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The Marvell NVMe DRAM-less SSD Controller Proves Victorious at the 2017 ACE Awards

By Sander Arts, Interim VP of Marketing, Marvell

ACE Awards logo

Key representatives of the global technology sector were gathered together at the San Jose Convention Center last week to hear the recipients of this year’s Annual Creativity in Electronics (ACE) Awards announced. This prestigious awards event, which is organized in conjunction with leading electronics engineering magazines EDN and EE Times, highlights the most innovative products announced in the last 12 months, as well as recognizing visionary executives and the most promising new start-ups. A panel made up of the editorial teams of these magazines, plus several highly respected independent judges, were all involved in the process of selecting the winner in each category.

88NV1160 controller for non-volatile memory express The 88NV1160 high performance controller for non-volatile memory express (NVMe), which was introduced by Marvell earlier this year, fought off tough competition from companies like Diodes Inc. and Cypress Semiconductor to win the coveted Logic/Interface/Memory category. Marvell gained two further nominations at the awards – with 98PX1012 Prestera PX Passive Intelligent Port Extender (PIPE) also being featured in the Logic/Interface/Memory category, while the 88W8987xA automotive wireless combo SoC was among those cited in the Automotive category.

Designed for inclusion in the next generation of streamlined portable computing devices (such as high-end tablets and ultra-books), the 88NV1160 NVMe solid-state drive (SSD) controllers are able to deliver 1600MB/s read speeds while simultaneously keeping the power consumption required for such operations extremely low (<1.2W). Based on a 28nm low power CMOS process, each of these controller ICs has a dual core 400MHz Arm® Cortex®-R5 processor embedded into it.

Through incorporation of a host memory buffer, the 88NV1160 exhibits far lower latency than competing devices. It is this that is responsible for accelerating the read speeds supported. By utilizing its embedded SRAM, the controller does not need to rely on an external DRAM memory – thereby simplifying the memory controller implementation. As a result, there is a significant reduction in the board space required, as well as a lowering of the overall bill-of-materials costs involved.

The 88NV1160’s proprietary NANDEdge™ low density parity check error-correction functionality raises SSD endurance and makes sure that long term system reliability is upheld throughout the end product’s entire operational lifespan. The controller’s built-in 256-bit AES encryption engine ensures that stored metadata is safeguarded from potential security breaches. Furthermore, these DRAM-less ICs are very compact, thus enabling multiple-chip package integration to be benefitted from.

Consumers are now expecting their portable electronics equipment to possess a lot more computing resource, so that they can access the exciting array of new software apps that are now becoming available; making use of cloud-based services, enjoying augmented reality and gaming. At the same time as offering functions of this kind, such items of equipment need to be able to support longer periods between battery recharges, so as to further enhance the user experience derived. This calls for advanced ICs combining strong processing capabilities with improved power efficiency levels and that is where the 88NV1160 comes in.ACE 2017 Award

“We’re excited to honor this robust group for their dedication to their craft and efforts in bettering the industry for years to come,” said Nina Brown, Vice President of Events at UBM Americas. “The judging panel was given the difficult task of selecting winners from an incredibly talented group of finalists and we’d like to thank all of those participants for their amazing work and also honor their achievements. These awards aim to shine a light on the best in today’s electronics realm and this group is the perfect example of excellence within both an important and complex industry.”

 

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How the Introduction of the Cell Phone Sparked Today’s Data Demands

By Sander Arts, Interim VP of Marketing, Marvell

Almost 44 years ago on April 3, 1973, an engineer named Martin Cooper walked down a street in Manhattan with a brick-shaped device in his hand and made history’s very first cell phone call. Weighing an impressive 2.5 pounds and standing 11 inches tall, the world’s first mobile device featured a single-line, text-only LED display screen.

Credit: Wikipedia

Credit: Wikipedia

A lot has changed since then. Phones have gotten smaller, faster and smarter, innovating at a pace that would have been unimaginable four decades ago. Today, phone calls are just one of the many capabilities that we expect from our mobile devices, in addition to browsing the internet, watching videos, finding directions, engaging in social media and more. All of these activities require the rapid movement and storage of data, drawing closer parallels to the original PC than Cooper’s 2.5 pound prototype. And that’s only the beginning – the demand for data has expanded far past mobile.

Data Demands: to Infinity and Beyond!

