QuickLogic platforms to incorporate Qualcomm's MDDI interface

SAN FRANCISCO—QuickLogic Corp. said Monday (March 30) it is developing new platforms tailored for Qualcomm Inc.'s latest Mobile Station Modem MSM7xxx-series and MSM8xxx-series mobile processors, including the Snapdragon family.

Members of the QuickLogic's ArticLink II VX4 family incorporate the Video Electronics Standards Association-compliant mobile data display interface (MDDI) used by Qualcomm's MSMs with the second-generation VEE proven system block (PSB) and embedded CellularRAM frame buffer PSBs, according to QuickLogic (Sunnyvale, Calif.)

Brain Faith, QuickLogic's vice president of worldwide marketing, said the company collaborated with Qualcomm to develop the ArticLink II VX4 family. Faith declined to elaborate on the level of collaboration but said Qualcomm (San Diego) insists on some level of collaboration for devices that incorporate MDDI because the company doesn't want devices launched to the market that don't properly handle the interface.

"The fact that it ties us so closely with Qualcomm is a good thing," Faith said.

Citing a forecast from equity brokerage and research services firm Exane BNP Paribas, QuickLogic said Qualcomm would ship more than 100 million 3G WCDMA mobile processors, representing 29 percent of the entire market.

QuickLogic said its new platforms are architected to address the technical requirements of smaller form-factor multimedia phones, smartphones and personal communications devices, as well as mid-sized mobile communications devices, mobile Internet devices and netbooks.

The ArticLink II VX4 family of platforms incorporates hardwired version of QuickLogic's VEE PSB, MDDI Type 2 client with PHY PSB, embedded CellularRAM frame buffer PSB and low-power programmable fabric for implementing customer-specific features and use cases, QuickLogic said.

Unlike mainstream programmable logic vendors, QuickLogic engineers create custom devices for customers based on its standard product platforms (CSSPs), in what Faith described as a "very high-touch engagement model." The majority of QuickLogic's CSSPs are hard-wired logic, with a smaller amount of programmable fabric, whereas traditional FPGAs consist of mostly programmable portions, he said.