FXI and Atmel develops microSD gaming
console for mobile phones
FXI's system-on-chip (SoC) uses Atmel's 90nm SiliconCity
flexible architecture to develop a new microSD gaming console
for mobile phones.
The FXI SoC integrates a 3-D graphics accelerator, interface
logic and ARM9 processor coupled with Flash memory. MicroSD
card-based gaming consoles can be used in virtually any
device with a microSD slot.
Atmel's 90nm SiliconCity flexible architecture is an extension
of its CAP customizable MCU products. Based on Atmel's Metal-Programmable
Cell Fabric (MPCF), flexible architecture provides up to
350K gates/mm2, comparable to the gate densities standard
cell ASICs, without the high NREs and lead times. The design
flow is identical to that of a CAP device, with the exception
that the OEM defines the processor and on-chip bus subsystems,
memories and peripherals. In case of CAP customizable MCUs,
Atmel defines the platform, leaving a metal programmable
block for customization.
According to Tom Hackenberg, Senior Analyst at IMS Research,
"Annual shipments of mobile handsets that will include
microSD card slots are expected to reach over 500 million
units by mid 2010. Add to this display enhancements, storage
increases, video compression and the proliferation of mobile
applications and you have a recipe for disruptive technologies,
as microSD does for handsets, what CDs did for computers."
Isaac van Kempen, FXI's CEO said, "Traditionally,
cell phone games have been limited to downloading games
that use the same processor engine already in the device.
MicroSD cards with FXI's die will include everything - the
graphics accelerator, interface logic and high end ARM9
processor within the same microSD that stores gaming and
other applications. It will vastly upgrade cell phone performance,
while providing consumers a console-class gaming experience."
"Atmel's SiliconCity Flexible Architecture has allowed
us to build and package this functionality in a SoC with
superior cost, power and performance advantages, but without
the expense and long lead-times of a traditional custom
ASIC. In addition, since Atmel's SiliconCity Flexible Architecture
uses a standardized CAP9 design flow, the CAP9 development
kits can be used as a game development platform. In fact,
we are distributing the CAP9 board to game publishers and
developers, so they can develop their software months before
we have the microSD card silicon," van Kempen added.
"Atmel's customizable CAP9 platform and kits for software
development and IP creation combined with the Atmel's proven
ARM-based IP and Flexible Architecture allows us to create
a custom product for a new market segment in half the time,"
commented Isaac van Kempen, CEO of FXI. "If we had
started from scratch without the CAP9 platform, we would
be looking at a year-plus development cycle. As a start-up
in fund-raising mode, the cost-savings to alternative paths
has also provided FXI with key advantages," concluded
van Kempen.
Jay Johnson, Atmel's Director of CAP marketing said, "The
Silicon City Flexible Architecture gives OEMs like FXI the
freedom to create their own unique base wafer architecture
for multiple product variations while generously reducing
customer design time, lowering the NRE and reducing risk
through design reuse. Creating a traditional ASIC for these
FXI products is too costly and time consuming. Unlike an
ASIC, game developers for the FXI cards will have a development
platform that will be good across all cell phones with microSD
slots, without having to wait months for silicon."
"CAP to ASIC migration is the key to creating custom
developments for faster time to market," said Jay Johnson,
Marketing Director for Atmel's NA ASIC Business. "That's
the real value of SiliconCity Flexible Architecture: helping
customers create innovative market solutions faster and
more cost effectively. FXI's end product will have a disruptive
affect on the way consumers' view handheld gaming."
For more details visit www.atmel.com
