Intel DT28F320S590 32Mb (4M x 8) Flash Memory Chip: A Deep Dive into Specifications and Applications
In the landscape of digital storage, the Intel DT28F320S590 stands as a significant component from an era when parallel interfacing was the standard for high-performance memory. This 32-megabit (4M x 8) flash memory chip encapsulates a blend of reliability and a feature set tailored for demanding embedded systems. This article delves into its core specifications and explores the applications where it truly shined.
Architectural Overview and Key Specifications
At its heart, the DT28F320S590 is a 5.0 Volt-only Read and Write device, simplifying system power design by eliminating the need for an additional, higher programming voltage. Its 32-megabit capacity is organized as 4,194,304 words by 8 bits (4M x 8), making it a byte-wide memory ideal for interfacing with 8-bit and 16-bit microprocessors without the need for extra logic.
A defining characteristic of this chip is its asynchronous parallel interface. Unlike modern serial flash chips, it uses a multiplexed address and data bus with numerous control pins (like Chip Enable `CE`, Output Enable `OE`, and Write Enable `WE`) for precise timing control. This allows for fast random access times, with versions offering access speeds as low as 90ns, which was critical for execute-in-place (XIP) operations in embedded systems.
The device is built on Intel's advanced NOR Flash technology. NOR architecture provides the crucial advantage of allowing true random access, meaning the microprocessor can fetch and execute code directly from it, unlike NAND flash. It is divided into 64 uniform 64-Kilobyte blocks. This block-wise structure is pivotal for individual block locking and erase capabilities. The chip supports a standard JEDEC command set, allowing it to be software-driven for programming and erase operations.
For reliability and data integrity, it features a hardware-based data protection scheme. This includes a write protection pin (`WP`) that, when asserted, prevents any program or erase operation to the two outermost boot blocks, safeguarding critical boot code from accidental corruption. Furthermore, it offers on-chip erase and program algorithms to manage the intricate high-voltage timing, simplifying the host processor's task.
Primary Applications and Legacy
The combination of its specifications made the Intel DT28F320S590 a workhorse in numerous 1990s and early 2000s electronic systems. Its primary applications included:
Embedded Systems and Networking Equipment: It was extensively used in routers, switches, and hubs to store the firmware (bootloader and operating system) that could be executed directly by the main CPU.
Telecommunications Infrastructure: Critical systems like PBX phones, base stations, and other communication hardware relied on its robustness and ability to hold executable code securely.
Industrial Control and Automation: In harsh industrial environments, this chip stored the application code for programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and other control systems where reliability was non-negotiable.
Automotive Electronics: Earlier automotive engine control units (ECUs) and infotainment systems utilized such NOR flash chips for storing their firmware and calibration data.
Legacy Computing and BIOS Storage: It was a common choice for storing the BIOS in desktop computers, servers, and workstations of its time, ensuring instant availability of system initialization code at power-on.
While surpassed in density and cost-efficiency by NAND flash for bulk storage, and in speed and interface simplicity by modern serial NOR flash, the DT28F320S590 remains a quintessential example of high-performance parallel NOR flash memory.
ICGOOODFIND: The Intel DT28F320S590 is a classic example of a high-reliability, parallel-interfaced NOR Flash memory chip. Its 5V-only operation, fast random access, and robust hardware protection features made it an indispensable component for storing and executing critical firmware in a wide array of embedded, networking, and industrial applications during its era.
Keywords:
1. NOR Flash Memory
2. Parallel Interface
3. Embedded Systems
4. Firmware Storage
5. Execute-in-Place (XIP)
