NVM can store software that changes over time

According to Kilopass, system-on-chip (SoC) designers using Itera can achieve up to 70 per cent lower costs, up to 24 times higher performance and improved integration by replacing external serial EEPROM and NOR flash in high-volume mobile and consumer applications.

Implemented in standard CMOS with no additional process steps or wafer process adders, Itera provides up to 1Mbit of storage capacity and 1,024 cycles of being reprogrammed in applications such as time stamp, key revocation, firmware updates and trimming adjustments.

Kilopass claims that SoC designs that currently require external MTP NVM to store code or configuration data that change over the life of the product can now use Itera to boost performance and reduce the bill-of-material costs and space of the final design.

It enables a typical design to achieve a 24-fold increase in performance over Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) Flash and EEPROM solutions and realise cost savings averaging about USD6m for a chip that achieves a run rate of 10 million units per year.

For SoCs in TVs, tablets and a wide variety of handheld devices, Itera can store software that must be updated and changed over time.

Itera can also contain the protocol stacks in SoCs for Bluetooth, 802.11 and the various wireless communications standards that enable connectivity of these devices.

For radio-frequency functions in these SoCs, Itera can store data for trimming analogue components that change over time.

Itera is also suitable for low-frequency data logging, for example, counting the number of times a battery is drained and recharged, the amount of ink deposited in disposable ink jet cartridges, and other similar data-acquisition applications.

Itera is built upon Kilopass' patented 2T anti-fuse technology, which has been integrated in more than two billion integrated circuits (ICs) for OTP NVM.

According to Kilopass, Itera also benefits from simple integration, high performance and reliability.

Its interface is an industry-standard Open Core Protocol (OCP) that simplifies integration at the front end.

Many SoCs are already deploying OCP for other IPs so no proprietary or new interfaces need to be learned.

To serve a wide variety of applications, including automotive and industrial, the Kilopass technology has been qualified through a high-temperature operating life (HTOL) and high-temperature storage life (HTSL) standard in process nodes including 40Nm.

Itera is available in MTP capacity from 32bit to 1Mb and is now available at all major pure play foundries including TSMC, Globalfoundries and UMC in 40Nm bulk silicon with 65Nm and 55Nm in H2'11.