Mobile (or cellular) phones have become one of the most common communications devices in

everyday use. Apart from simple voice calls, today's mobile phones are capable of offering many
other services, such as text and multimedia messaging, entertainment (playback of stored music
and FM radio), and photography. High-end mobile phones, which run on specially designed
technology platforms and contain advanced computing and connectivity features (such as
Internet and email access), are generally known as smartphones. With advances in all fields of
technology, the line between a normal phone and a smartphone has blurred significantly.

Samsung is the industry leader when it comes to supplying components for mobile phones - from
the most basic, entry-level instruments, to the most advanced, multi-functional handsets that are
complete computers in themselves. OEMs and designers across the globe rely on Samsung for
world-class devices and components, such as memory, processors, and displays, to bring their
designs to market in the shortest time and at the lowest cost.

The following illustration shows the block diagram of a typical mobile phone.
Block Diagram


Figure 1 shows the primary components of a mobile phone - the application processor, the
memory subsection, the power management and display driver ICs, the CMOS image sensor, the
near-field communication (NFC) solution, and the SIM card IC. Samsung provides solutions for
mobile phones across all these device segments.
For low power, battery operated devices, such as mobile phones, ARM is most widely used and
adopted architecture across the world. Samsung has an extensive line-up of application
processors based on the ARM platform. Samsung's complete range of advanced, low power
application processors are designed for exceptional performance with the latest features, and are
backed by a comprehensive suite of software development and support tools.
Currently, Samsung offers application processors with the following ARM cores (listed in
increasing order of capabilities):
ARM 7 Series
ARM 9 Series
ARM 11 Series
Cortex A8 Series
Cortex A9 Series

Application Processors
Samsung application processors are the industry's best SoCs with the maximum number of
features integrated on the silicon, resulting in the minimum number of additional external
components required for the application, reducing time-to-market for the products. Some of the
principal advantages of using Samsung application processors in designs for mobile phones
include:
Highly optimized ARM-based cores:
Samsung application processors use industry-standard ARM cores, which are the
benchmark for mobile, portable, and low-power computing and communication devices.
Support for multiple memory types:
Samsung application processors support all major types of memory used today, such as
mDDR (mobile DDR) and LPDDR (Low Power DDR), as well as the latest and newest
memory technologies, such as moviNAND.
Integrated, on-chip peripherals:
Samsung application processors include an array of several standard peripherals on the
chip, eliminating the need for external interfaces, saving design costs and time. Examples
of integrated peripherals include a 24-bit true color LCD controller, AC-97 audio codec,
IrDA codec, and USB 2.0 OTG controller.
Extensive software support:
Samsung application processors come with a comprehensive suite of software solutions,
such as Board Support Packages (BSPs), which reduce software and firmware
development costs and time for the final product. Additionally, these packages also make
it easy to port applications developed for one family of Samsung processors (such as
those based on the ARM 9 series) to another family (such as the Cortex A9 series
processors).
Mobile DRAM
Samsung Mobile DRAM Solutions for Smartphones
Today, smartphone users want it all-leading-edge performance and prolonged battery life.
Samsung Mobile DRAM solutions enable designers to address both requirements within an
elegant and lightweight form factor.
Delivering extended battery life
Our low-power DDR2 (LPDDR2) and LPDDR3 mobile memory solutions are designed to
extend the life of a seven-hour battery by about 45 minutes during typical mobile operation. For
standby power, the savings are even more dramatic. For example, Samsung's LPDDR2 or
LPDDR3 memory enables up to three additional days of standby battery life for a smartphone,
which is a 23 percent improvement over LPDDR1-from 12.5 to 15.4 days.
More benefits from our offerings
Samsung Mobile DRAM solutions offer designers an extensive choice of package and densities
for a wide variety of design options. Choose from our LPDDR2 or LPDDR3 mobile memory
solutions. depending on AP and performance requirements.
The following illustratieson shows the block diagram of a typical smartphone.
Put exceptional memory technology to work for you
A leading provider of DRAM including 20nm-class and 30nm-class solutions, Samsung delivers
the latest memory technology, to meet or exceed design requirements. Samsung Mobile DRAM
technology provides significant power efficiency compared to previous-generation technologies,
while improving performance, for the best in smartphone designs.
MCP
MCP, or multi-chip package, is not a type of memory, but rather a form of packaging memory
chips to reduce the area they occupy and increase their available densities (per chip). An
embedded device, such as a mobile phone, may use a combination of several memory types, such
as NAND flash, mobile SDRAM, and mobile DDR SDRAM. MCP introduces the concept of
unifying multiple types of memory chips onto a single substrate, enabling the rest of the device
modules to view the memory subsection as a single, unified "block". Within the substrate, the
memory devices may be connected using a variety of techniques, such as die-to-die bonding or
die-to-frame bonding. This technique significantly improves the performance of the device's
memory subsection and reduces the board space used due to the integration of several chips onto
a single substrate. Samsung has a vast portfolio of MCP products for a variety of solutions,
including mobile phones.
eMMC
The eMMC standard describes an architecture that consists of three components - an embedded
storage solution with an MMC interface, a type of flash memory, and a controller - all integrated
in a single BGA package. eMMC capable embedded memory devices contain not only a data
storage element (such as NAND flash memory), but also a controller for the storage element
integrated on the same silicon die. This results in several advantages, such as reduced
development time and easier integration of the memory block in the overall system. Ultimately,
this leads to a much shorter time-to-market for the product. Samsung is one of the main
providers of eMMC technology across the world.
Flash Card
Samsung Flash Cards for Smartphones
Superior product design is essential to success in the smartphone market. Apart from simple
voice calls, smartphones may offer text and multimedia messaging, entertainment, photography
and advanced computing capabilities. The growth in smartphones is intensifying requirements
for higher flash card memory densities. Whether you are designing retail or OEM solutions,
Samsung has a easy-to-configure, high-density flash card to optimize your applications in this
fast-evolving market.
Benefits of using the latest Samsung flash cards for smartphone designs include:
Configurability to match different communications interfaces
High data rates to support the performance requirements of 4G smartphones
Fast simultaneous loading of smartphone applications
Work with a leader in smartphone components
Samsung is a world-leading supplier of components for mobile phones - from entry-level
instruments to advanced, multifunctional handsets that are complete computers in themselves.
OEMs and designers across the globe depend on Samsung for their memory and other
components to bring designs to market in the shortest possible time and at the lowest possible
cost.

