Multichip package melds NOR, SRAM

Multichip package melds NOR, SRAM
Sunnyvale, Calif. - Silicon Storage Technology Inc.'s newest multichip package (MCP) memory product combines 32- to 64-Mbit NOR flash with pseudo SRAM (PSRAM) chips ranging from 4 to 32 Mbits. The latest additions to SST's ComboMemory line, Series 32 is designed for cellular handsets, PDAs, wireless modems and set-top boxes.

The company is sampling the MCPs with 32 Mbits of flash and 4 or 8 Mbits of PSRAM. An MCP with 32 Mbits of flash and 16 Mbits of PSRAM is also sampling. ComboMemory of 64 Mbits of flash and PSRAM from 8 to 32 Mbits is slated to sample in the first quarter of 2004.

The MCP with 64 Mbits of flash will follow the introduction later this year of the company's first discrete flash chip in that density, said Paul Lui, vice president of special products at SST. Lui said the ComboMemory line is using PSRAM for the first time to achieve lower cost at higher densities. The MCPs also offer the option of either 70- or 90-nanosecond access time for both flash and PSRAM.

The family comes in a 20 percent smaller 63-ball TFBGA package measuring 8 x 10 x 1.2 mm, or a 62-ball LFBGA measuring 8 x 10 x 1.4 mm.

SST will use its Multi-Purpose Flash die in the initial production of the Series 32 MCPs, but later in the quarter they will be produced with the company's Multi-Purpose Flash Plus units.

The flash has a sector size of 2,000 words. Power consumption is 15 milliamps typical for active current and 5 microamps typical for flash or PSRAM read and standby current.

The new family has a chip erase time of 40 ms during customer manufacturing operations, which Lui said is 1,000 times faster than conventional MCPs. Erase allows customers to reprogram a unit with their software and firmware.

SST's 32-Mbit flash with 8-Mbit PSRAM is sampling at $8 in lots of 10,000, and the 32-Mbit flash with 4-Mbit PSRAM is $7 in the same quantities.

Call (408) 735-9110
www.sst.com