A directory structure is created to allow the controller to convert requests for logical sectors into the physical locations on the actual flash memory chip. Some part of the spare cells is also used to hold the firmware which operates the controller and other special features for a particular storage device. This ensures the device is operating properly, it maps out bad flash memory cells, and it allocates spare cells to be substituted for future failed cells. The image below shows NAND Flash and controllers on various types of SSD.Īfter a flash storage device is initially manufactured, the NAND Flash controller is first used to format the flash memory. Controllers can be a separate component or integrated into another chip, such as eMMC.

A NAND Flash controller is sometimes called a memory chip controller (MCC) or a memory controller unit (MCU) and manages data stored on the flash memory (usually NAND flash) and communicates with a computer or electronic device. The short answer is that they are the brains of the storage device. This tech talk will focus on NAND Flash controllers. They essentially do the same thing - controlling the flow of information back and forth, but within these categories, there are many types of controllers. There are many different types of NAND Flash controllers.

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