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News Releases from Headquarters

October 2, 2000
Hitachi Releases Industry's Largest-Capacity 2-Gbyte PC-ATA card and 128-Mbyte MultiMediaCard(TM)
- Large capacity and low power consumption achieved by using
a new 512-Mbit AND- type flash memory -
#
Hitachi, Ltd. ( TSE: 6501 ) today announced 512-Mbit AND-type flash memory HN29V51211T 
and 1-Gbit AND-type flash memory HN29V102414T employing Hitachi's Double Density 
Package(DDP) for use as a hard disk replacement in communication and industrial 
equipment and the largest-capacity flash card in digital still cameras and portable 
music players. By using this 512-Mbit device,  the industry's largest-capacity 2-Gbyte 
PC-ATA card HB28B2000A6 / 128-Mbyte MultiMediaCard(TM)*1 HB28B128MM1 are also released.
Sample shipment of these 4 products will start from the end of 2000 in Japan.

A 512-Mbit AND-type flash memory achieved a small chip size and low power consumption 
by using 0.18 ¦Ìm process and adopts the Multi Level Cell technology*2, and provides 
a large-capacity and low power consumption of flash card. 

Flash cards have become popular as the mass storage medium for all types of portable 
equipment, from digital still cameras and portable music players to hand-held PCs, 
and we expect demand for flash cards that provide security functions to increase due 
to the implementation of music distribution services and e-commerce services for 
mobile phones. Furthermore, flash memory holds promise for communication and industrial 
areas that had previously used low-capacity hard disks, since flash memory has lower 
system maintenance costs than hard disks, and has superior characteristics in terms of 
low power and resistance to mechanical vibration. The replacement from low-capacity 
hard disks to silicon disks and from low-capacity hard disks to PC-ATA card in new 
system design started. 

To respond to the needs for increased capacity in these and other applications, 
Hitachi has developed and is now releasing the 512-Mbit/1-Gbit large-capacity flash 
memory, 2-Gbyte PC-ATA card, and 128-Mbyte MultiMediaCard.  

1. 512-Mbit AND-type flash memory "HN29V51211T" 
A 512-Mbit AND-type flash memory is jointly designed with Mitsubishi Electric 
Corporation. This device is fabricated in a 0.18 ¦Ìm process and takes full advantage of 
Multi Level Cell technology and know-how fostered in the development of Hitachi's 256-
Mbit product to implement the large storage capacity of 512-Mbits in a small chip size 
less than that of conventional 256-Mbit flash memory.  This device also achieves a read 
current consumption of 2 mA (typical) in the range 2.7 to 3.6 V for low power 
consumption of portable equipment.

2. 1-Gbit AND-type flash memory "HN29V102414T"
A 1-Gbit product achieves  the large capacity by using  Hitachi's Double Density 
Package (DDP) containing two stacked 512-Mbit  AND-type flash memory chips, and 
thus creates a 1-Gbit flash memory in the same 48-pin TSOP type I package used for 
conventinal  256- Mbit / 512-Mbit flash memory products.  

3. 2-Gbyte PC-ATA card "HB28B2000A6"
This product mounts sixteen of the HN29V102414T 1-Gbit AND-type flash memory 
products to achieve the industry's largest-capacity 2-Gbyte PC-ATA card which is the 
twice strage capacity of exist 1-Gbyte PC-ATA card. The same Hitachi AND-type flash 
memory controller as used with previous products implements interleaved operation of 
multiple chips, enabling a maximum programming speed of 2-Mbyte/second to be 
achieved.

4. 128-Mbyte MultiMediaCard(TM) "HB28B128MM1" 
A MultiMediaCard consists of flash memory and a controller. This new product 
incorporates two 512-Mbit flash memory chips and a cell-based IC with a SuperH(TM)*3  
RISC microcomputer as the CPU core and can store 2 hours of music data when common 
compression technology such as MP3 (MPEG-1/Audio Layer3) is used.

MultiMediaCard standardization is undertaken by the MultiMediaCard Association, and 
specifications are available to members in System Spec form.  These new products 
conform to System Spec Version 2.11.  As with the 16-/32-/64-Mbyte product, the 
overall product specifications have been formulated in collaboration with Infineon 
Technologies AG.

These new products achieve a read speed of 14-Mbit per second and a write speed of 
5- Mbit per second, among the fastest in the industry, while operating on a low 
voltage of 2.7 to 3.6 V.  As interface of card, both MultiMediaCard mode and SPI 
mode are supported, allowing the user to select the most appropriate interface 
method for a specific product system design.


