embedded wireless devices inc Integrates Flash Memory Cores from Programmable Silicon Solutions (PSS)

Embedded Wireless taps flash cores for comms

Embedded Wireless taps flash cores for comms
By Michael Santarini, EE Times
February 20, 2001 (10:37 a.m. EST)
URL: http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20010220S0020

Embedded Wireless Devices Inc. (EWD) has licensed flash memory intellectual-property cores from Programmable Silicon Solutions Inc. (San Jose, Calif.). The Pleasanton, Calif., company said it will integrate the memory cores into its e8000 Valhalla family of product-on-chip silicon solutions for wireless multipoint, multiprotocol communication devices.

EWD said that with the addition of integrated flash memory, its product-on-chip thrust hopes to drive down mass-production costs-and reduce printed-circuit board sizes-for high-volume wireless products such as home networking gear, wireless PBXes, PDAs, voice-over-Internet Protocol devices, MP3 players/recorders and Internet appliances.

The high-speed memory cores feature a sub-20-nanosecond access time, which the company said enables the EWD e8000 Valhalla devices to perform multiprotocol processing for seamless wireless connectivity using multiple communication standards.

EWD said it will initially offer a 1-Mbit flash memory that will be used for on-chip program and data storage. As part of its road map to 0.18 micron and beyond, EWD will first implement the cores in a 0.25-micron CMOS process manufactured at United Microelectronics Corp.

For more information, visit www.embeddedwireless.net and www.ps2tech.com.

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The ARM-based L72XX system-on-chip family from LinkUp Systems Corp. (Santa Clara, Calif.) will power Askey Computer's low-cost Microsoft Windows CE 3.0-based Pocket PCs.

As the original design manufacturer, Askey said it will offer major OEMs cost-effective, timely design and manufacture of L72XX-based Pocket PCs. Askey hopes to leverage its low-cost design and manufacturing expertise and LinkUp's system-enabling L72XX system-chip to help OEMs quickly bring advanced products to market.

LinkUp Systems, an ARM partnership member, supplies the L72XX system-on-chip family, including the L7200, L7205 and L7210 devices.

The L72XX family embeds a 32-bit ARM720T processor, a split-bus unified memory architecture, memory control and a display subsystem that can control up to a 640 x 480-pixel color LCD panel, the company said.

The family also offers communication interfaces, controllers for mass-storage standards (MultiMediaCard, Secure Digital Card) and other highly integrated system peripherals-such as USB, Bluetooth compatibility and AC97 2.1-all on a single chip.

LinkUp Systems also offers system-enabling solutions such as MobileLink, a L72XX-based Windows CE Pocket PC reference kit designed to cut a customer's time-to-market and R&D risk.

Askey Computer licensed LinkUp's MobileLink platform for its PC-010 Pocket PC, allowing Askey to leverage the company's strengths in communications technology to create communication-centric Internet products such as Windows CE Pocket PC. For more information, visit www.askey.com and www.linkupsys.com.