Smooth Migration from Legacy Parallel Memory Subsystems to High-Performance Serial Memory for Mobile and Consumer Electronics Devices
SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- (BUSINESS WIRE) --
SPMT, LLC, the entity responsible for administering the SPMT Consortium and licensing the SPMTTM (Serial Port Memory Technology) specification, today announced the availability of the SPMT specification with SerialSwitchTM technology, the first industry standard solution that combines the low power of existing parallel memories with the high-performance capabilities of SPMT serial DRAM technology. Developed by the SPMT Consortium, SerialSwitch technology delivers four times the bandwidth pin-for-pin at half the power of existing memory solutions, and offers smooth, low-cost migration from parallel to serial memories.
"The convergence of mobile and consumer electronics calls for a new approach to mobile memory and Serial Port Memory Technology is well positioned to drive new capabilities for this market," said Mike Howard, senior analyst, DRAM, iSuppli Corporation. "The Consortium has gone to great lengths to make the adoption of its technology as simple, seamless, and economical as possible. This is a technology I am going to keep a close eye on."
SPMT-enabled memory with SerialSwitch technology offers low power during power-down and low-bandwidth operations, but can switch to high-performance SPMT serial mode, boosting performance from 1.6 GB/s in parallel mode to 6.4 GB/s in serial mode. The technology is optimized for mobile and consumer electronics applications with high-bandwidth requirements like HD video, 3D action gaming, mobile projection, and more.
"Serial Port Memory Technology with SerialSwitch technology is truly a game-changer," said Jim Venable president of SPMT, LLC. "The technology now offers the best of both worlds between the low-bandwidth power efficiency of a parallel memory system and the boost of extreme bandwidth for demanding applications in an SPMT-based system."
Key characteristics of SPMT memory with SerialSwitch technology:
- Addresses customer low power/latency requirements
- Low latency exit from power down states
- Low latency across all bandwidths
- Parallel DRAM mode hides PLL startup latency
- Plug-in replacement for LPDDR2
- Compatible with all LPDDR2 packages
- Integrates with existing memory cores
Switching between LPDDR2 and SPMT mode
SPMT-enabled memory with SerialSwitch technology follows the same initialization as LPDDR2 for boot, configuration and timings. The switch to SPMT mode happens automatically once bandwidth requirements are reached, and is switched back to LPDDR2 during idle, low bandwidth, and during power down.
Smooth migration from LPDDR2 design to SPMT-enabled memory
There are many advantages for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to migrate from an existing LPDDR2 to an SPMT-based design, and Serial Port Memory Technology offers a low risk solution that provides a smooth migration path. The memory controller architecture and state machine are largely the same for SPMT memory and LPDDR2, and the OEM can source LPDDR2 or SPMT parts for new SoC designs dependent on product requirements, memory availability, and cost.
- Higher performance targets:
SPMT memory provides four times higher bandwidth per pin than LPDDR2
- No board layout constraints:
No additional signal pins for x8/x16 SPMT memory
- Power targets:
Serial Port Memory Technology requires half the power as LPDDR2 for a given bandwidth
Benefits to the system
- Low startup latency of LPDDR2
- Low power consumption in low bandwidth situations
Equivalent to LPDDR2
- Low pin count
Pin count equivalent to x16 LPDDR2 (including power/ground)
- High performance SPMT-I/O mode
Two x32 LPDDR2 devices can be replaced with one SPMT memory device using half of the data pins
The SPMT Consortium welcomes inquiries from companies and organizations interested in joining the group. For more information about Serial Port Memory Technology, the benefits of SPMT membership, information about membership fees as well as an application to join, please visit http://www.spmt.org.
About SPMT, LLC
SPMT, LLC, founded in 2009 by leading mobile market companies, is the entity responsible for licensing the SPMT (Serial Port Memory Technology) memory interface specification. The organization and its founding members define and implement Serial Port Memory Technology for broad market adoption as an industry standard memory interface capable of delivering the bandwidth flexibility, scalability, reduced pin count and low power required by future generations of mobile devices. Consortium members include ARM; Hynix Semiconductor, Inc.; LG Electronics; Marvell; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; and Silicon Image, Inc. SPMT, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Silicon Image, Inc. For more information about Serial Port Memory Technology and the benefits of Consortium membership, visit http://www.spmt.org.
Forward-looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the features, time-to-market, cost and advantages and benefits of Serial Port Memory Technology with SerialSwitch technology, as well as the establishment of Serial Port Memory Technology as an industry standard. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risks that the anticipated features, functionality, cost, advantages and benefits and market adoption of Serial Port Memory Technology will not be realized, as well as those risks and uncertainties described from time to time in Silicon Image's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These risks and uncertainties could cause the actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Silicon Image assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
SPMT and the SPMT logo are a trademark, registered trademark or service mark of SPMT, LLC in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners in the United States and/or other countries.
CONTACT:
SPMT, LLC
Gabriele Collier, 408-616-4088
gabriele.collier@spmt.com
or
Ogilvy Public Relations for SPMT Licensing, LLC
Adrian Eyre, 415-677-2708
adrian.eyre@ogilvypr.com