Rambus flat tire?

-- EDN, 2/17/2000

With the ink barely dry on the latest DRAM write-up, the tumultuous evolution of this memory technology has just taken another twist or two (see "The slammin', jammin' DRAM scramble," EDN, Jan 20, 2000, pg 68). DRAM manufacturers Hyundai, Infineon, Micron, NEC, and Samsung are collaborating with Intel to develop a next-generation DRAM architecture targeting 2003 and later systems. Rambus' name is conspicuously absent from the participant list, further casting doubt on Intel's long-term backing of Direct Rambus DRAM (DRDRAM) technology.

Rambus is, depending on whom you talk to, either expanding or redirecting its corporate focus toward non-PC (specifically networking) and non-DRAM (specifically ASIC-to-ASIC) applications for its proprietary interconnect bus. The company has also filed what may be the first of several lawsuits, this one against Hitachi Ltd, claiming infringement of synchronous-memory patents tracing back to those Rambus submitted in 1990, the year the company was founded. Rambus seeks monetary compensation and a halt to further shipments of both Hitachi's SDRAMs and embedded microprocessors containing SDRAM controllers.

Why did Rambus first pick on Hitachi, with so many manufacturers of SDRAMs, SDRAM controllers, and SDRAM-interface processors to choose from? Probably to blame are Hitachi's aggressive promotion of rival double-data-rate SDRAM technology and slower translation of its Rambus license into DRDRAM silicon availability than that of some other first-tier DRAM suppliers. Hold onto your hats; this one will be interesting to watch.

Hitachi, www.hitachi.com/semiconductor.

Hyundai, www.hea.com.

Infineon, 1-408-777-4500, www.infineon.com.

Intel, www.intel.com.

Micron, www.micron.com.

NEC, 1-408-588-6000, www.necel.com.

Rambus, 1-650-944-8000, www.rambus.com.

Samsung, 1-408-544-4000, www.samsungsemi.com.

—by Brian Dipert