Spansion, IBM Sign Cross Licensing Agreement

Spansion Inc has entered into a seven-year patent cross licensing agreement with IBM. Recently IBM announced a next generation technology code-named Racetrack, an electronic memory solution said to combine the best attributes of Flash drives and the hard disk drives of computers. The technology could lead to cheaper, more durable electronic devices that would hold far more data in the same amount of space and boot up more quickly.

"We believe entering into this patent cross license agreement with IBM gives us access to some of the most advanced technology in the world, providing Spansion the opportunity to further its leadership in Flash memory design, manufacturing and overall innovation," said Dr Louis Parrillo, executive vice president, R&D for Spansion.

Included in Spansion's patent portfolio are patents relating to its MirrorBit technology, a charge-trapping technology that is believed by Spansion to be the most likely successor to floating gate technology for scaling Flash memory to sub-45nm process lithography nodes. Spansion believes its investment in MirrorBit technology gives it a strong charge-trapping patent portfolio in process, design and manufacturing technologies.

Spansion and IBM will also partner on the continued development of Flash memory solutions for the Chinese market. Spansion has been committed to working with the top consumer electronics OEMs and wireless handset manufacturers in the Greater China region, where it has a final manufacturing facility in Suzhou, design centers in Suzhou and Beijing and sales and marketing offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen.

source:
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp /english/NEWS_EN/20080505/151338/