Support tools for use when designing a system using MultiMediaCards are available 
from third-party suppliers, including driver, file manager, and other software*4, 
hardware such as an H8S microcomputer-based development platform, and also a 
dedicated MultiMediaCard protocol analyzer*5 as analytical tools.

Notes:
1. MultiMediaCard(TM) is a trademark of Infineon Technologies AG of Germany, and is 
   licensed to the MMCA(MultiMediaCard Association). Hitachi is a board member of 
   the MMCA. 
    URL:http://www.mmca.org/
2. Multi Level Cell technology: A technology that is applied to large-capacity 
   flash memory and is effective at reducing chip size. In normal memories, two 
   threshold levels, corresponding to data values of 0 and 1, are used. However, 
   in Multi Level Cell flash memory, four and more values are defined, corresponding 
   to data values of 00, 01, 10, and 11. Since this 512-Mbit product can define  
   four values,  a single memory cell can perform the function of two memory cells 
   in earlier technologies.
3. SuperH(TM) is a trademark of Hitachi, Ltd.
4. Driver and file manager software is marketed by AI Corporation in Japan.
5. An H8S microcomputer-based development platform and dedicated MultiMediaCard 
   protocol analyzer are marketed by KOKUSAI ELECTRIC ALPHA Co.,LTD.

< Applications >
Ž¥ External data storage units for industrial and communication applications
Ž¥ Portable information equipment such as hand-held PCs, palm-top PCs, PDAs, 
  and Electronic organizers 
Ž¥ Digital still cameras, digital video cameras, and camcorders
Ž¥ Portable entertainment equipment such as mobile phones with music 
  download/playback functions, portable music players, toys, and games 
Ž¥ Portable communication equipment such as smart-phones and pagers
< Prices in Japan > (For reference)
Part NumberSample Price (Yen)
512-Mbit AND-type flash memory
HN29V51211T-50(48-pin TSOP type-I)
14,000
1- Gbit AND-type flash memory
HN29V102414T-50(48-pin TSOP type-I)
28,000
2-Gbyte PC-ATA card
HB28B2000A6
Open price
128-Mbyte MultiMediaCard(TM) HB28B128MM1Open price

< Specifications > 1.512-Mbit/ 1-Gbit AND-type flash memory
ItemSpecifications
512-Mbit
HN29V51211T
1- Gbit
HN29V102414T
Memory organization64M words × 8 bits128M words × 8 bits
Supply voltage2.7 V to 3.6 V2.7 V to 3.6 V
Current
consumption
(at 3.3 V)
Standby1 µA (typ.)2 µA (typ.)
Read2 mA (typ.)2 mA (typ.)
Write/Erase20 mA (typ.)20 mA (typ.)
ReadFirst access50 µs (max.)50 µs (max.)
Serial access50 ns (max.)50 ns (max.)
WriteUnit2,048 bytes2,048 bytes
Time1 ms(typ.)1 ms(typ.)
EraseUnit2,048 bytes2,048 bytes
Time1 ms(typ.)1 ms(typ.)
Package48-pin TSOP type-I48-pin TSOP type-I

2. 2-Gbyte PC-ATA card
ItemSpecifications
Memory capacity2-Gbyte(HB28B2000A6)
InterfacesPC Card Standard ATA
True-IDE Mode
Operating voltage3.3V±5% / 5V±10%
Reprogramming speed2-Mbyte/sec.(max.)(6-chip interleave)
External power supply
voltage
at 3.3Vat 5V
Sleep0.5mA(typ.)1mA(typ.)
Read20mA(typ.)35mA(typ.)
Write 25mA(typ.)45mA(typ.)
PackagesPC Card Standard (type2) specification
54.0 × 85.6 × 5.0 mm3

3. 128-Mbyte MultiMediaCard(TM)
ItemSpecifications
Memory capacity128-Mbyte (HB28B128MM1)
InterfacesMultiMediaCard
SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface)
System performanceRead: 14-Mbit/sec typ. (multi-block read)
Write: 5- Mbit /sec typ. (multi-block write)
Power supply specificationsOperating voltage: 2.7 to 3.6 V
Read current: 20 mA
Write current: 20 mA
Read/write specifications512-byte block read/write
Multi-block read/write also possible
Operating temperature
range
-25°c to +85°c
External dimensions32 mm × 24 mm × 1.4 mm

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