Hitachi Ltd has found itself a ready-made memory technology, in the form of multi-level cell Flash memory (MLC) patents which it has licensed from BTG, a UK patents broker for an undisclosed sum. The patents relate to multi-level storage that can increase capacity by storing multiple bits per memory cell. Current memory cells store only one bit of data per cell. The technology was originally developed by US semiconductor veteran Gerald Banks but snapped up by BTG, a company that specializes in buying patent portfolios and selling them off to the highest bidder. Intel Corp and Sandisk Corp have both launched products based on their own versions of this technology (CI No 3,426).
