Samsung Electronics Commences Mass Production of Groundbreaking 9th-Gen V-NAND Technology

Samsung Electronics has begun mass production for its 9th-generation V-NAND, boasting the industry's smallest cell size and thinnest mold, advanced process capabilities, and improved power consumption, solidifying its position as a frontrunner in the NAND flash market and meeting the evolving needs for future applications.

Industry-leading bit density increase of 50%
Next-generation NAND flash interface with faster data input/output speeds
10% improvement in power consumption compared to previous generation

Samsung Electronics, the global leader in memory technology, has announced the commencement of mass production for its one-terabit (Tb) triple-level cell (TLC) 9th-generation vertical NAND (V-NAND). This milestone solidifies Samsung’s position as a frontrunner in the NAND flash market.

SungHoi Hur, Head of Flash Product & Technology at Samsung Electronics, expressed enthusiasm about the industry’s first 9th-gen V-NAND, stating that it would propel future applications forward. Samsung has pushed the boundaries in cell architecture and operational scheme to meet the evolving needs for NAND flash solutions.

The 9th-generation V-NAND boasts the industry’s smallest cell size and thinnest mold, resulting in a 50% increase in bit density compared to the previous generation. Samsung has introduced innovations such as cell interference avoidance and cell life extension to enhance product quality and reliability. Furthermore, eliminating dummy channel holes has significantly reduced the planar area of the memory cells.

Samsung’s “channel hole etching” technology is a testament to the company’s expertise in process capabilities. This advanced technique enables the creation of electron pathways by stacking mold layers, allowing for simultaneous drilling of the highest cell layer count in a double-stack structure. As more cell layers are added, sophisticated etching techniques become crucial.

The 9th-generation V-NAND features the next-generation NAND flash interface, “Toggle 5.1,” which supports data input/output speeds up to 3.2 gigabits-per-second (Gbps), a 33% increase from the previous interface. With this new interface, Samsung plans to solidify its position in the high-performance SSD market by expanding support for PCIe 5.0.

Samsung has also made significant strides in power consumption, improving it by 10% through advancements in low-power design compared to the previous generation. As energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions become increasingly important, Samsung’s 9th-generation V-NAND is poised to be the ideal solution for future applications.

Mass production for the 1Tb TLC 9th-generation V-NAND has already commenced, with the quad-level cell (QLC) model expected to follow in the second half of this year. Samsung’s continued innovation and leadership in memory technology reaffirm its commitment to meeting the demands of the high-performance SSD market and the needs of the AI generation.

(Source)

Background Information

About Samsung: Samsung, a South Korean multinational conglomerate, has established itself as a global leader in various industries, including electronics, technology, and more. Founded in 1938, Samsung's influence spans from smartphones and consumer electronics to semiconductors and home appliances. With a commitment to innovation, Samsung has contributed products like the Galaxy series of smartphones, QLED TVs, and SSDs that have revolutionized the way we live and work.

Technology Explained

NAND: NAND technology is a type of non-volatile memory that is used in many computer applications. It is a type of flash memory that is used to store data in a non-volatile manner, meaning that the data is not lost when the power is turned off. NAND technology is used in many computer applications, such as solid-state drives, USB flash drives, digital cameras, and memory cards. It is also used in many embedded systems, such as cell phones, tablets, and other consumer electronics. NAND technology is a reliable and cost-effective way to store data, making it a popular choice for many computer applications.

PCIe: PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for connecting components such as graphics cards, sound cards, and network cards to a motherboard. It is the most widely used interface in the computer industry today, and is used in both desktop and laptop computers. PCIe is capable of providing up to 16 times the bandwidth of the older PCI standard, allowing for faster data transfer speeds and improved performance. It is also used in a variety of other applications, such as storage, networking, and communications. PCIe is an essential component of modern computing, and its applications are only expected to grow in the future.

SSD: A Solid State Drive (SSD) is a modern data storage device that employs flash memory technology to store data electronically. Unlike traditional hard disk drives (HDDs), SSDs have no moving parts, resulting in significantly faster read and write speeds. This leads to quicker boot times, faster application loading, and smoother overall system performance. SSDs are known for their durability, shock resistance, and energy efficiency, making them ideal for laptops, ultrabooks, and other portable devices. They come in various form factors, including 2.5-inch, M.2, and PCIe cards, and are favored for their reliability, quiet operation, and reduced heat generation