What is AST? The Key to Accurate NAND Flash Classification

Introduction

 

In the industrial storage sector, multiple technologies are designed to enhance reliability, such as Bad Block Management, Wear Leveling, and Advanced Sorting Technology (AST). Among them, AST conducts comprehensive testing and grading to precisely assess the stability of NAND Flash memory precisely, enabling optimized configurations for different applications. This process not only improves durability but also meets diverse storage requirements. What other advantages does AST offer? This article will guide you through the operating principles and applications of AST, helping you quickly understand its unique features.

 

What is AST? Delivering Reliable Storage Performance

 

Advanced Sorting Technology (AST) is a specialized process for performing comprehensive testing and classification of NAND Flash memory. It accurately evaluates the durability and stability of each component to meet the stringent requirements of industrial customers across various applications. AST examines key aspects such as electrical characteristics, temperature, and speed through a meticulous testing and grading process, ensuring that every selected component fully complies with specific standards to deliver stable and reliable storage performance.

 

In simple terms, AST is a professional grading system that screens products according to specific conditions and produces storage solutions tailored to different needs, such as designs capable of operating in wide-temperature environments. This approach provides flexibility for customers with unique requirements, allowing for further customization and the development of the most suitable solutions. AST can be broadly applied across multiple sectors, supporting sorting and grading based on specialized standards.

 

What Makes AST Stand Out? Five Key Advantages

 

What practical advantages does AST offer in classifying NAND Flash with precision? When it comes to improving storage product reliability and aligning with diverse usage scenarios, accurately grading components under rigorous testing conditions is crucial.

 

For example, in high-demand industrial applications, NAND Flash must remain stable under extreme temperatures, making temperature testing a crucial requirement. In addition, AST incorporates multiple verification processes, including electrical testing and multi-mode Read, Write, and Erase operations, which help enhance product quality and consistency while ensuring stable and dependable performance under harsh conditions. 

 

Below are the five core benefits of AST:

 

Comprehensive Electrical Testing

 

AST thoroughly checks each NAND Flash device for electrical conditions, including current, voltage, and short-circuit conditions, ensuring every component meets the fundamental operating requirements.

 

Multi-Mode Functional Verification

 

AST performs repeated Read, Write, and Erase operations in both SLC and TLC modes to validate the integrity and durability of NAND Flash functionality.

 

Error Bit Recording and Grading

 

Throughout the testing process, the system records Error Bits throughout the testing process and accurately classifies components into wide-temperature or standard-temperature categories based on the results.

 

Rigorous Temperature and Speed Testing

 

AST evaluates performance across various temperature ranges and data transfer rates to simulate demanding industrial environments, ensuring that every generation of technology operates reliably under extreme conditions.

 

Ensured Quality and Reliability

 

Only NAND Flash that successfully passes the stringent AST process is incorporated into wide-temperature products, significantly extending overall product lifespan and improving stability.

 

Beyond NAND Flash Classification: The Versatility of AST

 

The core strength of AST lies in its ability to precisely classify NAND Flash not only by temperature, but also by speed and endurance. This technology can be flexibly applied to other industrial sectors through customized sorting, including surveillance systems and high-performance computing, as detailed below.

 

Surveillance: High Endurance for Continuous Operation

 

In surveillance systems, storage devices must support long-term continuous use with frequent read, write, and erase cycles. AST enables the selection of storage products with extended endurance, such as 5K PE cycle capability, providing reliable and cost-effective solutions that meet the demanding requirements of surveillance environments.

 

Military : Wide Temperature Requirements

 

Under harsh environmental conditions, military-grade SSDs must operate reliably across extreme temperatures. With AST technology, SP Industrial selects wide-temperature-grade NAND flash components to develop SSDs capable of withstanding various challenging thermal environments. For instance, the wide-temperature series SSDs can function steadily between -40°C and 85°C, fully meeting the stringent requirements of military and defense applications.

 

Conclusion

 

AST is not only a method for classifying NAND Flash but also a highly flexible and scalable grading solution. SP Industrial applies AST to execute highly precise testing and classification processes, ensuring that each NAND Flash component meets stringent standards for stability and endurance. The sorting criteria can be further customized based on specific customer requirements, enabling compatibility with a wide range of industrial use cases. As enterprise storage requirements continue to evolve, SP Industrial will continue leveraging AST’s advantages to help customers achieve greater reliability and enhanced product performance.