News

Linear Tech Selects Virage Logic’s AEON® Non-Volatile Memory For Use In Power Management ICs

January 28, 2009 by Jeff Shepard

Virage Logic Corp. announced that Linear Technology Corp. has licensed Virage Logic’s AEON® embedded non-volatile memory (NVM) solution. Linear will employ Virage Logic’s NVM in its analog and power management ICs used in a wide range of applications. It is claimed that the multiple-time programmable (MTP) AEON product line enables semiconductor companies such as Linear to confidently create differentiated products that offer greater flexibility and higher performance, without changing their existing analog blocks or designs.

"We selected Virage Logic as a partner since their advanced non-volatile memory solution complements Linear’s power management technology," stated Don Paulus, Vice President, Power Management Products for Linear Technology.

Virage Logic’s AEON NVM is based on a standard logic CMOS process with no additional masks or processing steps required. This eliminates costly manufacturing steps typically involved with embedded MTP NVM, while reducing the engineering effort and associated costs of integrating NVM into system-on-chip (SoC) designs.

Virage Logic performs rigorous qualification testing on its AEON NVM, including full characterization and reliability testing over extended temperatures and manufacturing process conditions. The AEON provides full read and program operation across a wide temperature range, including products from -40 to 150°C, with a minimum 10-year data retention at 150°C.

"Linear Technology’s selection of our AEON product line further validates the emphasis we put on reliability throughout the development process," said Craig Zajac, NVM Product Line Manager, Virage Logic. "Our focused effort is to develop and provide high-quality embedded NVM IP that meets or exceeds the stringent performance and reliability requirements of the power management market."

Virage Logic’s AEON supports 100,000 write-erase cycles and bit counts from eight bits to 8K bits. Virage Logic’s embedded NVM product line enables 100% electrical testing at wafer sort and eliminates costly field programming failures associated with one-time programmable (OTP) solutions. Optimized to enable considerable manufacturing and operational flexibility, final calibration can be performed at wafer test, post-packaging, or in the field. In addition, identical ICs can be calibrated and configured to implement different features at final test, immediately prior to shipping.

AEON is available on leading foundries and in addition to being available on standard CMOS processes from 250 to 65nm, AEON is designed for Bipolar / CMOS / DMOS (BCD) processes optimized for power management and high voltage applications. Full characterization and qualification data is available upon request.