Tokyo, Sept. 6, 2004 - Toshiba Corporation, NEC Electronics Corporation, and Fujitsu Limited today announced that they have agreed on standard interface specifications for Pseudo Static Random Access Memory (PSRAM) (*1) with burst mode. Based on the specifications, known as COSMORAM (Common Specifications for Mobile RAM) Rev. 3, each of the three companies will independently begin production and sales of PSRAM devices, with products scheduled to be available from each company starting March 2005.
The three companies created common specifications in September 1998 for stacked multi-chip packages (MCPs), which include both Flash memory and SRAM. The companies jointly announced common interface specifications for page mode PSRAM and stacked MCPs in March 2002, and for burst mode PSRAM and stacked MCPs in February 2003. As a result of these agreements the three companies share interface specification compatibility for PSRAM featuring high-speeds and for which higher densities can be easily achieved, thereby enabling customers to efficiently use the companies' PSRAMs.
Building on these past agreements, the companies have now standardized additional specifications for burst mode PSRAM that ensure continued compatibility with existing products while enabling higher performance and convenience, making COSMORAM Rev.3 ideal for future mobiles phones and PDAs which require greater high-speed processing of information.
Customers can continue to standardize design formats hereafter as with past COSMORAM specifications for PSRAM, eliminating the need to customize product designs. The advantage will help shorten the design cycle and dramatically improve design efficiency for customers. In addition, since the three companies are using common specifications, they can also act as alternative sources for each other, helping to ensure a stable market supply of PSRAMS.
Key additional COSMORAM specifications that were standardized are as follows:
- Expansion of data bus width
- Multiplexing of address data
- Truth Table (*2)
- Mode Register (*3) option added
- Choice of output driver size
- Mode Register read-out function
Glossary
*1: Pseudo SRAM (PSRAM):
A RAM device that achieves high density and inexpensive cost structure,by using a DRAM cell array. The interface of PSRAMs is basically compatible to Low Power asynchronous SRAMs, enabling customers to design systems with ease. PSRAM is an ideal memory solution as an alternative to
SRAM for mobile handsets which are becoming increasingly feature-rich at a rapid pace, thereby requiring higher memory density and higher performance.
*2: Truth Table:
A table defining how a device's operations mode correlates to the external signals used to set that mode.
*3: Mode Register:
An internal register that stores the control code used to govern the device's operating mode, set externally.
About Toshiba Corporation
Toshiba Corporation is a leader in the development and manufacture of electronic devices and components, information and communication systems, consumer products and power systems. The company's ability to integrate wide-ranging capabilities, from hardware to software and innovative services, assure its position as an innovator in diverse fields and many businesses. In semiconductors, Toshiba continues to promote its leadership in the fast growing system-on-chip market and to build on its world-class position in NAND flash memories, analog devices and discrete devices. Toshiba has approximately 161,000 employees worldwide and annual sales of over US$50 billion. Visit Toshiba's website at www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm.
About NEC Electronics
NEC Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723) specializes in semiconductor products encompassing advanced technology solutions for the high-end computing and broadband networking markets, system solutions for the mobile handsets, PC peripherals, automotive and digital consumer markets, and platform solutions for a wide range of customer applications. NEC Electronics Corporation has 26 subsidiaries worldwide including NEC Electronics America, Inc. (www.necelam.com) and NEC Electronics (Europe) GmbH (www.ee.nec.de). For additional information about NEC Electronics worldwide, visit www.necel.com.
About Fujitsu
Fujitsu is a leading provider of customer-focused IT and communications solutions for the global marketplace. Pace-setting technologies, highly reliable computing and communications platforms, and a worldwide corps of systems and services experts uniquely position Fujitsu to deliver comprehensive solutions that open up infinite possibilities for its customers' success. Headquartered in Tokyo, Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.7 trillion yen (US$45 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004. For more information, please see: http://www.fujitsu.com/.
