Spansion's ExpressFlash service is a helpful way to offer the system manufacturer flexibility and lower cost in the manufacturing process. No matter how Flash Memory is used in your system, Spansion's ExpressFlash service will benefit your manufacturing process. Flash devices procured via the ExpressFlash program are rigorously tested with your code under both AC and DC operating conditions at worse case temperature prior to shipment. Because Flash products ordered through the ExpressFlash service are shipped board-ready with factory guaranteed quality, your ship-to-stock or Just-In-Time programs can be easily implemented.

Spansion's ExpressFlash service offers the same pre-programming convenience as Spansion's ExpressROM™ Memories with the added advantage of in-system reprogrammability. Whether your entire code is finalized by the time you place your order or not, Spansion's ExpressFlash service will work for you. After Spansion's Flash devices are delivered and installed in your system--you have the added flexibility to reprogram the devices in-system at any time.

Spansion's ExpressFlash service is ideally suited for a variety of applications. For example, with Spansion's ExpressFlash service, a PC manufacturer's boot code can be programmed in a portion of the Spansion Flash device while the rest of the device remains blank. Upon delivery the Flash devices can be directly installed in your systems. After the remainder of the code is finalized, it can then be loaded in-system. At this point, even the original boot code can be altered should a "bug" be discovered or a change be required. This process reduces manufacturing cycle time, overhead, and improves both time-to-market and system availability.

For systems requiring fully protected blocks of code, Spansion's Am29F family is ideal. With Spansion's ExpressFlash service, your code can be protected from further alteration right at Spansion's factory. In the system, the protected portion of code looks just like a ROM. Please refer to Spansion's Am29F family of data sheets for further details.

Since Flash devices are fully tested in the plastic packages, all speed grades offered for standard Flash devices are available through the ExpressFlash program as well.

ExpressFlash Service Lowers Cost The ExpressFlash service eliminates or reduces costs in several areas. These include programming, testing, marking and labeling. Standard programming of blank devices may reveal other hidden expenses such as costs associated with possible programming yield losses, capacity constraints, labels and other supplies, rework, inventory and associated queue time, handling, maintenance, labor and personnel, transit costs, inspections, floor space and other overhead. Spansion's ExpressFlash service adds value by eliminating or reducing all these costs. Our mission at Spansion is to provide services and products which enable you to build the cost-competitive systems you need to win in your markets. The ExpressFlash service is yet another value-added program offered by Spansion to help you accomplish your goals. As a leading supplier of EPROMs and Flash, Spansion appreciates the value of cost-efficient manufacturing. Compressing time-to-market cycles, improving yields and providing the highest levels of quality are invaluable strategies for today's system manufacturer. At Spansion we are proud to offer another tool to give our customers this strategic advantage. ExpressFlash Flow Spansion's ExpressFlash service takes Flash devices from inventory in our off-shore testing facility and continues the processing as shown in Figure 1. This process is offered for all package types and speed grades. Please refer to Spansion's Flash data sheets for valid combinations.