Tokyo, June 27, 2000: 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. Housed in a 48-pin FBGA package to save space
on the board, they feature refresh-free operation that makes it
easy to upgrade the memory without making major changes in
system architecture.
"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 4,000 yen 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.
Corporate Information
Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702) is a leading provider of Internet-
based information technology solutions for the global
marketplace. Comprising over 500 group companies and affiliates
worldwide -- including ICL, Amdahl and DMR Consulting -- it had
consolidated revenues of 5.26 trillion yen ($49.6 billion) in the
fiscal year ended March 31, 2000. Fujitsu's pace-setting
technologies, world-class computing and telecommunications
platforms, and global corps of over 60,000 systems and services
experts make it uniquely positioned to unleash the infinite
possibilities of the Internet to help its customers succeed.
Altogether, the Fujitsu Group has 188,000 employees and
operations in over 100 countries.
Internet: http://www.fujitsu.com
Fujitsu Microelectronics, Inc. (FMI) designs, markets and
manufactures a comprehensive portfolio of advanced
semiconductor and electronic devices. These products are
carefully defined and co-developed with worldwide industry
leaders to assure that they fulfill requirements for significant
new applications in computing, communications, networking,
convergence designs and multimedia. For product information,
call 1-800-866-8608 or visit the web site at
http://www.fujitsumicro.com.
*FCRAM is a trademark of Fujitsu Limited in Japan. All other company/product names mentioned may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders and are used for identification purpose only.