Rambus announced an extension of its SDRAM and DDR DRAM patent licensing agreement with Elpida Memory to include Rambus patented-technologies for all types of future memory to be used in personal computers and similar devices.

The new agreement extends Elpida’s license term to March 2008. The license scope has been expanded to permit Elpida to sell SDRAM, DDR DRAM, DDR2 SDRAM, fully-buffered modules (FB-DIMMs), GDDR1, GDDR2, GDDR3, RLDRAM1, RLDRAM2 and FCRAM memory products in exchange for interim fixed quarterly payments to Rambus.

Earlier the Los Altos, California-based technology company charged every single memory chip sold with royalty. According to Rambus, these interim fixed quarterly payments will only apply until certain trigger events occur. The interim shift from per unit to fixed payments is not expected to have a material impact on Rambus’ 2004 revenues.

This is the first time when Rambus managed to secure royalties for DDR2 technology and derivatives. As the ramp of the DDR2 and similar chips continues, the firm may get additional funds from memory makers for the new types of products if memory makers admit that DDR2 utilizes techniques originally proposed by Rambus.