Yet another new memory card format
What happened to the good old days (circa 1998) when the main choice between memory cards was CompactFlash and SmartMedia? Now there seems to be a new memory card format launched every week!
SanDisk and Sony have announced the development of “Memory Stick PRO-HG” format, which is an expansion of the the “Memory Stick PRO” format. The new format is designed to provide real-time recording and transfer of multiple gigabytes of data for high resolution video and digital still image applications.
“Sony has successfully collaborated with SanDisk Corporation in promoting the Memory Stick formats. Significant milestones have been the Memory Stick PRO format in 2003 and the Memory Stick Micro in 2005,” said Akira Kubota, president of Core Component Business Unit, Sony.
“This new IC recording media allows the speedy sharing of high definition video and digital still camera data between products. Through the introduction of this new format, Memory Stick will greatly expand its entertainment applications.”
“Sony and SanDisk share the common goal of providing exciting new digital audio and video applications to consumers,” said Eli Harari, Chairman and CEO of SanDisk Corporation.
“This is the driving force that is behind our relentless efforts to leverage our expertise and extensive intellectual property in flash memory cards to develop the Memory Stick PRO-HG. I am proud of the close cooperation we have with Sony over the years and look forward to seeing the exciting new products that Memory Stick PRO-HG media enable.”
This new media format uses an enhanced, 8-bit parallel interface in addition to a conventional serial and 4-bit parallel interface. The interface clock frequency also increases to 60MHz from 40MHz. This means that maximum data transfer speed increases up to 480Mbps, or 60MB/s (theoretical value), three times as fast as that of “Memory Stick PRO” media.
The minimum write speed at 8-bit parallel transfer is 120 Mbps, or 15MB/s*1. These enhancements allow large data amounts of up to several gigabytes to be quickly transferred, as well as the real-time recording of high-resolution video and still images.
Since “Memory Stick PRO-HG” is an extended format of the “Memory Stick PRO” format, “Memory Stick PRO-HG” compliant host devices support the conventional “Memory Stick PRO” media as well as “Memory Stick PRO-HG” media. In addition, the “Memory Stick PRO-HG” media can be used conventional “Memory Stick PRO” compliant host devices as well as “Memory Stick PRO-HG” compliant host devices. *2
Licensing for the development of “Memory Stick PRO-HG” compliant host devices is scheduled to commence in January 2007.
Specifications of Memory Stick PRO-HG
- Dimensions: Duo size (31 x 20 x 1.6) mm
- Connector Pin: 14-pin
- Capacity: 32GB† (format maximum) *4
- Max. Data Transfer Rate: 480 Mbps (theoretical)
- Min. Write Speed: 120 Mbps *1 (As of 8-bit parallel transfer), 40 Mbps *1 (As of 4-bit parallel transfer)
- Operating Voltage: 2.7 to 3.6 V
- Interface: 8-bit / 4-bit parallel I/F and Serial I/F
- Max. Clock frequency: 60MHz *5
- Copyright Protection Technology: MagicGate
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December 12th, 2006
[...] Original post by John Pospisil [...]