OCTOBER 2010 issue n°100 THE DISRUPTIVE SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES MAGAZINE Copyrights © Yole Développement SA. All rights reserved - Recycled paper 4
THE DIS RUPTI VE SEMICONDUCTOR TECH N O LOGIES MAGAZI N E OCTOBER 2010 issue n°100 THE DISRUPTIVE SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES MAGAZINE REVERSE ENGINEERING New Apple iPod Nano showcases 2x2mm 3-axis accelerometer by STMicroelectronics Chipworks finds STMicroelectronics design win in Apple's new Nano with stealth-mode 2x2 mm accelerometer. Recently Apple launched a range of updated products, including <strong>the</strong> sixth-generation iPod Nano MP3 player (Fig. 1). Chipworks performed our usual teardown and found some new design wins not seen in earlier models. Notable fi ndings include a touchscreen controller by Cypress Semiconductor, package-on-package (PoP) assembly containing <strong>the</strong> Apple processor and Samsung DRAM, an FM tuner from Silicon labs, and <strong>the</strong> first-of-its-kind 2 mm x 2 mm 3-axis MEMS accelerometer by STMicroelectronics (ST). On <strong>the</strong> circuit board from <strong>the</strong> Nano, <strong>the</strong> largest chip is <strong>the</strong> PoP with <strong>the</strong> Apple applications processor and 128 MB of Samsung mobile DRAM, and we have highlighted <strong>the</strong> A2L accelerometer chip (Fig. 2). The package mark is obscure, but <strong>the</strong> Nano has a rotating display and is tap-sensitive, so <strong>the</strong>re has to be an accelerometer present, and this looked <strong>the</strong> most likely. A sideview x-ray (Fig.3) clears up any doubt that <strong>the</strong> A2L is a MEMS, with an ASIC on top, and a notably tight wiring profi le to help achieve <strong>the</strong> 2 x 2 mm footprint package height is ~1 mm). The dark line between <strong>the</strong> cap and <strong>the</strong> MEMS die is <strong>the</strong> gold hermetic seal for <strong>the</strong> MEMS assembly. Fig. 4 shows <strong>the</strong> de-lidded C5L24A MEMS die which has been fabbed in ST’s THELMA process, and Fig 5 <strong>the</strong> V565A ASIC die. The MEMS die is 1.33 mm x 1.53 mm (2.03 mm 2 ), and <strong>the</strong> ASIC is 1.09 mm x 1.59 mm (1.73 mm 2 ). Given that Bosch Sensortec has claimed industry leadership with <strong>the</strong>ir 2 x 2 mm BMA220 accelerometer, is it surprising that ST appear to have made no announcement about this specific device, although <strong>the</strong>y did announce a 2 x 2 mm part (but no part number) at CES in January. Maybe Apple is enforcing a publicity ban on announcing <strong>the</strong> part; we have heard that when Fig. 1 Apple’s 6th-Gen iPod Nano an Apple design win is a fi rst for a new part, <strong>the</strong>y like suppliers to keep to <strong>the</strong>ir non-disclosure agreements, even after <strong>the</strong> public teardowns have appeared. The A2L has given <strong>the</strong> Nano new functionality to go with <strong>the</strong> new display, so ST has helped Apple push <strong>the</strong> product into a new consumer space. Apple must have been at <strong>the</strong> head of <strong>the</strong> line for this one – <strong>the</strong> Nano was released in <strong>the</strong> fi rst week of September, and according to <strong>the</strong> CES press release, mass production at ST was due to start in Q3. By Dick James Senior Technology Analyst djames@chipworks.com Fig. 2 iPod Nano Board and A2L Accelerometer Fig. 3 Side-View X-ray Image of A2L Accelerometer Fig. 4 C5L24A MEMS Die with Lid Removed Fig. 5 V565A ASIC Die Recent Reports on STMicroelectronics MEMS Devices - Report Code • STMicroelectronics L3G4200D MEMS Three-Axis Gyroscope Exploratory Report - EXR-1006-802 For ordering details, contact Chipworks • STMicroelectronics L3G4200D MEMS Three-Axis Gyroscope Layout Analysis (ICWorks Surveyor) - ICS-1006-801 www.chipworks.com • STMicroelectronics LSM303DLH 3-Axis Accelerometer and 3-Axis Honeywell Magnetometer Sensor MEMS Process Review - MPR-1002-801 • STMicroelectronics LYPR540AH Three-Axis Analog Output Gyroscope MEMS Process Review - MPR-1002-802 • STMicroelectronics 2-Axis Gyroscopes: LPR530AL, LPY530AL, LPY430AL, and LPR430AL Exploratory Report - EXR-0908-801 • STMicroelectronics LY530AL Single-Axis Analog and Digital Yaw Rate Gyroscope Exploratory Report - EXR-0904-801 • STMicroelectronics LIS331DLH 3-Axis MEMS Accelerometer Exploratory Report - EXR-0903-801 • STMicroelectronics LIS331DLH Three-Axis MEMS Accelerometer Layout Analysis (ICWorks Surveyor) - ICS-0903-801 Inside Technology • STMicroelectronics LIS302DL 3-Axis ±2g/±8g Digital Output “Piccolo” Accelerometer Exploratory Report - EXR-0804-802 Copyrights © Yole Développement SA. All rights reserved - Recycled paper 5
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