One of its interesting features is a 3.2-Mpixel camera powered by an Oki Semiconductor, Sharp, and STMicrolectroincs multi-die package solution. While other handsets have cameras at this level, or even higher, the A5515K takes it a step further by implementing an auto-focus mode as well as some special imaging modes. These modes allow for better images in certain conditions, like night-time, taking pictures of text or sunsets, and a retro mode for old school style pictures.
The images can be taken using an 8X digital zoom, which puts the handset on a comparable scale with entry level digital still cameras. The other advantage of the imaging system is that pictures can be encoded in less than one second so there's less waiting to snap additional pictures or moving on to other functions. The handset can also record video at a resolution of 240 by 320 pixels at 15 frames/s.
The images can be stored on an external memory card. The miniSD card can be up to 1 Gbyte in capacity, allowing over 650 images to be taken in fine quality or over 32,000 photos in low resolution.
The images can be viewed on the 2.2-in. QVGA screen, driven by the Solomon System BX142 IC. The LCD can display 240 by 320 pixels and up to 440 characters. Kyocera also included a Mobile ASV LCD to increase the display contrast. This allows viewing in outdoor conditions and increases the viewing angle.
The clamshell handset measures 52 by 96 by 25 mm when closed. It weighs about 131 g. The battery life is rated at 200 minutes of talk time and 320 hours in standby mode.
The Kyocera A5515K has 23 major internal components from a variety of vendors (see the table). Two of the more interesting devices are the Nvidia GoForce 4000 graphics processing unit (GPU) and the multi-die memory device. The GPU is Nvidia's entry level into the mobile graphics processor market and is reported to be used in other handsets, such as Motorola's V1070 and LG's KC 8100. The GoForce 4000 helps drive the digital camera and video playback, while providing a longer battery life. Even though the processor can capture video at up to 30 frames/s, the A5515K only supports 15 frames/s.
The multi-die memory device is made up of FCRAM, NAND flash, and NOR flash and is packaged with Spansion markings. This is somewhat interesting for a lower end handset. Fast-cycle RAM, or FCRAM, is developed by Fujitsu as a way to adapt to the never-ending increase in processor speed. FCRAM technology, due to its pipelined architecture, features latency rates as small as 20 ns. The technology enables simultaneously transmission of row and column information. This increases the amount of data transferred using a burst mode operation frequency of up to 66 MHz. The highly segmented core of the FCRAM results in drastically reduced power consumption. This is likely one of the reasons why the camera can encode an image so quickly.
In addition to the FCRAM, there are both NAND and NOR flash. While we've seen this in a number of handsets, most of them have been higher end than the A5515K. The 256-Mbit SLC NAND flash is supplied by Samsung. It's most likely designed in a 90-nm process lithography. The Spansion MirrorBit part doesn't have any distinguishing die markings, but is likely a 256-Mbit solution in their 110-nm process.
Another area of note in the handset contains the Qualcomm components, the MSM6100 baseband, the RFT6100 transmitter, the RFR6000 receiver, and the RFL6000 low-noise amplifier (see the figure). These are the same devices were used in LG's KP4000 handset.
About the author
Gregory A. Quirk is a technology analyst for Semiconductor Insights. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article is excerpted from Semiconductor Insights' Handset Design Win (HDW) subscription service.
