
NAND Flash 101
EBOOK
Copyright ©2020 , ATP Electronics Taiwan Inc. All rights reserved

Overview
NAND Flash Cell Structure
Introduction: What is NAND Flash Memory?
3
4
Complete Flash Portfolio 25
NAND Flash Layout 10
5
6
7
Basic Operations
Read Operation
Write/Program Operation
8Erase Operation
11
12
NAND Flash Types
Comparison Table
Voltage Threshold Distribution
13
12
14
NAND Flash Architectures
Planar (2D)
3D
16
17
3D NAND Flash Technologies
Floating Gate
Charge Trap
© Copyright 2020 ATP Electronics, Inc. All rights reserved.

3
Introduction: What is NAND Flash Memory?
NAND flash memory is a type of non-volatile solid-state storage that persistently stores and retrieves data.
It is non-volatile memory since it retains data when power is not applied.
Unlike hard disk drives, storage devices with flash memory have no mechanical moving parts —
they don’t have spinning platters or read/write heads. Instead, they store data in stationary NAND flash chips.
Controller
Printed Circuit Board (PCB)
DRAM cache (not always available)
NAND Flash chip or silicon wafer
Firmware (software programmed into read-only memory)
Platter
Spindle
R/W Head
Actuator Arm
Actuator Axis
Actuator
HDD vs SSD

4
NAND Flash Cell Structure
The basic building block of flash memory is the NAND flash cell. The following diagram
shows the main elements of a single NAND flash cell. Each cell contains a floating gate
transistor, where the data are stored, through program/erase operations.
Oxide layers insulate the Floating Gate (storage layer), preventing the electrons to
leak out of it.
Any electron stored in the FG is trapped, which means the cell is programmed
(charged) and has a binary value of 0.
When the FG holds no charge, it has a binary value of 1.
Control Gate
Blocking Oxide
Floating Gate
Tunnel Oxide
Insulated P-Well
Source (S) Drain (D)

5
NAND Flash Cell Structure
Several (32 to 128) NAND flash cells connected in series form a String, which is a
quite compact structure. Several strings vertically arranged form a block.
NAND Flash String
NAND Flash String (Diagram version)
Control Gate
Source Select
MOSFET
Drain Select
MOSFET
Source Drain
Control Gate Control Gate
Control Gate Control Gate
Control Gate
Control Gate Control Gate Control Gate
NAND Flash String (Schematic version)