Low Pin Count Flash Memory from STMicroelectronics Stores PC BIOS Code; Flash Family Completes ST's BIOS Memory Offer.Business Editors GENEVA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 3, 2002 STMicroelectronics (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : STM (Scanning Tunneling Microscope) A microscope that can image down to the atomic level. An STM uses a piezoelectric tube with a tiny sharp tip at the end that is moved within nanometers of the object being sampled. ) has introduced a family of Flash memories targeted at the industry standard LPC (language) LPC - A variant of C designed ca 1988 to program LP MUDs. (Low Pin Count) bus interface used in certain computer motherboard architectures. The LPC family includes the 2-Mbit M50LPW LPW Lumens Per Watt LPW Local Position Warehouse 002, the 4-Mbit M50LPW040 and the 8-Mbit M50LPW080. The main application of these devices is to store system and video BIOS Video BIOS is the BIOS of a graphics card in a computer. Much the way the system BIOS provides a set of functions that are used by software programs to access the system hardware, the video BIOS provides a set of video-related functions that are used by programs to access code. This family supplements the Firmware Hub Flash memories (and ISA bus compatible Flash memories) and allows ST to offer a complete range of Flash memories for BIOS storage compatible with all the industry standard chipsets including those manufactured by AMD (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, www.amd.com) A major manufacturer of semiconductor devices including x86-compatible CPUs, embedded processors, flash memories, programmable logic devices and networking chips. , VIA, SiS, Ali and Nvidia. Giuseppe Crisenza, Vice President of the Memory Products Group at ST, said: "ST's Low Pin Count family adds to the Firmware Hub family, providing a complete Flash BIOS solution targeting all segments of BIOS applications, in line with market demands to rely on fewer broad range, non-volatile memory solution suppliers." The LPC family devices are manufactured using ST's 0.18(mu)m technology and operate from a 3.0-3.6V supply for program, erase and read operations. An optional 12V supply is available to speed up programming. The maximum active current is 20mA and the maximum standby current 100(mu)A. The devices have a program/erase controller with an embedded byte program/erase algorithm and a program/erase suspend feature that allows a program or erase operation to be suspended to allow read operations in other blocks. A quadruple byte programming option is available to speed up programming in a manufacturing environment. The typical programming time is 10(mu)s per byte and the typical block erase time 750ms for a 64Kbyte block. The LPC devices feature both hardware and software block protection that are provided by write protect pins and lock registers which define the individual block protection status. All the functions are available via the LPC interface. An optional address/address multiplexed protocol allows faster programming on the customer's production line. The devices are guaranteed for a minimum of 20 years data retention and are available in a 32-pin PLCC (Plastic Leaded Chip Carrier) A plastic, square, surface mount chip package that contains leads on all four sides. The leads (pins) extend down and back under and into tiny indentations in the housing. See chip package. package. About STMicroelectronics STMicroelectronics, the world's third largest semiconductor company, is a global leader in developing and delivering semiconductor solutions across the spectrum of microelectronics applications. An unrivalled combination of silicon and system expertise, manufacturing strength, Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio and strategic partners positions the Company at the forefront of System-on-Chip (SoC) technology and its products play a key role in enabling today's convergence markets. The Company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) World's largest marketplace for securities. The exchange began as an informal meeting of 24 men in 1792 on what is now Wall Street in New York City. , on Euronext Paris and on the Milan Stock Exchange Milan Stock Exchange The largest regional stock exchange in Italy, facilitating more than 90% of the country's trading volume. . In 2001, the Company's net revenues were $6.36 billion and net earnings were $257.1 million. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. |
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