Factsheet 02.000

January 2020

These specifications are subject to change without notice.

01/03/2020

© 2020 Greenliant

2

S71468-01

GLS FS0019 Rev. 00

GLS86FCxxxG1 / GLS86FCxxxG8

Industrial Grade mSATA ArmourDrive™ EX Series

1.0

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Each mSATA ArmourDrive module contains a NANDrive multi-chip package, which integrates a SATA NAND

flash controller with discrete NAND flash die. Refer to Figure 2-1 for the mSATA ArmourDrive block diagram.

1.1

Optimized mSATA ArmourDrive

The heart of mSATA ArmourDrive is the SATA NAND

flash controller, which translates standard SATA

signals into flash media data and control signals. The

following

components

contribute

to

mSATA

ArmourDrive’s operation.

1.1.1

Microcontroller Unit (MCU)

The MCU translates SATA commands into data and

control signals required for flash media operation.

1.1.2

Internal Direct Memory Access (DMA)

mSATA ArmourDrive uses internal DMA allowing

instant data transfer from/to buffer to/from flash media.

This

implementation

eliminates

microcontroller

overhead associated with the traditional, firmware-

based approach, thereby increasing the data transfer

rate.

1.1.3

Power Management Unit (PMU)

The PMU controls the power consumption of mSATA

ArmourDrive. The PMU dramatically reduces the

power consumption of mSATA ArmourDrive by putting

the part of the circuitry that is not in operation into

sleep mode.

The Flash File System handles inadvertent power

interrupts and has auto-recovery capability to ensure

mSATA ArmourDrive firmware integrity. For regular

power

management,

the

host

must

send

an

IDLE_IMMEDIATE command and wait for command

ready before powering down mSATA ArmourDrive.

1.1.4

Embedded Flash File System

The embedded flash file system is an integral part of

mSATA ArmourDrive. It contains MCU firmware that

performs the following tasks:

1.

Translates host side signals into flash media

writes and reads

2.

Provides flash media wear leveling to spread

the flash writes across all memory address

space to increase the longevity of flash media

3.

Keeps track of data file structures

4.

Manages system security for the selected

protection zones

1.1.5

Error Correction Code (ECC)

The ECC technology uses advanced algorithms to

detect and correct errors, ensuring data integrity and

extending the SSD lifespan.

1.1.6

Multi-tasking Interface

The multi-tasking interface enables fast, sequential

write performance by allowing concurrent Read,

Program and Erase operations to multiple flash media.

1.2

Advanced NAND Management

mSATA

ArmourDrive’s

controller

uses

advanced

wear-leveling algorithms to substantially increase the

longevity of NAND flash media. Wear caused by data

writes is evenly distributed in all or select blocks in the

device that prevents “hot spots” in locations that are

programmed and erased extensively. This effective

wear-leveling technique results in optimized device

endurance, enhanced data retention and higher

reliability required by long-life applications.