| Motorola reveals "revolutionary" cellphone-on-module technology |
Oct. 22, 2003
Motorola's semiconductor division (Motorola Semiconductor Products Sector, "SPS") has unveiled an approach to implementing multimedia mobile devices that it calls "revolutionary." SPS says its new "Mobile Extreme Convergence" (MXC) architecture will squeeze all the functions required by high-performance mass-market mobile devices into a module the size of a postage stamp -- a significant space reduction from today's smallest approaches that are the size of a business card. When fully implemented, MXC is expected to deliver a fully equipped "smartphone" platform in a 16 x 20 x 1.4 mm multi-chip package, enabling virtually any product -- MP3 player, handheld DVD, digital camera, etc. -- to become a fully functioned smart mobile device.
SPS says MXC will open new markets for the next generation of "smart" mobile devices and consumer electronics, by increasing features and performance, reducing space requirements, lowering costs (to "nearly half the cost"), and accelerating the device development process. A single MXC stamp-sized module may replace as many as 300-400 components, and will include a security engine capable of supporting functions like fingerprint recognition and secure over-the-air transactions ranging from music downloads to mobile credit card transactions, SPS said.
According to a 24-page MXC whitepaper published by SPS, the MXC modules will include the following subsystems: - an MXC chip containing a 400MHz ARM1136-based application processor, a full complement of system controllers, and a 208MHz single-core modem based on Motorola's StarCore DSP
- Memory
- RF and power amplification functions
- Power management functions
Features of the application processor subsystem will include: - USB 2.0, MMC/SD, SDIO, I2C, SSI, SPI, dual UART controllers
- LCD controller for up to VGA (640 x 480) resolution displays
- Strong security support including encryption/decryption accelerators, secure boot, restricted access (protected) key management, and memory boundary protection
- Optional support for GPS
OSes supported will include Linux, Microsoft Smartphone and Pocket PC, Palm, and Symbian, and a communications stack supporting GSM, GPRS, EDGE, and 3G (W-CDMA) will be available for license.
The hardware and software architecture of the MXC platform are illustrated in the following two diagrams:
MXC hardware architecture
MXC software architecture
(click image to enlarge)
SPS says MXC is one of the largest assemblies of advanced technology in Motorola's history -- the result of more than 24 months of intense research and development -- and represents a complete rethink of cellular platform design.
The first chips based on the new MXC architecture are expected in the second half of 2004.
The 24-page MXC whitepaper is available here (PDF download). It contains considerable useful information about the emerging "smartphone" and "feature phone" markets, required features, typical generation device architectures (and their technical drawbacks), technical challenges, and the new MXC approach.
(Click here for further information)
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