In addition to flash cards, Samsung provides solutions for smartphones across a broad range of
component segments. The following block diagram shows the architecture of a typical
smartphone. Blue-shaded blocks represent components offered by Samsung. Click on a block
and information about that component will appear below the diagram.
Display Driver IC
Since display is one of the most important output devices in a mobile phone, it is vital that the
performance and quality of the phone's display subsystem remain above a certain minimum
threshold at all times for a good user experience. In a typical mobile phone, the display driver IC
(DDI) is mapped to the phone's application processor and it controls the device's LCD display.
While entry-level mobile phones have display resolutions as low as 128 x 160 pixels, some of
the latest and most advanced handsets have displays with resolutions as high as 800 x 480 pixels.
Samsung is one of the main innovators of LCD and LED display technology (including the latest
touchscreen technologies), and has been at the forefront of providing the most advanced DDI
solutions for mobile phones. Samsung provides DDI solutions for displays of varying
resolutions.
CMOS Image Sensor
As the quality of smartphone cameras continues to improve, many consumers are relying solely
on their smartphone to share visual experiences and transmit them quickly. And now, consumers
can take advantage of smartphones capabilities to edit snapshots and videos. Samsung CMOS
image sensor (CIS) solutions enable the performance of a digital still camera (DSC) in a compact
size to fit ultra-thin smartphones.
Ultra-sharp, ultra-clear images
Samsung CIS solutions offer high resolutions to help ensure that images are tack-sharp,
capturing fine detail and textures. Samsung's proprietary Back Side Illumination (BSI)
technology enables increased pixel sensitivity to produce bright, low-noise pictures and video in
a variety of lighting conditions.
Fast frame rates
The sensors provide heightened responsiveness for rapid-fire still photography and FHD/ HD,
full field-of-view video capture for images in motion.
Low power
Samsung CIS solutions use the latest process technologies as well as optimized sensor
architectures for low-power operation that lets consumers increase the number of photos and
videos they take without worrying about draining the battery.
Thin design
To enable the thinnest possible smartphones with high resolution, Samsung CIS solutions use
small pixels that leverage advanced processes and architectures to maintain sensitivity, enabling
low Z-height module design.
Work with a leader in smartphone components
Samsung is a leading supplier of components for smartphones - from entry-level devices to
highly advanced, multifunctional handsets. We understand the importance of balancing size,
usability, and long battery life in a product design that will appeal to today's consumers.
PMIC
Since mobile phones are battery-powered, there is great emphasis to conserve power and extend
the usable duration of the phone. Dedicated circuits are present in current generation mobile
phones and smartphones to achieve this goal.
A power management IC (PMIC) is present in a mobile phone to reduce the phone's power
consumption when it is not in use (that is, when it is in "Standby Mode"). The PMIC is
controlled directly by the phone's application processor, and it performs functions such as
charging the battery, monitoring battery levels, and sending interrupts (alerts) to the application
processor when the battery level falls to critically low values. Efficient PMICs not only offer
extended durations of usage to the phone user, but also prolong the life of the rechargeable
battery used in the phone.
Samsung has a wide array of power management solutions for deployment in all types of mobile
communications devices. These solutions ensure optimum utilization of the device's battery, and
