Fujitsu says Rambus bid remains on the burner

Electronic News, April 3, 1995 by Anthony Cataldo

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIF. - Contradicting reports, Fujitsu Microelectronics last week said it has no intentions of dropping its license with high-speed DRAM interface developer Rambus, even though it has not introduced a Rambus-based DRAM or logic application-specific IC in the three years it has held the technology.

In 1992 Fujitsu. along with NEC and Toshiba, was one of the first major Japanese memory companies to support the Rambus technology, which allows an ordinary DRAM to pump out 500Mbytes/sec. using a special bus interface. So far, Toshiba and NEC have introduced 4-, 18- and, in NEC's case, 16Mbit parts as well as accompanying ASICs.

But Fujitsu has yet to come out with a Rambus-based IC and has been vague about whether it will introduce a product in the near future. Fujitsu has also recently positioned itself as a strong proponent of synchronous DRAMs, a standard-architecture solution providing faster data transfer rates than standard memory devices.

Still, Fujitsu last week denied reports that it has allowed its license to fall by the wayside. "We're continuing with the technology development that is required to maintain the license and we're continuing to study the viability of the architecture in selected applications," said George Robillard, Fujitsu's director of marketing for memory products.

Some sources said Fujitsu has been hesitant to develop fringe products such as RDRAMs because of financial setbacks in recent years, causing the company to pursue devices that have more promise of high volumes.

Subodh Toprani, Rambus' VP of marketing, said a Rambus licensee must demonstrate intentions to develop and market a product in order to retain access to the technology. "What they have told us is that they have intentions of getting back into product development. They have not shown any interest in letting their license lapse."

Mr. Toprani said Fujitsu developed a 4Mbit RDRAM in 1993 but then scuttled the marketing drive because the company was experiencing "some ups and downs." However, he said Fujitsu should introduce a 16Mbit RDRAM sometime in 1996.

Rambus claims to have 15 active licensees - include Samsung, Oki, LG Semicon (formerly Goldstar), LSI Logic, Hitachi and Cirrus Logic - that are in the process of taping out 8- and 16Mbit DRAMs, producing ASICs or develophig off-the-shelf products.