Digital ICs/DSP: Stacked Network FCRAM Doubles Available Buffer Storage

Aug. 23, 2004

Systems employing Toshiba's Network FCRAM can double the size of their packet buffers without sacrificing valuable board real estate. The PDS-14100-00, a 16-Mword by 36-bit Network FCRAM, stacks two chips in a package via the company's patented StakPak BGA stacking technology. The FCRAMs (fast-cycle RAMs) combine high memory capacity and random-access times that rival those of high-speed SRAMs. On top of that, StakPak technology adds controlled impedance interconnections and high-speed switching-noise decoupling internal to the stack to minimize any performance losses. The PDS-14100-00 stacked 576-Mbit memory, available this quarter and in sample quantities, costs $90 each.

Staktek Holdings Inc.www.staktek.com

About the Author

Dave Bursky

Technologist

Dave Bursky, the founder of New Ideas in Communications, a publication website featuring the blog column Chipnastics – the Art and Science of Chip Design. He is also president of PRN Engineering, a technical writing and market consulting company. Prior to these organizations, he spent about a dozen years as a contributing editor to Chip Design magazine. Concurrent with Chip Design, he was also the technical editorial manager at Maxim Integrated Products, and prior to Maxim, Dave spent over 35 years working as an engineer for the U.S. Army Electronics Command and an editor with Electronic Design Magazine.