SoC-RAM is ideal for companies that develop systems-on-a-chip (SoC) in very deep sub-micron processes for applications that include graphics and imaging, high-speed networking, wireless and consumer products.

As the highest density embedded memory available, SoC-RAM can help SoC developers reduce memory area up to 50-percent, thereby more than doubling the amount of memory they can embed onto a chip, and can shorten the design of embedded memory to days. Additionally, the SoC-RAM compiler tool and an innovative wide databus DRAM architecture give designers the power to tailor SoC-RAM macrocells to their unique memory requirements and to optimize for area, speed and power.

The SoC-RAM SL product is designed for flexible, simple and rapid design of memory blocks between 2Mbits and 16Mbits and allows customers to cost-effectively embed multi-megabits of memory. It can be configured with a standard SRAM interface or optionally with a traditional DRAM interface called SNAP. Additionally, for customers who wish to use SoC-RAM in a prototype application or test it with a memory tester, SoC-RAM instances can be configured with an SDRAM (synchronous DRAM) or SGRAM (synchronous graphics DRAM) interface. For very high-speed applications, the product features user-determined page size and ultra fast page mode.

SoC-RAM is an attractive memory option for customers with a need for very large on-chip memories, said Vin Ratford, Virage Logic VP marketing and business development. With the addition of this product offering to our leading memory portfolio, Virage Logic can provide a spectrum of SRAM and DRAM memory options to our customers. With the inclusion of this product, a single embedded memory block can now be as large as 16Mbits. These memories can be optimized for high speeds and low power consumption in addition to providing a significant area advantage.

Our experience with the ATMOS SoC-RAM product has been good, and the technology is silicon-proven in our 0.18 micron process, said Ed Chen, director of high-density memory marketing at TSMC. As system-on-chip design methodologies evolve, we anticipate that demand for larger, high-performance memories will significantly increase. This collaboration by two leading memory IP providers offers designers advanced embedded memory that is fully compatible with the same leading processes they now use for CMOS designs.

SoC-RAM and the web-based SoC-RAM compiler are leading-edge embedded DRAM technologies that complement the Virage Logic offering with a flexible high-density option, agreed Al Hawtin, VP marketing and sales at ATMOS Corporation. With technology leadership in SRAM and the power of the Virage Logic sales force to accelerate our penetration, we expect rapid sales growth from the SoC-RAM portfolio.

The reference sales relationship is the latest joint activity between the companies. In July 2001, ATMOS announced its current round of financing led by Virage Logic. ATMOS has also joined the Virage Logic Memory Alliance Program. The program includes more than 30 companies that are working to enable the growth of the embedded memory market.

SOURCE: COMPANY PRESS RELEASE