South Korean electronics companies Hynix Semiconductor,
LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics and U.S. based digital
consumer semiconductor device vendor Silicon Image have
formed a industry consortium to popularize their new technology
called Serial Port Memory Technology (SPMT) for serial DRAM
interface in the portable electronics systems. This group
aims to replace DRAMs with parallel data interface with
low pin serial interface chips, especially in cell phones.
SPMT said it would initially target the mobile phone market.
SPMT consortium lists in its website the below key advantages
of SPMT serial interface over parallel interface in mobile
phones and other such portable convergence devices.
1. Increased bandwidth beyond 12 GByte per second.
2. Power consumption of approximately 50% less at any given
speed.
3. Pin savings of approximately 60% to 80%, which simplifies
design and reduces per-unit cost.
There is also interesting comparison-example which says,
"The comparison between parallel and serial interfaces
can be thought of as a highway with normal (parallel) and
carpool (serial) lanes. The carpool lane has more occupants
(data) per car and moves at a greater speed (bandwidth)
while the other lanes (parallel) have more lanes but fewer
occupants (data) and move much slower (bandwidth), particularly
during rush-hour."
To know how a SPMT works download the white paper available
at,
http://www.spmt.com/resources/white_paper.aspx
Comments by the executives of promoting companies:
"I am extremely pleased to have such a stellar group
of companies come together to form the SPMT Consortium to
develop and promote a new memory interface architecture
specification for the growing demands of media-rich mobile
devices," said Jim Venable, chief technology evangelist
of SPMT, LLC. "Serial Port Memory Technology will represent
a big step forward by offering mobile handset designers
the ability to expand their horizon for a new generation
of products."
"Successful solutions for mobile products need to deliver
increased functionality and features while still providing
extended battery life," said JB Kim, senior vice president
of memory products at Hynix Semiconductor. "SPMT is
uniquely positioned to deliver on the requirements of leading-edge
mobile devices and we are proud to be part of the team that
will define the next-generation memory interface for this
growing market."
"As mobile handset devices evolve we are going to
see a growing demand for media-rich applications supported
by highly advanced memory devices," said Myung Ryu
of the development procurement team at LG Electronics. "Participating
as a promoter in the SPMT Consortium helps us to ensure
that the right technology is available to the industry at
the right time for future product offerings."
"At Samsung, we are dedicated to developing cutting-edge
technologies and advanced processes to create new products
that are of slim and simple design," said Seijin Kim,
vice president of memory products at Samsung Electronics.
"We are pleased to work with the SPMT Consortium."
"We are looking forward to contributing our high-speed
serial technology and expertise to the SPMT specification,"
said Eric Almgren, vice president of business development
and intellectual property licensing at Silicon Image, Inc.
"As new applications like high-definition 1080p video
become a reality in the mobile handset market, advanced
memory technology will be required to make such features
a reality and SPMT is well positioned to lead that market
segment."
