Kilopass Expands XPM Non-Volatile Memory IP Enablement

Kilopass Technology, Inc., provider of semiconductor non-volatile memory (NVM) IP, has expanded enablement of its XPM (eXtra Permanent Memory) NVM IP on the Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd.‘s AN180 and BD180 BCD (Bipolar-CMOS-DMOS) processes.

Kilopass has also begun enablement of its XPM solutions at additional 180nm BCD foundries due to customer demand. Power management designs targeting mobile devices, hard drives, and the range of electronic systems being designed into automobiles, smart cities, and homes are driving increased demand for JEDEC-qualified Kilopass embedded NVM IP to store analog trim, product configuration data, and code storage in BCD process technology.

"As the market for smart power in portable devices as well as automobiles, homes, and computer equipment continues to develop so too does the demand for embedded NVM in BCD process technology," said Linh Hong, VP of sales and marketing at Kilopass. "Traditionally, a few bits to a few kilobits are needed for storing trim and calibration in power management designs. However, we are seeing a trend where power management designs are becoming embedded systems where code storage integration is required. Kilopass has solutions to meet a wide variety of usages from 16b to 256kb in BCD."

Field programmability and the low cost to integrate Kilopass embedded NVM IP in BCD make the memory ideal in power management and power conversion designs:

• to supply mobile phones and tablets;
• to provide control and sense for MEMS gyroscopic, accelerometer and compass sensors;
• to drive LCD and OLED displays; and
• to drive motors such as optical zoom lens and shutter control of digital cameras or mobile phone vibrate function.

XPM can provide a few hundred bits for trimming analog components up to 256kb for program code storage in the microcontrollers being incorporated on power management integrated circuits. NVM solutions can be over-provisioned to enable multi-time programmability that allow for changing program code over time.

"We are seeing increased customer demand for one-time programmable NVM in our 180nm BCD processes for power management in home consumer, mobile, and hard disk drive applications," said Byung Joo Park, VP of Marketing at Dongbu. "Offering up to six layers of aluminum interconnects and supporting 1.8V/3.3V operation, our 180nm BCD processes employ shallow trench isolation structures to optimize chip density and transistor characteristics. We are pleased that our NVM IP partner Kilopass has qualified their XPM NVM IP on our AN180 and BD180BCD processes. Our customers now have a field programmable NVM memory solution for trimming analog and mixed signal components that can drift over time and to store program code that may need to be altered occasionally during the life of a device."

About Kilopass NVM Solutions in 180nm BCD
Design for 180nm BCD leverages technology know-how from 180nm standard logic CMOS process development. Kilopass’ 2T bit cell utilizes the 1.8V core NMOS devices incorporated in the BCD process. As a result, the memory array does not change from standard logic process to BCD. Only the array’s high voltage peripheral circuits need to be redesigned using the 5V I/O device available in BCD. Using the 5.0V I/O devices improves performance and reliability for the high voltage paths. Given Kilopass antifuse technology is temperature and voltage invariant, qualification work on the standard logic process can be leveraged to enable faster time to market for 180nm BCD.

Availability
Kilopass’ XPM memory IP for Dongbu AN180BCD, Dongbu BD180BCD are available for licensing and the foundry is accepting designs for manufacturing.