KIOXIA unveils cutting-edge UFS 4.1 memory for automotive applications

KIOXIA Europe has started sampling pioneering Universal Flash Storage (UFS) Ver. 4.1 embedded memory devices, crafted specifically for next-gen automotive systems. These state-of-the-art devices are powered by KIOXIA’s generation 8 BiCS FLASH™ 3D technology coupled with expert in-house designed controller technology.

The UFS Ver. 4.1 devices, available in capacities ranging from 128GB to 1TB, cater to a multitude of automotive applications like infotainment, telematics, domain controllers, vehicle computers and ADAS. They comply with rigorous AEC-Q100/104 Grade 2 standards, ensuring operational stability at temperatures up to 115°C.

Performance enhancements from the previous UFS 3.1 generation are notable. The UFS 4.1, the 512GB variant, delivers:

• Approximately 2.1 times the sequential read performance
• Approximately 2.5 times the sequential write performance
• Approximately 2.1 times the random read performance
• Approximately 3.7 times the random write performance

These enhancements are set to offer a more responsive experience in data-heavy automotive environments.

Key features of the new devices include:

• UFS 4.1 Specifications Compliance: Incorporates WriteBooster features and backward compatibility with UFS4.0 and 3.1.
• Advanced Diagnostics: New vendor-specific health descriptors enhance device monitoring and maintenance.
• Innovative generation 8 BiCS FLASH™ 3D flash memory integration.

The introduction of CBA (CMOS directly Bonded to Array) technology signifies a significant leap in flash memory design. Establishing a direct bond between CMOS circuits and the memory array has notably improved efficiency, performance, and density.

“Specifically designed for automotive environments, the Automotive UFS Ver. 4.1 devices from KIOXIA offer the automotive-grade, higher performance and efficiency required for the implementation of advanced capabilities in infotainment, ADAS, domain controllers, and other vehicle computing applications,” said Axel Störmann, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Memory and SSD products, KIOXIA Europe GmbH.