Gary Drossel et al.
SiliconSystems

Parallel ATA has been the dominant storage interface in embedded systems for some time. The use of solid-state storage is a common solution for embedded systems because of its small form factor, reliability, and ability to endure harsh environmental conditions. As we advance in the support for more sophisticated and higher performing interfaces, the proper design techniques must be applied to assure that signal integrity is maintained in minimizing potential problems, both initially and over the life of the product. The following paper describes the key factors in understanding the common signal integrity issues associated while interfacing to solid-state storage in embedded systems and gives some real-world examples. The paper also describes the storage interfaces which are in store for future embedded systems and the associated design challenges.