Macronix – The Line of Integrated Devices and Serial Flash Products

Headquartered in Taiwan’s Hsinchu Science and Industrial Park, Macronix is a premier provider of integrated devices for the Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) market—producing a full range of NOR Flash, NAND Flash, and ROM products. Founded in 1989, Macronix is the first semiconductor manufacturer to be certified by the Social Accountability International Standard (SA 8000:2001) in Hsinchu Science Park, home to many competing foundries. The company caters to a wide variety of industries with its technologies—computer, telecommunications, consumer, and automotive.

For applications calling for NOR Flash, Macronix offers its line of Serial Flash products ranging from 512Kb to 256Mb densities. The Serial Flash line comes in an 8-pin SOP (150mil to 200mil) or 16-pin SOP (300 mil) package. These Flash devices are able to perform read, erase, and program duties. By utilizing a serial peripheral interface (SPI) protocol, the Serial Flash line reduces the complexity of system design.

For applications requiring NAND Flash, Macronix developed its family of SLC NAND products ranging from 512Mb to 8Gb densities. Ideal for the low-density NAND market, SLC NAND memory products provide reliable data and code storage for on-the-go platforms such as mobile phones.

For a true chip-scale package, Macronix’s WLCSP (Wafer-Level Chip Scale Package) leaves behind a very small footprint. Advantages include minimal chip-to-PCB inductance, a condensed package size, and improved thermal conduction. The WLCSP is ideal for mobile and portable applications, including mobile phones, digital cameras, tablets, smart watches, Bluetooth headsets, and GPS navigation systems.

A forerunner in the ROM (Read-Only Memory) industry, Macronix offers a variety of ROM products ranging from the original Mask ROM family to the latest XtraROM line. The newest ROM package from Macronix, XtraROM, operates without mask charge and has a short TAT (Turn Around Time). Offering a robust medium for content publishing, XtraROM takes care of bad blocks, wear leveling, and ECC (electronic circuit controller) for the host MCU (motor control unit).

Macronix operates three semiconductor foundries: Fab 1 (focuses on designing niche logic products and 6-inch wafer fabrication), Fab 2 (non-volatile memory products and 8-inch wafer fabrication), and Fab 5 (non-volatile memory products and 12-inch wafer fabrication). Fab 1 outputs 37,000 6-inch wafers per month based on 0.35um to 1.0um technologies. Fab 2 produces 55,000 8-inch wafers per month. Fab 5 yields 20,000 12-inch wafers per month.

Today, Macronix employs a 4,800-strong workforce and takes in nearly USD$1 billion in revenues. Constantly innovating its core products, Macronix holds 4,500 patents and dedicates 10-12% of its annual revenue to research and development.