
3.0 Volt-only Technology Background
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Industry Standard Architecture
AMD’s 3.0 volt-only family of products are based on the same process technology and 
industry standard architecture as AMD’s 5.0 volt-only Flash devices. AMD’s process provides 
low-power, high-performance CMOS devices using the NOR cell Flash architecture. The 
Am29LVxxx family offers the following features:
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 JEDEC single-power-supply standard for pinout and software commands.
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 A memory array that is segmented into smaller sectors for erase operation. This 
feature allows for modular code development, storage of boot code, parameters, and 
main code in different sectors, and the ability to write protect any or all sectors of the 
device.
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 AMD’s Embedded Program and Embedded Erase algorithms that simplify Flash 
operation by automating the programming and erase operations on the chip. This 
eliminates the need for dedicated CPU control of the device, and thus improves 
system-level performance. The embedded algorithms automatically detect and correct 
overerase, and eliminate program/erase software implementation errors associated 
with first-generation manual algorithm Flash devices.
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 A guaranteed minimum endurance of 1 million program/erase cycles on the 0.35 μm 
and new 0.32 μm process technologies. This equates to higher reliability in systems 
that rewrite data even once to the Flash device.
Summary
AMD’s 3.0 volt-only design offers all the advantages and performance of its 5.0 volt-only, 
industry standard architecture, while providing 3 volt operation optimized for battery-powered 
applications. Features of the industry standard architecture include single-power-supply 
operation, sector architecture, and Embedded Algorithms. In addition, AMD’s 3.0 volt-only, 
Am29LVxxx family of Flash memories provides a 2.7 V to 3.6 V extended operating range 
and low power consumption without sacrificing performance.