Fujitsu Limited and Fujitsu Microelectronics, Inc. (FMI) today introduced four versions of a low-power 16Mbit RAM based on Fujitsu's Fast Cycle RAM (FCRAM(tm)) architecture.
These latest additions to Fujitsu's Application Specific Memory (ASM) series support the advanced infrastructure and high-speed data rates required for next-generation mobile phone applications, such as Internet access, music distribution, e-mail, video post cards, information and location-based services. The mobile-handset market is expected to explode by the end of 2000, with sales estimated to surpass 410 million units, according to Dataquest.
Other devices in the ASM series include a 64Mbit FCRAM for multimedia/graphics applications, introduced last January, and a 64Mbit FCRAM for consumer applications, introduced last April. All ASM series devices are based on the FCRAM architecture originally announced in June 1998 at the VLSI Symposium.
The new 16Mbit high-density RAM ASMs announced today utilize a low-power asynchronous SRAM-type interface with an active current of 30mA. The new device features refresh-free operation that makes it easy to upgrade the memory without making major changes in system architecture. They are housed in a 48-pin FBGA package to save space on the board.
"Fujitsu expects that the FCRAM technology will make a significant design contribution to a wide range of applications," said Fumio Baba, FMI's vice president of memory marketing. "The FCRAM products introduced today open the door to new RAM usage in next-generation mobile phones and other applications including EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GMS Evolution), WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), CDMA2000 and others. Future versions will expand our base of applications."
Application Specific Memory Products Meet Multi-market
Requirements
In recent years, the number of end products that use DRAMs has increased rapidly in market sectors such as computer products (PCs, workstations and servers), consumer products (digital TVs, digital still cameras, video disks and set-top boxes) and telecommunications and networking-related products (switches and routers, mobile/cellular phones, PDAs and network servers). The expanding array and increasing sophistication of applications require higher-performance and more diversified memory products, thus segmenting the DRAM market based on applications and performance. Since conventional commodity DRAMs cannot satisfy the diverse requirements of those various applications, Application Specific Memory products are becoming essential, particularly for rapidly evolving multimedia, networking and graphics systems. In many ways, this trend is similar to the market shift that impacted logic devices (ASICs).
The variety of products in Fujitsu's new ASM series reflects the diversity of applications that can be served using the revolutionary FCRAM core technology. FCRAM includes memory-array segmentation and internal pipelining that speed random access and reduce power consumption.
Pricing and Availability
The specifications for each model of Fujitsu's new 16Mbit high-density RAM are:
Model Cycle Time Active Current Standby Current Package ----- ---------- -------------- --------------- ------- MB82D01160/1-90 90ns 30mA 200uA 48-pin FBGA MB82D01160/1-10 100ns 30mA 200uA 48-pin FBGA MB82D01160/1-90L 90ns 30mA 100uA 48-pin FBGA MB82D01160/1-10L 100ns 30mA 100uA 48-pin FBGA
Additional features include wide-range power-supply voltages of 2.3V to 2.7V, and 2.7V to 3V, with 16-bit I/O organization. Samples of the MB82D01160/1 series are available now, with prices beginning at $38 each per unit.
Fujitsu is continuing to develop and supply high value-added Application Specific Memory products based on customer needs in different market segments. These products will incorporate Fujitsu's high-speed, low-power FCRAM core technology, high-speed interface technology and industry-leading small packaging technologies. Fujitsu plans to continuously enhance the speed, low power and capacity of its FCRAM products, with additional versions due by the second half of calendar year 2000.
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