[Updated May 9, 2005] — NOR Flash specialist Spansion will provide Linux drivers and filesystem software for low-cost, high-density Flash chips targeting mobile devices and reaching production in late 2004. The 1.8-volt WS-N Flash family will use a density-doubling technology, and will be priced at $5.75-$14 for configurations between 8MB and 32MB (in 10K quantities).

Spansion was formed by the integration of AMD and Fujitsu memory operations in 2003. Spansion products are distributed and marketed by AMD in the United States.

The new mobile device chips will use “MirrorBit” technology, according to Spansion, to double storage density, storing two pieces of information in a single memory cell. The technology appears similar to MLC (multi-level cell) NAND technology, such as that used by M-Systems in its new low-cost mobile storage device, the mDiskOnChip G3. However, Spansion calls MirrorBit “fundamentally different and more advanced.” Spansion offers several whitepapers explaining the technology and its advantages.

MirrorBit array layout
(Click to enlarge)

One advantage of MirrorBit over MLC technology, according to Spansion, is ease of manufacturing and inherent yield.

Spansion says MirrorBit is easier to manufacture, with inherently higher yields
(Click to enlarge)

Spansion claims sustained “throughput” of 150MB/sec for its new chips, with maximum write speeds of 2.5MB/sec. The company says it will also deploy its 110-nanometer MirrorBit technology in a 3.0-volt NOR device.

The first generation MirrorBit technology shipped over 2 billion megabits during the first year of production, Spansion says.

Availability

The WS-N product family is currently sampling, in single-die and multi-chip package (MCP) configurations. Spansion expects third-quarter production of the 32MB product, fourth-quarter production of the 16MB product, and first-quarter 2005 production for the 8MB product. The 32MB, 16MB, and 8MB products are priced at $14.00, $9.00 and $5.75 each, respectively, in quantities of 10,000.

 
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