Data storage | Technology focus for high-performance storage is not feasible without extensive knowledge of flash memory. The controller technology was particularly effective in accomplishing the maximum write speeds of 2000 Mbit/s by using a clever sequencing. In addition to supporting HS-LSS (high-speed link startup sequence) to allow the system to start rapidly, UFS 4.0 memory devices include diagnostic functions to check their operating history, and functions to refresh and maintain the reliability of degraded data. This enables the Link Startup defined in the M-PHY and UniPro initialisation sequence between the device and host to be performed at a faster HS-G1 Rate A of 1.248 Gbit/s than that of conventional UFS 3.0, at 3-9 Mbit/s. This is expected to reduce the time for Link Startup by about 70%, compared with the conventional method, to provide a faster boot time. The refresh improves data reliability by refreshing degraded data to prevent corruption, even in the harsh, demanding in-vehicle environment. Extended diagnosis lets developers view important information from the UFS device, allowing preventative action to be taken. The UFS devices have capacities of 128 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB. A technology called WriteBooster enhances write performance by using the existing user data area as a temporary single-level cell (SLC) buffer without sacrificing capacity. This means the maximum SLC buffer size can be configured by the host at device configuration and the host can keep writing data to the buffer until it is full. This feature is enabled dynamically during operation by the host, depending on the system performance requirements of 5G and other applications. UFS security Security has become a key focus in automotive, given the risk it presents to human and asset life. As external connectivity penetration grows in cars, so does the security attack surface. A hacker could send fake messages and cause trouble to in-vehicle communications. Examples include enabling/disabling the car, displaying incorrect navigation information, turning lights on/off, distracting the driver with audio, generating false dashboard alerts or taking complete control of the car. These threats make the placement of security mechanisms imperative in system design. JEDEC, the standards body for UFS, has introduced support for inline encryption to prevent eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks native to the specification. Robust encryption mechanisms are proposed to allow for standardisation across host and device combinations. Encryption scheme support is a key differentiator between UFS and eMMC, making the former more appropriate for ADAS and black-box implementations. Solid-state drives One of the key trends for data storage is the demand to support multiple systemon-chip devices. Rather than each chip having its own storage, and data having to be copied from one memory to another, a multi-port memory can support up to four devices. This avoids having to synchronise data across four different memory subsystems, which takes bandwidth and power consumption, and can cause errors. The first SSD with four interfaces is designed to link to four system-on-chip (SoCs) devices to centralise storage for intelligent vehicles. This will better 47 A centralised architecture vs zone architecture (Image courtesy of Micron Technology) Uncrewed Systems Technology | June/July 2024
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