Microchip Technology Inc. has expanded its 1.8V Serial Quad I/O, or SQI, SuperFlash memory with the SST26WF080B and SST26WF040B devices. These devices offer 4-Mbit and 8-Mbit of memory and are manufactured with Microchip's high-performance SuperFlash technology, which provides the fast erase times and superior reliability. The SST26WF080B/040B provide the fastest erase times of any competing device due to the use of SuperFlash technology.

Sector and block erase commands are completed in just 18 ms and a full chip erase operation is completed in 35 ms. Competing devices require in the range of 5 to 15 seconds to complete a full chip erase operation, making SST26WF080B/040B approximately 300 times faster. The fast erase times can provide a significant cost savings to customers by minimizing the time required for testing and firmware updates, therefore increasing their manufacturing throughput. The SQI interface is a high-speed 104 MHz quad I/O serial interface which allows for high-data throughput in a low pin-count package.

This interface enables low latency execute-in-place (XIP) capability, allowing programs to be stored and executed directly from the Flash memory and eliminating the need for code shadowing on a RAM device. The SST26WF080B/040B provides faster data throughput than a comparable x16 parallel Flash device without the associated high cost and high-pin count of parallel Flash. The SQI interface also offers full command-set backwards compatibility to traditional Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) protocol.

Designed for low-power consumption, the SST26WF080B/040B helps maximize battery life in portable powered applications. Standby current consumption is 10 µA typical and a deep power-down mode further reduces current consumption to 1.8 µA typical. Active read current at 104 MHz is 15 mA typical.