4Mbit OTP IP block could replace discrete memories
Kilopass Technology has announced Gusto, said to be the first 4Mbit one time programmable (OTP) non volatile memory IP. According to the company, Gusto is large enough to store the firmware and boot code traditionally stored in external serial flash and eeproms. The IP is being aimed at SoCs for cost, power and form factor sensitive applications, as well as at high security applications.
Charlie Cheng, Kilopass' ceo, noted: "By expanding its capacity to 4Mbit, Gusto enables a new level of integration. Customers now can integrate the embedded NVM into the SoC, eliminating the cost, power consumption, and space of external NVM."
Cheng added that he believes 30% of the $5billion worth of serial flash and eeproms shipped in 2009 was used in applications that required capacity of up to 4Mbit.
Although Gusto is intended to be used as an OTP memory, it can support 1000 write/erase cycles. This could allow the provision of field programmability to enable updates in the system, says Kilopass.
Compatible with a standard cmos process, Gusto is said to be scalable and Kilopass has already taped out 40nm test chips featuring the Gusto block at IBM, TSMC, and UMC.
