Link_A_Media Devices Introduces 4KB-Block LDPC Based SoC

Link_A_Media Devices (LAMD) has debuted what the company claims to be the industry's first 4KB-Block LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) based system-on-chip (SoC) that processes 4KB of data at a time. The company has already sampled this device to an HDD manufacturer.

Due to reduced overhead requirement for storing data associated with error correction and synchronization, an HDD with data partitioned into larger 4KB sectors enables more data to be stored on each magnetic disk. To facilitate processing one block at a time, other HDD controllers divide up the 4KB of data into smaller blocks of data, typically 512B or 1024B.

Today’s peripheral storage devices, hard disk drives or solid-state drives, are self-contained sub-systems capable of storing data bits on a magnetic or solid-state medium.  These devices comprise three major components: the storage medium, the read/write sensor, and the SoC. 

“LDPC coding is now regarded as must-have technology for next generation capacity points for HDD products. We are very pleased to be leading this technology transition in the HDD market with our 4KB-Block LDPC SoC solution," said Dr. Hemant Thapar, CEO of Link_A_Media Devices, in a press release. "Our solution is designed to deliver the highest performance with the lowest power consumption to enable 500GB or higher capacity on single disk in the 2.5" HDD form factor.”

LAMD has offered an efficient implementation which is well-suited for mobile HDDs, as well as the other segments and the company has stated that it has spent over 3 years developing its 4KB-Block LDPC technology. The company has also claimed that the use of a novel architecture, die size and power dissipation were kept to a minimum. Link_A_Media Devices' SoCs are manufactured by Renesas Electronics.

Recently, the company announced that its low-density parity check, or LDPC,-based SOC device is currently shipping in mainstream 2.5-inch mobile HDD products. The mobile 2.5-inch form factor is the fastest growing segment of the HDD market, used in laptop computers, gaming consoles, USB external drives, and other consumer devices where cost and power consumption requirements are paramount, the company stated in a press release.