Date: 03/03/2009

Less space consuming SD Card interface IC for cell phones

ST Microelectronics has released a new SD Card interface IC called EMIF06-mSD02N16 to address the growing need of memory card interface in mobile handsets. If not a basic phone, any other mobile phone got to have this external memory to store the multimedia content. Even in the low cost basic phones, providing additional memory card interface to store multimedia data will surely a selling point for phone makers because the cost difference is not much by adding this extra feature. In two or three years, there might be no-phones without additional memory card interface; at least 90% of the phones will have this feature.

This space saving device EMIF06-mSD02N16 measures 1.2 x 3.5mm. All necessary electromagnetic (EMI) filtering, electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection and pull-up resistors are integrated on-chip. Support for either electrical or mechanical methods of detecting card insertion maximizes flexibility for handset designers. The height of EMIF06-mSD02N16 is also low of only 0.5mm making it fit for ultra-slim handset designs. The interface supports standard SD cards as well as the MiniSD and MicroSD formats, and will also save space in devices such as ultra-mobile PCs and digital cameras.

Removable memory is an exciting feature for coming generations of handsets, enabling downloading, transferring and sharing of media as well as purchasing of content such as e-books. SD formats already dominate mobile phones and other consumer electronic platforms, and market research firm iSuppli predicts MiniSD and MicroSD will make up 90% of all card slots in 2010. In addition, the SD Card Association has recently extended its roadmap by announcing Embedded SD, which will enable removable and embedded memory to share a common interface leading to simpler system design.

Availability: Now in volumes
Price: Each at $0.32 in 10K pieces.