Semiconductor Insights Confirms Intel and Micron First to 50nm NAND Flash

Semiconductor Insights (SI), the world's leading technical advisor to the global microelectronics industry, today confirmed they are evaluating production ready 50nm NAND Flash from IM Flash Technologies (IMFT), the joint venture between Intel and Micron. "Our preliminary analyses of the device has confirmed a 50nm gate length in the wordline pitch," stated Geoff MacGillivary, SI's lead memory analyst. "This is the most advanced flash part we've seen to date and we are impressed that IMFT has been able to ramp up so quickly to such a small lithography process technology."

SI analyzes hundreds of memory devices a year, including the latest NAND flash offerings from all the major vendors. "Prior to the availability of IM Flash Technologies' 50nm part, Samsung's 65nm 4Gb NAND Flash led Single Level Cell (SLC) memory's density cost equation at 31.3Mb/mm2. IMFT now leads the space at 41.8Mb/mm2 and has a die size more than 30% smaller than Samsung. "The only device that exceeds IMFT's solution is Toshiba's 70nm 8Gb NAND Flash at 56.53Mb/mm2, due to its Multi Level Cell (MLC) implementation. However, this is accomplished in a die nearly 50% larger than IMFT's, which affects the total cost to manufacture", said MacGillivray. "The largest memory technology debate used to be around NOR/NAND, but this has shifted to SLC versus MLC, comparing design advantages between advanced process technologies and density. It will be interesting to see what future plans IMFT has for implementing their advanced process lithography using MLC design techniques."

Additional Information:

About IM Flash's 50nm 4Gb NAND Flash

www.semiconductor.com/resources/reports_database/view_device.asp?sinumber=15465

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About Semiconductor Insights

Semiconductor Insights (SI) is the leading technical advisor to the world's microelectronics community. SI supports its clients in asserting their intellectual property (IP) rights and developing and commercializing new technologies and products, through in-depth technical investigation of integrated circuits and electronic systems. Typical clients are major electronics and semiconductor corporations in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Europe, and North America and their representing law firms. SI has participated in virtually every major semiconductor licensing campaign since the company's inception in 1989 and clients include such hallmarks as Infineon, Intel, TSMC, and Texas Instruments.

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Contacts: Semiconductor Insights inc. Jill Perry (613) 599-6500 ext. 4444 jillp@semiconductor.com