Product category:
Memory Devices and Modules
News Release from: Spansion
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 29 April 2008
Licence puts Spansion on IBM's Racetrack
Memory breakthrough could lead to cheaper, more durable electronic devices that would hold far more data in the same amount of space and boot up more quickly.
Spansion has entered into a seven-year patent crosslicensing agreement with IBM For 15 consecutive years, IBM has been issued more US patents than any company in the world, which patents include memory solutions
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 11 Nov 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Mobile memory scales from 16Mbit to 5Gbit
Spansion has announced plans for new Flash memory devices that will simplify mobile phone design with a single Flash memory platform.
Roadmap scaling to 8Gbit Flash memory
MirrorBit technology is the centerpiece of a plan to become overall Flash market leader and outlines plans to scale Spansion's technology to 8Gbit densities on 65nm lithography.
Recently IBM announced a next generation technology code-named Racetrack, which is an electronic memory solution that combines the best attributes of Flash drives (common in digital cameras and cellphones) and the hard disk drives of computers.
The breakthrough could lead to cheaper, more durable electronic devices that would hold far more data in the same amount of space and boot up more quickly.
"We are greatly impressed with IBM's relentless commitment to invest in disruptive technology, as well as the breadth and depth of their patent portfolio", says Dr Louis Parrillo, Executive Vice President, Research and Development for Spansion.
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.
"We believe entering into this patent crosslicence agreement with IBM gives us access to some of the most advanced technology in the world, providing Spansion the opportunity to further its leadership in Flash memory design, manufacturing and overall innovation".
Included in Spansion's patent portfolio are patents relating to its MirrorBit technology, a charge-trapping technology that is believed by Spansion to be the most likely successor to floating gate technology for scaling Flash memory to sub-45nm process lithography nodes.
Spansion is the only company in the world to have committed all leading-edge Flash memory production to charge-trapping technology, and sales of products based on MirrorBit technology are on-track to reach US $2 billion in 2008.
Spansion believes its investment in MirrorBit technology gives it a strong charge-trapping patent portfolio in process, design and manufacturing technologies.
Spansion and IBM will also partner on the continued development of Flash memory solutions for the Chinese market.
Spansion has been committed to working with the top consumer electronics OEMs and wireless handset manufacturers in the Greater China region, where it boasts a final manufacturing facility in Suzhou, design centres in Suzhou and Beijing and sales and marketing offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, employing over 1300 employees in those locations.
"As the memory market continues to evolve, both technically and economically, IBM continues to do advanced research on new storage and memory technologies", says Tom Reeves, VP Business Development, IBM Technology and Intellectual Property.
"IBM is open to forming new partnerships for the development and commercialisation of such technologies".
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