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Z-RAM, A Breakthrough in Memory Technology?
Interview with Jeff Lewis, VP of Marketing at ISi
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(Interview by MS, March 26, 2006)
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SUMMARY
Conventional DRAMs are made of capacitors and transistors where the capacitor stores the data and the transistor opens or closes the passgate for the data to enter the system. Innovative Silicon Inc (ISi) have turned the difficulties of manufacturing this standard memory type on an SOI process into a feature by leaving out the capacitor - and guess what, it still works.
We had the chance to grill Jeff Lewis, VP of Worldwide Marketing at ISi regarding the technology, the corporate profile and the potential applications of Z-RAM and got more than a mouthful....
LC: Jeff, can you tell us a bit about Innovative Silicon inc?
J.L.: I think it is easiest if I refer you to the boilerplate information about ISi, this should provide the general overview:
Founded in 2002, Innovation Silicon inc (ISi) develops, markets, and licences Z-RAM™ (Zero-Capacitor RAM) intellectual property (IP). Z-RAM provides 5x density improvements over standard SRAM technologies, and is 2x the density of emerging embedded DRAM technologies – making it the densest embedded memory technology available today. Since on-chip (embedded) memory now occupies more than half the silicon area of a complex IC, Z-RAM enables IC manufacturers to dramatically shrink their ICs and thus save millions of Euros in product costs.
The patented Z-RAM IP can be incorporated into microprocessors, SoC (system-on-chip) ICs, and other sophisticated ICs which are used in products for diverse applications including PCs and handheld computers, games consoles, cellular communications devices, and cameras.
ISi announced in January, 2006 that Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) procured a technology license for Z-RAM for use in AMD’s microprocessor products.
ISi has demonstrated its technology on over a dozen different semiconductor manufacturing processes. The company has achieved outstanding results in advanced 90nm fabrication processes, and will soon have silicon validation in the most advanced 65nm processes. The company demonstrated that Z-RAM works in standard SOI manufacturing process without any process changes required.
LC: Can you tell us a bit more about your specific role at ISi?
J.L.: As VP of Worldwide Marketing, my role consists of:
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- Strategic Marketing, which includes identifying market opportunities and identifying the products that fit those markets;
- Product Marketing, which includes identifying required product attributes and how these fit on a product roadmap
- Business Development, which is primarily partner relationships
- Corporate communications, which includes PR, the website, datasheets and brochures, and tradeshow participation
Here are the bios on the entire management team:
