Maxwell's Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM) -- the highest performance memory component available to the space market -- uses Rad-Stak technology, making it the first component to be hermetic and completely radiation shielded in a vertically stacked package.

In addition to being the first component designed with Rad-Stak packaging, Maxwell's SDRAM is the first space-qualified and radiation characterized memory component that is not repackaged plastic components, but rather packaged bare die.

"Maxwell's new Rad-Stak packaging approach provides the space industry with commercial-equivalent stacking technology, combined with the guarantee of a space-qualified hermetic package," said Rich Balanson, Maxwell's president and CEO.

"Rad-Stak is the latest innovation in a line of advanced components and technologies offered to the space community and driven by our strategy of guaranteed performance, guaranteed radiation tolerance, and guaranteed life-of-the-application availability."

Rad-Stak is a completely shielded multi-level die package, created out of the evolution of Maxwell's Rad-Pak shielded packaging solution to vertical stacking. In this configuration, heat is effectively dissipated through the interconnects and the lid/heat sink of each layer.

For greater flexibility of design, Maxwell offers Rad-Stak in both large and small, (132-pin and 68-pin) standard package outlines. The design also allows the packaging to be applicable in both multi-chip modules using identical die and true hybrids, and to be used across product lines.

Among the benefits to the space community, Rad-Stak provides a high-density space-qualified SDRAM with flexible memory word-widths (e.g. x32, x40 or x48), and hybrid applications combining multiple functions -- such as memory and EDAC. The vertical stacking provides both cost and weight savings, while offering a component with proven reliability and radiation shielding for commercial die.

"The new Rad-Stak packaging is yet another first-in-the-market for Maxwell's microelectronics product line, and another superior technology for space, which creates for the company additional market opportunities in high-performance memory solutions," said Chad Thibodeau, product manager for Maxwell's microelectronics product line.

"With Rad-Stak we're providing the highest density memory available to the industry, and creating the opportunity to offer more complex hybrids or MCMs with more flexible product configurations, increasing the breadth of our product line."

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