Virage Logic extends non volatile memory leadership

SAN JOSE, USA: Virage Logic Corp. has expanded its industry leading portfolio of multi-time programmable (MTP) non-volatile memory (NVM) with the qualification of AEON MTP Parallel NVM at TSMC.

AEON MTP Parallel NVM now available in 130-nanometer (nm) G process is targeted at analog mixed-signal applications now migrating from 180nm down to 130nm. AEON MTP Parallel NVM provides a reprogrammable non-volatile memory solution to trim precision ADC (analog to digital converters) and DAC (digital to analog converters), to store encryption/decryption keys, and to configure MEMS devices.

AEON MTP Parallel NVM is ideal for use in portable devices, such as multi-function cell phones that require NVM for precision analog trim values to optimize the performance of the audio, display, or sensor IC in an on-board accelerometer and gyroscope.

The NVM also serves to provide encryption key storage for digital rights management (DRM), configuration settings for Bluetooth or WiFi connections, and custom personalization settings in baseband processors. The total available NVM core market is considerable. El Segundo, California-based market research firm iSupply estimates that 1.2 billion mobile devices—cell phones, e-books, netbooks, and others—shipped in 2009; that figure is projected to reach 1.5 billion units in 2012.

“With the availability of AEON MTP Parallel NVM in the TSMC 130nm process, Virage Logic is prepared in advance to supply customer demand for parallel reprogrammable non-volatile memory at the 130nm process node,” said Dr. Yakin Tanurhan, vice president and general manager of Virage Logic's Processor and NVM Solutions business units.

“Because AEON MTP Parallel NVM is available in a wide range of TSMC standard logic CMOS processes with no additional masks or processing steps required, Virage Logic customers can easily migrate their designs from one TSMC process node to another without having to change their NVM solution.”