Faster CompactFlash Cards on the Horizon

The specification for CFast, a new CompactFlash card with a SATA (Serial ATA) interface, is due to be published in May. The SATA interface of the CFast cards will provide interface data rates up to 3Gb/sec, much faster than the 133MB/second rate of standard CF cards. “The development of a CompactFlash card with a SATA interface will maintain the dominance of CompactFlash in the non-consumer (embedded systems, single board computers, data recorder, etc.) markets as well as promote its use in other applications such as digital SLR cameras and professional video cameras. Having the SATA interface will be a significant step for CompactFlash.” commented Mr. Shigeto Kanda of Canon and the CFA chairman of the board.

CompactFlash Association (CFA) Press Release

CompactFlash Association Displaying New CFast™ Card & Connectors at ESC Silicon Valley

CFast Utilizes SATA Interface for 3Gb/sec Interface Data Rate

Embedded Systems Conference Silicon Valley 2008
Booth 3021

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The CompactFlash Association (CFA) announces that the new CFast card and connectors will be displayed at Embedded Systems Conference Silicon Valley in the CFA booth 3021.

The CFast work group was formed in July 2007 to develop the CFast specification for a CompactFlash card with a SATA (Serial ATA) interface. The CFast specification publish date is planned for May. CFA members interested in CFast should apply for inclusion in the CFA’s CFast work group.

Mr. Shigeto Kanda of Canon and the CFA chairman of the board said, “The development of a CompactFlash card with a SATA interface will maintain the dominance of CompactFlash in the non-consumer (embedded systems, single board computers, data recorder, etc.) markets as well as promote its use in other applications such as digital SLR cameras and professional video cameras. Having the SATA interface will be a significant step for CompactFlash.”

The current CompactFlash PATA (parallel ATA) interface provides up to a 133MB/second interface data rate. The SATA interface will provide interface data rates up to 3Gb/sec as well as compatibility with the SATA disk drive interfaces that are increasingly being used.

CompactFlash card slots are in digital cameras/video cameras and other electronic platforms including embedded systems, single board computers, data recorders, heart monitors, defibrillators, slot machines, etc.

CompactFlash cards are currently available up to 48GB with sustained data rates of 45MB/sec. and provide the dominant SSD flash storage solution for embedded systems, single board computers, the new multi-mega pixel DSLR cameras and other devices. These high capacity, high transfer rate CompactFlash cards will also be displayed in the CFA booth.

The CF+ and CompactFlash Standard ensures that today’s and tomorrow’s digital cameras will be compatible with faster and even higher capacity CF cards, as they become available.

In addition to CompactFlash data storage cards, there are CF cards that provide I/O capability. VGA, Ethernet, modem, serial, parallel, digital phone, GSM, Bluetooth, Ethernet wireless, wand & laser barcode scanners, finger print scanners, TV and GPS CF+ cards are all available.

CFA members can participate in the CFA CFast working group and access documentation as the CFast specification is completed.

The latest CompactFlash published Specification; Revision 4.1 is available to download from the CFA web site at http://www.compactflash.org.

The CFA (logo), CF (logo), CF+ and CFast are trademarks of the CFA and are licensed royalty free to its members.

The CFA is a licensee of the CompactFlash® trademark and in turn will license it royalty-free to its members. 

Published: Friday, April 18, 2008

Reader Comments

1. would be nice to have

   canon at 12:17pm on Friday, April 18, 2008