contain several advanced features that the device's application processor can leverage to
maximize the usable duration of the device for the user. Samsung's advanced power management
ICs contain the following features, designed to achieve these goals:
On-chip lithium-ion battery charger:
For a battery-powered communication device, such as a mobile handset, Samsung's
power management ICs provide a highly efficient lithium-ion battery charger on-chip.
The charger supports a wide range of variable charging currents from 90 mA to 800 mA,
and has three charging modes, listed below:
o - Pre-charge Mode
o - Fast charge Constant Current Mode
o - Fast charge Constant Voltage Mode
o - A backup battery charger on the chip also ensures that critical tasks, such as
charging the phone's main battery, remain unaffected by any external factors.
Use of high-efficiency, LDO (Low Drop-Out) buck converters:
Samsung's power management ICs are optimized for wireless, handheld, mobile
communication devices, and use highly efficient and programmable buck converters,
with the added advantage of low drop-out voltages (between 1.2 V to 3.3 V, at an
operating current range of 10 mA to 450 mA). The buck converters are programmable in
steps of 25 mV, providing fine-grained control over the output voltage. Furthermore, the
devices use the principle of DVS (Dynamic Voltage Scaling) to achieve very high
efficiency levels.
On-chip RTC and manual reset facilities:
Samsung's efficient power management solutions contain an RTC (Real Time Clock) on
the device, eliminating the need for external clock sources. The device can also be reset
manually, if needed.
Wide operating voltage range:
Samsung's power management ICs are capable of operating over voltage ranges as wide
as 3.2 V to 5.5 V, providing high margins and tolerances for input supply voltage
variations.
I2C control interface:
PMICs offered by Samsung are controlled by the industry-standard I2C bus, making the
design for their control subsystem in the mobile device quick and easy.
Extensive design flexibility:
Samsung's advanced power management ICs contain features that provide the designer
extensive flexibilities to adjust the default output voltages and currents with a high degree
of accuracy, ensuring stable output for the application at all times.
Samsung's efficient power management devices are deployed in the most advanced cellular
handsets, smartphones, and tablet PCs in use today.
NFC
Several of the latest mobile handsets are equipped with an advanced feature, known as near-field
communication (NFC). NFC is a technology that allows a wireless connection and data transfer
between two devices in close physical proximity to each other (usually, a few centimeters). NFC
has been implemented in mobile phones primarily to enable mobile handsets to act as payment
gateways, e-tickets, and let mobile devices act as electronic identity cards (such as a medical ID
card).
Samsung has several NFC solutions to offer, including the latest devices that support data
encryption, along with high-density flash chips that provide sufficient capacity to store several
details about the user. Samsung is also the preferred supplier of NFC chips to OEMs and
designers worldwide.
SIM Card
The SIM card, used in a typical mobile phone, is responsible for providing the phone with its
"identity". The basic functions of the SIM are to store the IMSI and related information to
identify the phone on compatible worldwide cellular networks.
Samsung has been one of the key developers of next-generation SIM card technology. The latest
SIM cards introduced by Samsung have advanced features, such as high-density storage (flash),
single-wire protocol (SWP) compliance, and data encryption, providing increased security of the
stored data for the user. Other capabilities built into Samsung SIM cards offer important and
convenient advantages to the user, such as allowing the card to be used for secure authentication.