Spansion Announces World's First Single-chip 1 Gigabit NOR Flash Memory; First Samples Based on 90-Nanometer MirrorBit(TM) Technology
SUNNYVALE, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Oct. 12, 2005—
Spansion LLC, the Flash memory venture of AMD (NYSE:AMD)
and Fujitsu Limited (TOKYO:6702), today announced it is sampling the
world's first single-chip 1 gigabit (Gb) NOR Flash memory device to
customers in the embedded market. Based on 90-nanometer (nm)
MirrorBit(TM) technology, the 1 Gb MirrorBit GL device is the highest
density, single-chip NOR Flash memory device on the market. It is
designed for reliable code execution and data storage in a wide range
of embedded applications including automotive navigation systems,
communications infrastructure equipment, gaming and industrial
control. The 1 Gb MirrorBit GL device is the first based on the
Spansion 90-nm MirrorBit process technology unveiled last month.
"Our innovative MirrorBit technology has enabled us to reach this
very important milestone, with a product that meets the density,
quality, cost structure and scalability needs of the diverse embedded
market," said Ian Williams, corporate vice president of marketing for
the Embedded Memory Division for Spansion. "High density single-chip
NOR Flash memory products help customers lower their design cost,
enhance end product features, and ensure reliable, fast code
execution. In addition, with this added storage capacity, customers
can leverage a single chip for both code execution and data storage."
"Spansion's announcement of a 1 Gb 90-nm NOR device keeps the
company in the density lead, where they have been since last year's
introduction of a 512Mb chip," said Jim Handy, Semico's Director of
Nonvolatile Memory Services. "It is important that they have designed
this part and the family as a whole for the needs of the embedded
market, which often gets overlooked in favor of Flash chips for cell
phones."
The 1 Gb MirrorBit GL device extends the MirrorBit GL family,
which also includes the industry's only single-chip 512 megabit (Mb)
NOR Flash memory device in production. By scaling MirrorBit technology
to 90 nm and doubling the density of its NOR Flash memory, Spansion
reduces component costs because it enables customers to use a
single-chip device, instead of multiple lower density discrete
solutions or more costly multi-chip packages containing stacked lower
density die. Moreover, as an extension of its existing embedded
product families, the device allows customers to easily migrate to new
high-density solutions, without having to engage in costly and complex
system redesign.
Easier Migration with Spansion(TM) NOR Flash Memory Solutions
Spansion's new 1 Gb device augments the company's broad product
offering which includes densities ranging from 1 Mb up to 1 Gb.
Backwards compatible with previous generation products (down to the 2
Mb density), the device supports common software, pin-out and
packaging and can be rapidly deployed without requiring costly board
redesign. The 1 Gb MirrorBit GL is package and pin-out compatible with
all MirrorBit GL-M (230 nm), MirrorBit GL-A (200 nm) and MirrorBit
GL-N (110 nm) devices as well as legacy Fujitsu and AMD LV family
members (back to the 320 nm lithography). Packaging is also
JEDEC-compliant.
Technical Features and Benefits of the 1G MirrorBit(TM) GL Product
The Spansion 1 Gb MirrorBit product joins the Spansion GL family
which includes densities ranging from 16 Mb up to 512 Mb - all in
production today. The 1 Gb MirrorBit GL operates at 3.0 volts (Vcc),
features a random read speed of 110 nanoseconds (ns), and offers a
page read speed of 25 ns via an 8-word page buffer.
The new 1 Gb MirrorBit GL part enables users to either execute
code directly out of the Flash memory or shadow into DRAM at high
speeds. The device supports industrial temperature ranges from -40 to
+85 degrees Celsius. The 1Gb MirrorBit GL uses a NOR architecture that
is designed to deliver 100 percent good sectors, eliminate the need
for ECC and support a standard parallel interface, reducing system
complexity and cost.
Enhanced Security
For applications requiring advanced security, Spansion supports
Advanced Sector Protection (ASP) technology on the 1 Gb MirrorBit GL.
ASP provides robust and complete designer-defined security with 64-bit
password protection for sensitive software algorithms or parameters.
