STMicroelectronics Introduces Low Dissipation CMOS Read/Write Channel IC Targeting Mobile Disk Drive Applications.

Business & High Tech Editors

GENEVA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 12, 2002

850Mb/s 130nm CMOS Chip Also Includes Features to Improve Drive

Production Yields and to Reduce Fixed Manufacturing Costs

At the Diskcon Exhibition in San Jose next week STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM) will be presenting a new read/write channel chip that cuts power consumption, making it suitable for battery powered mobile applications.

Called "Leonardo," the new chip is designed in ST's advanced 130nm CMOS technology and exploits fully the process's low power options to extend battery life and allow the use of inexpensive plastic packages. Leonardo is the first read/write channel on the market to fully support vertical recording for hard disk drives.

Inside the Leonardo chip, a Pattern Dependent Detector allows a drive to continuously adapt to both data and media variations, so the areal density - the number of bits per unit area - and the production yield of drives are both increased. In addition all loops are locked to optimum targets for minimum loss of lock even in noisy conditions. These features are further enhanced by a 10-bit RLL code with parity and low error propagation that allows for better formatting efficiency.

Building on the experience of previous generation read channels, Leonardo includes an Interpolated Timing Recovery Loop (ITR) that allows the use of higher-latency, lower power dissipation analog-digital converters, maintaining the same overall system performance as Flash-ADC based read/write channels. The new ITR scheme also allows fast portability and easy debugging of the timing loop algorithm - the most critical loop in a hard disk drive data recovery path.

In this design a new servo scheme has also been introduced that improves PES performance and thus allows higher areal densities. The Leonardo chip can also support various types of Self ServoWrite schemes, adapting to the needs of different designs, lowering both start-up and volume manufacturing costs.

At the Diskcon Exhibition in San Jose, September 18-19, 2002, ST will be presenting the Leonardo chip together with many other innovations for the disk drive industry. The leading supplier of disk drive ICs, ST offers a complete range of hardware and firmware, enabling interoperability, fast technology integration and quick time to market.

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, on Euronext Paris and on the Milan Stock Exchange. 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.