Product category:
Memory Devices and Modules
News Release from: Spansion
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 13 September 2006
PoP technology brings Flash to hand
Spansion is working with Freescale Semiconductor to produce package-on-package Flash memory for handset manufacturers.
Spansion is working with Freescale Semiconductor to produce package-on-package (PoP) Flash memory that will enable handset manufacturers to reduce wireless handset size and pack in more multimedia-rich features and functionality, such as digital video broadcast, video conferencing and location-based services Fully compliant with the JEDEC PoP standard, Spansion's Flash memory has been combined with Freescale's i.MX31 applications processor in a PoP solution
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 11 Nov 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Shrinking the size of mobile devices is made possible with Spansion and Freescale's combined PoP solution that vertically combines the applications processor, discrete logic and memory packages for board space savings, lower pin-count, simplified system integration and enhanced performance.
Spansion also provides its Flash memory for use in a PoP package with other Freescale solutions including its baseband processors featured in the i.300 and MXC cellular platforms.
Spansion brings a comprehensive suite of PoP solutions to the wireless market with support for reference designs, system-level software and qualified products currently in use by some of the top handset manufacturers.
Further reading
Flash memories adapt to market demands
MirrorBit ORNAND solutions are optimised for data storage in automotive electronics, consumer, networking and wireless segments of the Flash memory market.
Flash chips feature in automotive control module
Analog Devices is combining Spansion known good die (KGD) Flash memory with its Blackfin processor in a multichip module for products supporting the automotive market.
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Spansion has demonstrated working silicon of the industry's first 4bit-per-cell Flash memory technology, produced at its Fab 25 production facility in Austin, Texas.
Freescale application processors are designed for feature-rich mobile devices running powerful multimedia applications typically reserved for home entertainment systems, bringing consumers a cinematic video and audio experience to their mobile devices.
Spansion's MirrorBit NOR and ORNAND Flash memory solutions deliver high-performance code execution and data storage with a single-platform approach for these types of applications.
"Combining the efficient and scalable benefits of PoP technology with Freescale's advanced application processors and Spansion's Flash memory, we continue to streamline the design process for mobile device manufacturers and reduce time to market for new phones", said Ken Hansen, Senior Technical Fellow and Director of Advanced Technology for the Wireless and Mobile Systems Group at Freescale.
"We are committed to leveraging technologies such as PoP to further provide the enhanced performance customers require to support innovative features and round out their product portfolios".
Spansion's PoP solutions provide more flexibility and scalability compared with traditional system-in-package (SiP) technologies, as mobile device designers can use a scalable platform approach, where memories can be swapped out easily to transition from a low- to mid-range handset to a high-end phone.
With benefits of lower system cost, faster time to market and increased flexibility over SiP, PoP is gaining traction in the wireless industry.
As an active member of JEDEC, Spansion has led efforts to establish industry standards for PoP, such as minimising costs, enabling advanced functionality and simplifying configurations for next-generation handset solutions.
Spansion has been providing PoP solutions in production since Q4 2005 to align with the needs of both handset and chipset manufacturers.
The Freescale i.MX31 packaged with Spansion's Flash memory is currently sampling and is expected to be released for production in the fourth quarter of 2006.
In addition to the wireless applications, Spansion Flash memory is widely used in many Freescale automotive, consumer and networking reference designs.
"Today's consumers are increasingly adopting more data services, yet still want smaller and sleeker handsets", said Steve Schrepferman, Vice President of Marketing and MCP Development, Wireless Solutions Division, Spansion.
"Spansion's PoP solutions provide more flexibility for handset manufacturers to pack more memory into the same form factor, leading to faster time to market and 20 to 30% space savings".
"Together, with Freescale's expertise in application processors, we can address both operator requirements to add more capacity to handsets and to meet the latest form factor demands from subscribers".
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