NEC aims 256Mbit multilevel cell flash at mobile apps

By Crista Souza, EBN
iApplianceWeb
(01/08/03, 10:10:36 PM EDT)

Tokyo, Japan -- NEC Electronics Corp. has begun sampling availability of two 256-Mbit NOR flash memory parts the company has developed using multilevel-cell (MLC) technology for use in a variety of mobile phone and iappliance applications.

The uPD29F256115 and uPD29F25-6415 employ a read-circuit design to achieve fast read-access speeds, surmounting one of the shortcomings of MLC technology compared with non-MLC. The read-access speed of 85ns and page-read access speed of 25ns are "exceptionally fast" for MLC devices, according to NEC.

Additionally, the uPD29F256115 uses a 32-bit data bus to provide higher performance for mobile applications.

"The growing popularity of multifunction mobile products, such as Internet-enabled mobile phones, has created a demand for flash memory with larger capacities," said Masazumi Ikebe, general manager of the System Memory Division, 3rd Business Development Operations Unit, at NEC, Kawasaki, Japan.

Just as important, Ikebe added, is the ability to handle large amounts of data quickly and efficiently, and at a price point suitable for mass-market consumer applications.

NEC joins a growing list of flash players in the pursuit of MLC technology as a way to increase bit density of NOR devices without increasing silicon cost.

Current suppliers include Advanced Micro Devices, Fujitsu, Intel, and Micron Technology. Silicon Storage Technology is working on an MLC product line that is expected to debut this year, while Toshiba is pursuing MLC technology using higher-density NAND flash.

NEC's new devices are manufactured in 0.15-micron process technology and will be offered in fine-pitch BGAs and stacked multichip packages that combine flash with SRAM or other RAM optimized for mobile applications.

Production is scheduled for the first half of this year. Sample pricing in the United States is $40.

For more information go to www.nec.com.

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