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May 2008

MCU Memory: A Flashy Trend?

Michell Prunty's picture
published by Michell Prunty on Tue, 2008-05-27 17:22

Even the microcontroller (MCU) market is expanding the use of Flash memory.  The ubiquitous MCU populates end-market products from automobiles to Smart Cards.  The broad applications base and wide range of embedded memory and technology offerings contribute to its steady unit and revenue growth.  Although there is severe pricing pressure on average selling prices, revenue grew 11 percent in 2007 and unit shipments increased by 19 percent.

IC Cards, multipurpose (industrial control and other), automotive and consumer accounted for 90 percent of the units and generated 87 percent of the revenue.  Automotive was the revenue leader with 36 percent and 16 percent of the units.  Clearly, IC cards are quite price sensitive as they accounted for 37 percent of the units and just 14 percent of the revenue.

The 16-bit and 32-bit+ MCU markets have grown large enough that these markets are the driving force for total MCU growth.  These are the key products in high-end consumer products, automotive and industrial control.  Consequently, developments in these markets have a major impact on the MCU market.

MCU Memory: A Flashy Trend?

Phoenix, Arizona May 27, 2008 - Even the microcontroller (MCU) market is expanding the use of Flash memory. The ubiquitous MCU populates end-market products from automobiles to Smart Cards. The broad applications base and wide range of embedded memory and technology offerings contribute to its steady unit and revenue growth. Although there is severe pricing pressure on average selling prices, revenue grew 11 percent in 2007 and unit shipments increased by 19 percent.

DDR3 Interface Moves Closer

Phoenix, Arizona May 12, 2008 - Semico examines the strategic issues impacting the beleaguered DRAM market. DRAM vendors are announcing intentions to increase prices, except for the biggest vendor. DDR2 is still the highest volume product. New memory capacity is coming on line. Revenue is forecast to decline 20 percent in 2008. Units will grow by 9 percent and bit shipments will increase by more than 50 percent. But the really hot issue to end markets and the memory market is when will DDR3 move into volume production? Semico separates hype from reality in this report.

SMIC Realigns Their Memory Production

Michell Prunty's picture
published by Michell Prunty on Mon, 2008-05-05 12:08

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC) recently announced that the company ceases the production of DRAM at the end of April due to falling DRAM prices. SMIC is reportedly switching production from DRAM to Spansion’s MirrorBit NOR flash memory production and has informed chip-making equipment suppliers and customers of its new direction. SMIC had previously contracted to make DRAM for Elpida and Qimonda, with DRAM production accounted for 23.6% of SMICs revenue the fourth quarter of 2007.

 

SMIC had previously shifted their NVM effort from Saifun to Spansion late in 2007 and has signed a preliminary memorandum of understanding with Spansion that would allow SMIC to enter selected segments of the flash memory market with a license to manufacture and sell 90nm and 65nm Spansion MirrorBit Quad products into the China market. 

Semico Spin

SMIC represents a small percentage of the overall memory production however Semico believes that SMICs activities are worth examination for two critical points. 

Apple and P.A. Semi... Where Will the Chips Fall

Michell Prunty's picture
published by Michell Prunty on Fri, 2008-05-02 13:47

On April 23, 2008 it was learned that Apple will acquire P.A. Semiconductor for $278 million. This has left a great many people wondering what this is all about.

P.A. Semiconductor is a small startup company. The company licensed the PowerPC architecture from IBM. Under this license P.A. Semi is able to develop independently its own PowerPC cores. The first product under this license is a dual core processor, PWRficient PA6T-1682M, running at 2GHz. It is a 64-bit super scalar design manufactured on an advanced 65nm process. According to P.A. Semi, the entire compute platform is integrated onto a single chip. The company claims that it can achieve a typical power consumption of 5 to 13 Watts.

The target markets for PA6T are high end networking and communications. Production began near the end of 2007. P.A. Semi apparently did a good job on design wins, especially with the DoD. There are news reports that the DoD has concerns over Apple’s acquisition of P.A. Semi.

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