Today’s consumers can access content from around the world almost instantaneously using a variety of devices, including smartphones, tablets, cars and even household appliances. Whether it’s a large-scale event such as Super Bowl LI or just another day, data usage is skyrocketing as we communicate with friends, family and strangers across the globe sharing ideas, uploading pictures, watching videos, playing games and much more.

According to a study by Domo, every minute in the U.S. consumers use over 18 million megabytes of wireless data. At the recent 2017 OCP U.S. Summit, Facebook shared that over 95 million photos and videos are posted on Instagram every day – and that’s only one app.  As our world becomes smarter and more connected, data demands will only continue to grow.

Credit: Marvell

Credit: Marvell

 

The Next Generation of Data Movement and Storage

At Marvell, we’re focused on helping our customers move and store data securely, reliably and efficiently as we transform data movement and storage across a range markets from the consumer to the cloud. With the staggering amount of data the world creates and moves every day, it’s hard to believe the humble beginnings of the technology we now take for granted.

What data demands will our future devices be tasked to support? Tweet us at @marvellsemi and let us know what you think!

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Super Bowl LI Scores a Touchdown on Tech

By Sander Arts, Interim VP of Marketing, Marvell

With Super Bowl Sunday just around the corner, we’re reminded of last year’s game that took place just a few blocks away from Marvell’s campus in the heart of Silicon Valley. Taking inspiration from the locale, Super Bowl 50 was undoubtedly the most tech-savvy event to date. The Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, one of the most technologically advanced venues in the country and the first stadium to feature 40 gigabits per second of internet capacity. TechRepublic reported that there were 10.15 terabytes of data transferred across the network during the game, with cloud storage, social networking and web surfing accounting for the top three applications transferring data on Levi’s Wi-Fi network.  What was even more impressive was Levi Stadium’s mobile app which enabled attendees to order food and beverages in advance, find the shortest bathroom and concession lines and access game highlights in high-definition.

But where does the game go from here? With sports fans being more engaged and connected than ever, how can technology continue enhancing the fan experience for Super Bowl 51?

NRG Stadium, Houston, TX Source: Wikipedia

NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
Source: Wikipedia

This year, the mobile app worth cheering for is Fox Sports Go. For fans unable to watch the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons face off live in Houston on Sunday, they can still get up close to the game in virtual reality. Fox Sports will stream the game live on its app which can be viewed in VR using a Samsung Gear headset or Google Cardboard. The app’s “virtual suite” will offer viewers various viewpoints of the game – even those without a VR headset can experience the game in 360-degree video.

However, we can’t forget that for many viewers, the Super Bowl commercials are just as entertaining as the game itself. With the price of a 30-second ad reaching nearly $5 million this year, brands are, more than ever, using this opportunity to release some of the funniest, strangest and powerful ads to meet viewers’ high expectations. This Sunday, we’re especially looking forward to the technology commercials, such as the Kia Niro and Ford “Go Further” ads, which will highlight advancements in connected car technology. As consumers become increasingly interested in automotive technology, we can expect to see more Super Bowl commercials highlighting data and connectivity both this year and in the years to come.

Last year’s record-breaking data usage is just an example of how important Wi-Fi and connectivity have become in our fast-paced world, especially at events such as the Super Bowl where instant streaming and sharing play an essential role in the viewers’ experience. At last year’s game, 15.9 terabytes of data were transferred via Distributed Antenna System, which was 2.5 times the amount compared to the Super Bowl the year before. Will the record to be broken again this Sunday?

As we tune in to the biggest TV event of the year, we look forward to seeing how technology will up the ante at Super Bowl 51, from the amount of data being transferred to fans sharing their experience on social media, it’s sure to be a touchdown performance!

You can follow Sander Arts on Twitter @Sander1Arts

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Flashback Friday: How Santa Clara Valley Traded Fruit Trees for Silicon

By Sander Arts, Interim VP of Marketing, Marvell

Before Silicon Valley became synonymous with high-tech and innovation, it was known as the “Valley of Heart’s Delight.” This expansive piece of land boasting acres of orchards just south of San Francisco would grow to become the future home to some of the world’s most innovative tech companies.

FlashbackFriday1

Looking back at the area’s history, it’s no surprise that it would someday inspire a culture where groundbreaking tech comes to life in a garage, college dorm room or even at a kitchen table. The story of Silicon Valley itself begins in a garage, with two Stanford grads William Hewlett and David Packard, who would later found Hewlett-Packard in 1939. Throughout the next decade, entrepreneurs and scientists would come to the Santa Clara Valley to explore radio, military and electronic technology, laying the groundwork for the future hotbed of innovation.

