Spansion releases samples of 1-Gbit NOR
By Michael Santarini -- EDN, October 12, 2005
Memory vendor Spansion is releasing the first samples of its 1-Gbit single chip NOR memory here at MemCon (Santa Clara, CA).
Spansion's previous largest NOR was its 512-Mbit Mirrorbit GL device. The new 1-Gbit NOR, implemented in a 90-nm process and built with the company's MirrorBit architecture, targets the embedded market, which Spansion defines as everything but wireless.
In the automotive space, for example, the device will allow designers to add more functionality plus data storage to onboard systems such as GPS navigation and in-dash electronics, according to John Nation, flash marketing director for Spansion Memory Solutions. Alternatively, he said, the device will allow designers to reduce the amount of real-estate a circuit board requires for flash memory, freeing up space for other functionality.
Nation said the new device is backward compatible with previous devices in the company's mainstream GL embedded-market family back to the 2-Mbit density. The device is also package and pin-out compatible with devices back to the GL-M series, which was implemented in a 0.23-micron process.
"We offer densities to support migration within these families," Nation said. "We had one customer that targeted 2 Mbits at the beginning of their design, moved to 4 Mbits in the middle of the design, and then ended up with 128 Mbits because it took two years to complete the design."
The embedded-targeted device has an operating voltage of 3V (Vcc), which allows users to replace legacy parts in embedded systems using the traditional 3V power supply, Nation said. The device is also thermal tolerant in the range from -40 to +85°C, he added.
The 1-Gbit MirrorBit GL has a read speed of 110 nsec and a page-read speed of 25 nsec when using an eight-word page buffer.
The device is available in 56-pin TSOP and 64-ball fortified BGA packaging, with pricing starting at $18.50 (10,000).
