error rate specification is much better than the magnetic
disk drive specification. In the extremely rare case a read error does occur, CompactFlash
Memory cards have innovative algorithms to recover the data by using hardware on-the-fly
Error Detection Code/Error Correction Code (EDC/ECC), based on a BCH algorithm.
These defect and error management systems, coupled with the solid state construction, give
SanDisk CompactFlash cards unparalleled reliability
1.7.3
Wear Leveling
Wear Leveling is an intrinsic part of the erase pooling functionality of SanDisk CompactFlash
using NAND memory. The CF WEAR LEVEL command is supported as a NOP operation to
maintain backward compatibility with existing software utilities. Advanced features of
dynamic and static wear-leveling, and automatic block management are used to ensure high
data reliability and maximize flash life expectancy.
1.7.4
Using Erase Sector and Write Commands
SanDisk CompactFlash Memory cards support the CF ERASE SECTOR and WRITE
WITHOUT ERASE commands. In some applications, write operations may be faster if the
addresses being written are first erased with the ERASE SECTOR command. WRITE
WITHOUT ERASE behaves as a normal write command and no performance gain results
from its use.
02/07, Rev. 12.0
1-4
© 2007 SanDisk Corporation
Summary of Contents for CompactFlash Extreme III
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