Chipworks

The Motorola ATRIX 4G is features the Android 2.2 operating system, a 5 mp camera and a 1GHz dual core processor, by NVIDIA. It also comes equipped with MOTOBLUR, which synchronizes all social networking updates, e-mails, messages etc. all on the home screen. Another handy, new feature, courtesy of MOTOBLUR, is the battery manager, which allows users to manage the power consumption level on their phone.We took a look inside this phone to see which silicon devices were making these cool features possible.(Some images sourced from www.motorola.com)

The ST-Ericsson TC22E DC power management device was found on the main circuit board, with package markings: logo CPCAP / 2.2TC22 51 / 014650001 / VJ027AFH / GK 08T / CHN GK043.Fabrizio Rossini, Head of Investor & Analyst Relations at ST-Ericsson, commented that “the chip is not just a power management IC but rather is a monolithic SoC integrating analog and mixed signal functions including power management, energy management (ie charging), audio and interfaces.” We have not seen many ST-Ericsson parts in the recent smartphone and tablet devices we have been looking at, but this device looks like it represents the first in what will be a series of successful design wins.

The Hynix H8BCS0QG0MMR memory MCP containing Hynix DRAM and STM flash was found in the Atrix (see die markings for both). Package markings on the device are: Hynix / H8BCS0QG0MMR / 4GM 046A / 7MCY33692.Also found was the Toshiba THGBM267D4FBAIE 128 Gb / 16 GB NAND flash, with package markings: TOSHIBA / THGBM267D4FBAIE / E30783 / JAPAN / 1102KAE. Note the package date code – 1102, week 2 of 2011.  This is the first chip that we’ve seen from this year’s production, and shows a lead time of less than a month from memory packaging house, into the phone, and out to an AT&T customer!

The Elpida B8132B1PB-6D-F 1 MB DDR2 was also on in the Atrix, with package markings: ELPIDA JAPAN / B8132B1PB-6D-F / 10530N04500.

An accelerometer with directional tap / double tap detection by Kionix (the KXTF9) was also found in the phone, with package markings: KXTF9 / 10585 / 3810.Also inside the Atrix was the Triquint TQM7M5013 quad-band GSM / GPRS / EDGE-linear power amplifier module with package markings: TriQuint / TQM7M5013 / 1048 KORE / AT1028.The Broadcom BCM4329 802.11 a/b/g/n , FM tuner and BT2.1 with EDR was also on the main circuit board. It has package markings: BROADCOM / BCM4329HKUBG / CE1102 P21 / 113367 3EA.  Again a date code of 1102 – Broadcom is moving a lot of the BCM4329, we’ve seen it in many phones and tablets in the last year.RF power management IC by Qualcomm (the MDM6200), with package markings: QUALCOMM / MDM6200 / A3W001.0 / E4050006.

The Atmel MXT224 was the touch screen controller found inside the Atrix. This touch screen controller has been found in many other smart phones like the Samsung Epic 4G and the Motorola Droid X. Package markings: ATMEL / MXT224 / C08QS491 / 0G62358 were found on this device.