IoT devices, which have been receiving a great deal of attention from the global ICT industry have several major characteristics: versatility, reliability, security, small-size, mobility and connectivity.
The true power of IoT devices becomes apparent when they combine with cloud services and datacenter operations, which opens them up to more applications including Big Data analytics. But in these applications, the entire IoT framework and architecture require a smart storage solution. During a recent DIGITIMES organized Embedded Technology Forum, Charles Lee, InnoDisk senior marketing director of embedded flash business, listed the benefits of adopting SSDs in a smart storage solution.
SSDs are becoming increasingly popular in IoT solutions because of their small size and multiple form factors. SSDs are silent, rugged, durable and reliable, and also offer a faster and lower-power consumption experience.
SSDs have no moving mechanical components, and therefore can withstand considerable shock and vibration and produce no mechanical noise, making them ideal for use in noise-sensitive applications such as medical bio-detection and other wearable devices.
InnoDisk supports many traditional interfaces including PCIe, PATA, SATA, USB, SD and micro SD to make it easier to adopt SSDs in various IoT systems and devices. In 2015, InnoDisk's product roadmap will further extend its product lines to an advanced series of storage solutions supporting M.2, nanoSSD, eMMC card, SATAeDOM, ServerDOM and PCIeDOM.
These new product series will continuously improve the data transmission rates of storage peripherals. Taking M.2 as an example, it will support USB 3.0, PCIe Gen3x4, or SATA 6.0 Gb/s interfaces with faster data speeds and a small form factor especially suitable for slim and compact systems.
nanoSSD is a single BGA chip solution with one integrated IC combining a NAND Flash controller and NAND Flash memory chip. Data speeds are up to 6Gb/s with a SATA lll interface. Intel has endorsed this solution in 2-in-1 notebooks. The BGA solution provides extra physical space for additional features, which is important for small form factor and slim systems.
Meanwhile, industrial control applications under general commercial temperatures (0-70-degrees C) require constant read/write capabilities and a five-year quality guarantee, to this end InnoDisk's nanoSSD solution has a wider working temperature range than other alternatives.
Most ARM-based processors support the eMMC interface. eMMC places greater emphasis on energy saving, information security and stability of operation as compared to general SD cards. The uniqueness of eMMC includes features such as reliable writes, bootablility, sleep mode, multiple partitioning, write protection and double-data-rate. Adopting an eMMC card-based storage solution in an IoT device can reduce development costs and simply works more efficiently with strong flexibility.
SATAeDOM, ServerDOM and PCIeDOM are three Disk on Module products. They are cableless and reliable, support booting and are compatible with different operating systems. Most IPC motherboards have an extra PCIex1 slot or SATA Express slot which can be used to house an InnoDisk SATAeDOM or PCIeDOM freeing up HDD bay space for other storage peripherals.
InnoDisk's ServerDOM is designed for dedicated PC server solutions with SATA III interface support. Considering the space restrictions of 1U and blade servers in data centers or server farms, ServerDOM has a tiny sized of 30.7 by 20.2 by 6.6mm.
Charles Lee, InnoDisk senior marketing director of embedded flash business
Photo: Digitimes