APRO industrial memory cards

The TME product catalogue features APRO industrial memory cards available in numerous formats and storage capacity ratings. Below, we describe this diverse assortment, focusing on the formats and technological https://tme.hk/en/product of these solutions.

What is special about industrial memory cards?

Memory cards, particularly in the SD format, have become one of the most popular data storage types. This results from the fact that their design combines a compact size, impressive storage capacity and extensive compatibility with such devices as laptops, smartphones, camcorders or cameras.

For consumers, the storage capacity is the key parameter of a memory card. In industrial applications, this feature is of secondary importance (or at least it is subject to a certain compromise). It results mostly from the fact that automation, data logging and other similar systems usually do not generate large amounts of data. Most commonly, they aggregate numerical values stored in a simple format (e.g. CSV). When storing images is necessary, their quality is limited to resolutions enabling users to obtain optimum legibility... and nothing more. Nevertheless, components used in industrial applications must have a long service life and demonstrate resistance to adverse operating conditions, not only in terms of industrial environments, but also regarding electric parameters. Moreover, storage media can be designed as basic memory modules for miniature computers used as automation system controllers, so the failure rate of machinery and entire production runs tends to be directly dependent on a single SD card.

Therefore, the majority of memory cards offered by APRO are designed in SLC (single-level cell) or MLC (multi-level cell) technologies. These abbreviations specify the memory cell design. The more bits can be stored in a single cell (triple-level, quadruple-level), the higher the data density, which results in card size reduction and capacity enhancement. Unfortunately, it also results in increased failure frequency. Tried-and-tested and simpler technologies ensure longer circuit service life and reliability, however, at limited capacity, which is why the presented product range includes 512 MB cards, which might seem a bit obsolete to an average consumer. Alternatively, in order to obtain high memory cell density, the costly 3D NAND (here 3D aSLC) technology with the multi-layer SLC structure set-up, is used. Thanks to that APRO can offer its highest-capacity memory cards, i.e. 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB.

Memory card formats

APRO memory cards come in three different sizes: CompactFlash, SD and microSD. The first technology mentioned above is well-known to professionals, as it has been in use since the 1990s and is related to the already obsolete ATA interface. It can still be encountered in certain (e.g. industrial) equipment, because, as a parallel bus, it is highly resistant to interferences. The SD and microSD formats use the SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) and SDXC (eXtended Capacity) technologies. As far as their size is concerned, these solutions are identical to older-generation products. However, the classic SD format did not support memory systems whose storage capacity exceeded 2 GB. SDHC is the latest version, which incorporates such innovations as FAT32 file system support and storage capacities up to 32 GB. As far as the SDXC version is concerned, the maximum capacity amounts to as much as 2 TB. Both these standards support data transmission at speeds considerably exceeding the original specification (read at approx. 100 MB/s in the case of APRO components).

APRO product range

See the tables below for data regarding storage capacities and formats of individual articles included in the APRO product range. The general overview includes CompactFlash, microSD and SD cards designed in the 3D aSLC, aSLC, MLC and SLC technologies. The available storage capacity ratings range from 512 MB to 64 GB. Additionally, note that these products handle operating temperatures ranging from -40°C to 85°C.

APRO memory cards