Toshiba Launches First Portable PC Host-Controller LSI for SD Memory Card and SmartMedia; Supporting Integration of Dedicated Portable Personal Computer Slots

Business Wire, Oct 2, 2000

Business Editors and High-Tech Writers

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 2, 2000

Toshiba America Electronic Components Inc. (TAEC) with its parent company Toshiba Corp. (Toshiba) Monday announced that it has developed the first host-controller LSI that supports integration of dedicated SD memory card and SmartMedia(TM) slots in portable personal computers.

The new LSI opens the way to greatly increase applications of two of the most popular and widely used memory cards in the fastest growing segment of the portable computer market.

The new LSI, designated TC6371AF, provides an interface between the SD memory card and SmartMedia with the 32-bit PCI system bus found in today's portable computers. It adds to its versatility with support for CLKRUN and the PCI Power Management Specification, which conforms to the Power Management Event and Advanced Configuration and Power Interface.

Memory cards are stepping into the limelight as essential removable storage devices for a wide range of digital products. The SD memory card is the latest innovation in this increasingly important product area, and offers the highest degree of data security and copyright protection yet achieved.

The SD memory card supports the SDMI-compliant Content Protection for Recordable Media (CPRM) developed by IBM Corp., Intel Corp., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. and Toshiba is fully compliant with the SD Audio format specified by the SD Association(a) which guarantees compatibility with similarly compliant audio players.

SmartMedia has emerged as a cost-efficient, solid-state storage medium found in a wide variety of portable digital device applications, particularly digital still cameras. Constant upgrades in capacity assure that SmartMedia is keeping up with the pace of product advances and will continue to promote its popularity as a versatile, easy-to-handle, easy-to-use storage device.

Toshiba is responsible for developing the underlying flash memory technology used in both of these memory card mediums and has led the way in promoting their use and positioning them as industry standards.

Development of the new first host-controller LSI further extends the company's support and commitment for the memory cards and will enhance their use as bridge media that can be used both in portable personal computers and other digital products.

Product Specifications:

    Process                 0.35(mu)m CMOS process

    Number of Gates         Approximately 80k gates

    Package                 QFP 128-pin, 0.4mm pitch

    Power Consumption       -- PCI Power Management Specification
                               Revision 1.1

                            -- Supports PME, CLKRUN (Mobile PC/PCI),
                               ACPI and Remote Wake Up function

                            -- PCI CLOCKRUN applicable

                            -- SUSPEND applicable

    PCI Applicable          -- PCI interrupt

                            -- Plug and play

    Operating Clock         PCI clock (Max. 33MHz)

    SD Memory Card
     Controller             -- SD Memory Card Physical Layer
                               Specification Version 1.0
                            -- Upward compatible with MultiMedia Card
                            -- Applicable for 3.3 V SD Memory Card
                            -- Multi-block write/read applicable

    SmartMedia Controller   -- SmartMedia Electrical Specification
                               Version 1.20
                            -- SmartMedia Physical Format Specification
                               Version 1.20
                            -- Applicable for 3.3V and 5V SmartMedia

Availability

Sampling of the new first host-controller LSI is currently available with mass production commencing at the end of this year.

About TAEC

TAEC, recognized as one of the largest suppliers of semiconductor, electronic component and storage solutions, is the North American engineering, manufacturing, marketing and sales arm of Japan's Toshiba Semiconductor Co. and Toshiba Display Devices and Components Co.

The Toshiba Semiconductor Co. is one of the world's leading manufacturers and suppliers of semiconductor products including LSIs, microprocessors and controllers, and advanced memory products, in addition to discrete and analog peripheral components.

TAEC is also responsible for sales and marketing of other major electronic components including liquid components including liquid crystal displays, color display and picture tubes, lithium-ion and other secondary batteries. For additional information, visit TAEC's Web site at www.toshiba.com/taec.> About Toshiba Corp.

Toshiba Corp. is a leader in information and communications systems, electronic components, consumer products and power systems. The company's integration of these wide-ranging capabilities assures its position as a leading company in semiconductor, LCD and other electronic devices. Toshiba has 191,000 employees worldwide and annual sales of more than $50 billion.