The feature can be used by designers to store, lock and protect code
or data stored on any sector of the device, or assign an electronic
serial number (ESN) to their product. In some applications, the
central office can use an ESN to identify their equipment remotely,
control service levels and record access for billing purposes. The
feature can help prevent malicious attacks and viruses, as well as
help prevent unauthorized use of services.
Availability, Packaging and Pricing
Spansion is providing samples of the 1 Gb MirrorBit GL device now
to a select group of customers. Production is slated to begin in late
Q4. The part number for the 1 Gb MirrorBit GL is S29GL01GP. The
product is offered in 56-pin TSOP and 64-ball Fortified BGA packaging.
It will be priced at approximately $18.50 in quantities of 10,000.
Spansion(TM) Solutions for the Embedded Market
Spansion offers embedded system designers the broadest selection
of Flash memory, including 5V, 3V and 1.8V products from 1 Mb to 1 Gb
in packaged and Known Good Die (KGD) configurations. With hundreds of
Flash memory products and configurations to choose from, Spansion has
a solution to meet diverse customer needs.
Conventional Flash memory is offered using high-density MirrorBit
technology or floating-gate technology, in page or bust mode. The
simultaneous read-write architecture can be combined with a burst- or
page-mode interface to improve performance of execute-in-place
applications. And, with the new Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI)
product line, Spansion offers embedded system designers a new way to
achieve smaller footprint, lower power consumption, greater
reliability, and overall cost savings.
About MirrorBit(TM) Technology
MirrorBit technology is Spansion's innovative Flash memory
technology that features high yields and low-cost structure compared
to traditional floating gate technology. MirrorBit is manufactured
using a non-conductive storage element and uses 40 percent fewer of
the most critical manufacturing steps than floating gate technologies,
leading to higher yields and ultimately higher densities and higher
performing products produced cost effectively. Spansion(TM) 90nm
MirrorBit technology is the foundation for a compelling high-density
Flash memory roadmap, featuring products combining the density,
performance, reliability and cost structure required for wireless and
embedded applications. In addition to the new 1 Gb GL device announced
today, Spansion is also developing a 1 Gb device based on its
MirrorBit ORNAND(TM) architecture. The first MirrorBit ORNAND product
will be designed to satisfy the data storage needs in wireless
applications.
About Spansion
Spansion, the Flash memory venture of AMD and Fujitsu, is the
largest company in the world dedicated exclusively to developing,
designing, and manufacturing Flash memory products. In fiscal 2004,
Spansion's total net sales were approximately $2.3 billion. The
company offers the broadest NOR Flash memory portfolio in the
industry, for use in the wireless, automotive, networking,
telecommunications and consumer electronics markets. The company's
portfolio is supported by a worldwide network of advanced
manufacturing facilities, system-level expertise and dedicated design
support, and an unwavering commitment to our customers' success.
Information about Spansion Flash memory solutions is available at
http://www.spansion.com.
Cautionary Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements concerning that
are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that
the forward-looking statements in this release involve risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from the company's current expectations. Risks that the company
considers to be the important factors that could cause actual results
to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking
statements include the possibility that demand for the company's Flash
memory products will be lower than currently expected; that OEMs will
increasingly choose NAND-based Flash memory products over NOR-based
Flash memory products for their applications; that customer acceptance
of MirrorBit technology will not continue to increase; that
competitors may introduce new memory technologies that may make the
company's Flash memory products uncompetitive or obsolete; that the
company may not achieve its current product and technology
introduction or implementation schedules; and that the company will
not be able to raise sufficient capital to enable it to establish
leading-edge capacity to meet product demand and maintain market
share. We urge investors to review in detail the risks and
uncertainties in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission
filings, including but not limited to the company's Registration
Statement on Form S-1 and AMD's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended June 26, 2005.
Spansion, the Spansion logo, MirrorBit, ORNAND and combinations
thereof, are trademarks of Spansion LLC. AMD is a trademark of
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Other names used are for informational
purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Contact:
Spansion LLC
Joany Draeger, 408-749-5135
Email Contact
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