Birthplace

By 1953 notable tech companies began to officially establish ground in Santa Clara Valley with property in Stanford Industrial Park, closely followed by the area’s first semi company in 1956. With the Space Race in full force throughout the 1960s, the country experienced a heightened focus on the need for advanced silicon technologies and the valley began to take shape as the country’s hub for advanced high tech. Due to the sheer number of silicon companies in the park and growing attention on the semi industry, the area was officially coined “Silicon Valley” in an Electronic News series published in 1971.

Over the next 30 years, some of the world’s most groundbreaking technology companies would make their way to Silicon Valley. Marvell officially became a part of the phenomenon in 1995, right in the middle of the dot.com bubble. Since then, we’ve seen firsthand how the tech scene has grown exponentially through innovation and entrepreneurship. The startup mentality that originated in 1939 and which continues to boom in the 21st century inspires us to continue improving, innovating and challenging technology of today. At Marvell, we are confident in our vision for the future of silicon, data and cloud technologies and look forward to being a part of the next generation of great entrepreneurs, thinkers and tinkerers in Silicon Valley.

Marvell-campus

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Marvell on the Move as Devices are Getting Smarter and the Volume of Data is Exploding

By Sander Arts, Interim VP of Marketing, Marvell

MOVE_Fast
We are only a couple of weeks into the New Year and already have a glimpse of how the industry will take shape in 2017 and beyond. It has been a ritual for the Marvell team, and most major players in the technology ecosystem, to start the first week of the year showcasing the cutting-edge solutions of today and tomorrow at CES. This year, the Las Vegas expo floor showed us that everyday objects, as well as cars, are getting smarter and are taking on new capabilities, signaling new demands for the industry to address.

Say “Hello” to the Car of the Future

The race to fully autonomous cars continues with new automotive tech ranging from improved sensors for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) to new displays and infotainment systems. Automakers introduced the integration of cloud-based voice assistants, which is bound to revolutionize the way we will interact with our cars.

Virtual Reality Wants to Get Real

Virtual reality (VR) developers focused on creating better content and tools to bring VR to the mainstream. Companies shared plans for gesture tracking and untethered headsets to deliver immersive experiences for gaming, entertainment and enterprise applications. In the near future, we can expect access to more VR, augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) content and experiences, such as shopping in virtual retail stores.

The AI of Everything

While automotive tech and VR continued to have a big presence at CES like in past years, artificial intelligence (AI) was one of the stars of the show. We saw more devices—beyond robots and smartphones—touting AI capabilities as automakers and home appliance manufacturers showcased exciting voice control integrations in cars, fridges, washing machines, TVs and more.

Amid all of the hype around the technologies that took center stage at this year’s CES, it was clear that data remains at the heart of our connected world. With advancements in connectivity comes the explosion of digital traffic as data is created, accessed, stored and moved to the cloud by billions of connected devices, appliances, cars, enterprises and more. Autonomous cars, VR and AI all depend on high bandwidth video and data to deliver smart and seamless experiences for consumers.

MOVE_Reliably

 

At CES Marvell demonstrated how we are enabling the ecosystem to overcome its toughest data storage and network bandwidth challenges with our advanced solutions for the cloud, automotive, industrial, enterprise and consumer markets. Our automotive Ethernet physical layer (PHY) transceiver provides the robust 1000BASE-T1 connectivity needed to distribute data between the multiple advanced in-vehicle systems of tomorrow’s cars.

As data is moved and stored from consumer devices to the cloud, data centers can take advantage of our support for a range of Ethernet technology speeds for even greater accessibility, including our Prestera® switches, Alaska® Ethernet transceivers and ARMADA® 64-bit ARM-based modular SoC families for 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE), 25 GbE and 40 GbE. We also demonstrated at CES our recently announced 25GbE end-to-end data center solution which underscores our commitment to delivering high performance, cost-effective and energy-efficient computing solutions to keep up with today’s increasing bandwidth demands.

What we saw at CES validates the work we do at Marvell, providing industry-leading solutions that help our customers move and store data fast, securely, reliably and efficiently across a wide range of applications, systems and platforms. For whatever new demands and challenges the market brings in 2017, Marvell is on the Move.