Flash memory controller

Lexar USB stick 8 GB - Silicon Motion SM3253L - USB 2.0 single-channel flash controller.

A flash memory controller (or flash controller) manages data stored on flash memory (usually NAND flash) and communicates with a computer or electronic device. Flash memory controllers can be designed for operating in low duty-cycle environments like memory cards, or other similar media for use in PDAs, mobile phones, etc. USB flash drives use flash memory controllers designed to communicate with personal computers through the USB port at a low duty-cycle. Flash controllers can also be designed for higher duty-cycle environments like solid-state drives (SSD) used as data storage for laptop computer systems up to mission-critical enterprise storage arrays.[1]

  1. ^ "Flash Memory Guide" (PDF). kingston.com. Retrieved 7 March 2013.