Microsemi tweaks Flash memory line for oil, gas drilling

Semiconductor solutions provider Microsemi Corporation has recently launched a line of high temperature flash memory products suited for environmental demands of oil and gas industries downhole drilling. The NOR flash products are designed for temperatures of 150°C and higher, providing improved endurance benefits to systems designers. They can withstand the temperature, shock and vibration challenges encountered by drilling equipment thousands of feet below the surface.

BJ Heggli, Microsemi's vice president of strategic development highlighted the importance of high-reliability operation under tough conditions. "Our company has unique capabilities to address the increased needs for higher density and temperature and we are excited about the launch of the first of several downhole product offerings," he said.

The oil and gas industries are increasingly turning to unexplored areas as conventional sources of oil and gas decline. The high temperatures and pressures often found in these areas present complex challenges to the microelectronics used on drilling equipment. A substantial percentage of breakdowns in downhole systems is caused by failures in the electronics.

The new NOR flash product line is available in hermetic ceramic dual inline (DIP) small outline J-lead, (SOJ), flatpacks, ceramic quad flat pack (CQFP), or pin grid array (PGA) packages, and in 1 megabit (Mb), 4Mb and 16Mb densities.