Prior to the introduction of the LatticeECP and LatticeEC families, FPGA configuration at power-up was typically handled by dedicated boot PROMs, which could account for more than one-third of the total FPGA solution cost. To address this issue, Lattice introduced the LatticeECP and LatticeEC FPGAs with support for industry-standard Serial Flash, such as the NexFlash spiFlash family. Using spiFlash memories for FPGA configuration helps further reduce costs to effectively compete in price-sensitive volume FPGA applications.
"As the low-cost and high-performance benefits of the LatticeECP and LatticeEC FPGAs continue to create excitement among our customers, we remain focused on helping customers realize the most-efficient 'total FPGA' solution," said Stan Kopec, Lattice vice president of corporate marketing. "The NexFlash spiFlash family, with its industry-compatible interface, broad density range, and low-cost SOIC packaging, is a good match for our FPGAs."
"Our spiFlash family is a perfect complement to LatticeECP and LatticeEC FPGAs," said Robin Jigour, vice president of marketing at NexFlash. "With the spiFlash family fully qualified, we look forward to supporting Lattice customers with their Serial Flash memory needs."
Range of Densities, Space Saving Packages
SpiFlash memories interface with the LatticeECP and LatticeEC FPGAs through the four-pin SPI interface, which can be clocked at frequencies up to 50MHz. The spiFlash family offers a broad range of densities, from one to 32 megabits (M-bits), exceeding the configuration requirements of the FPGAs. Additional memory can be used for cascading multiple FPGAs or storing user data, such as look-up tables, parameters, text, waveforms, and voice prompts, through the SPI interface.
NexFlash offers densities up to 16M-bits in space-saving eight-pin SOIC packages, allowing an easy migration path across densities and using less than 25 percent of the space required for Parallel Flash. All spiFlash products meet industrial-temperature operation, are available in Green "RoHS"-compliant packages and are supported by popular third-party PROM programmers. A spiFlash memory-to-LatticeECP/EC FPGA cross-reference guide is available at http://www.nexflash.com/lattice-ecp_ec.htm.
Expanding Market for Serial Flash
The Serial Flash memory market is experiencing dramatic growth, with a wide range of applications quickly converting from Parallel to the more pin- and space-efficient Serial Flash technology. Densities in Serial Flash memories, such as members of the NexFlash spiFlash line, have climbed from one M-bit up to 32M-bit. At the same time, the market for such memories is rapidly expanding. According to leading industry analyst Web-Feet, revenues for Serial Flash memories will grow from $275 million in 2004 to $480 million this year, then exceed $1 billion in 2007.
About NexFlash
NexFlash Technologies, Inc. is a developer and provider of Serial Flash Memory products for today's emerging electronic applications. The company's spiFlash memories are tailored for serial code storage applications such as DVD/CD drives, hard disk drives, wireless LANs, network cards, DSL modems, printers, set-top boxes, FPGAs and more. NexFlash was founded in October 1998 and is a partially owned subsidiary of Winbond Electronics Corp. NexFlash holds numerous patents on its technology and has established strategic alliances with Sharp Corporation and Winbond Electronics. For more information please visit the NexFlash Website at www.nexflash.com.
About Lattice Semiconductor
Lattice Semiconductor Corporation provides the industry's broadest range of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) and Programmable Logic Devices (PLD), including Field Programmable System Chips (FPSC), Complex Programmable Logic Devices (CPLD), Programmable Mixed-Signal Products (ispPAC(R)) and Programmable Digital Interconnect Devices (ispGDX(R)). Lattice also offers industry-leading SERDES products. Lattice is "Bringing the Best Together" with comprehensive solutions for system design, including an unequaled portfolio of non-volatile programmable devices that deliver instant-on operation, security and "single chip solution" space savings. For more information about Lattice Semiconductor Corporation, visit www.latticesemi.com.
NexFlash and spiFlash are trademarks of NexFlash Technologies, Inc. Lattice Semiconductor Corp., LatticeECP and LatticeEC are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Lattice Semiconductor Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. All other product names that appear in this material are for identification purposes only and are acknowledged to be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Contact:
NexFlash Technologies, Inc. Robin Jigour, 408-907-3638 (Marketing) Email Contact or CommonGround Communications (for NexFlash) Jerry Steach, 415-222-9996 (Editorial) Email Contact or Lattice Semiconductor Corp. Stan Kopec, 503-268-8000 (Marketing) Email Contact Brian Kiernan, 503-268-8739 (Editorial) Email Contact