Samsung Electronics has developed world’s first 28-nano embedded flash memory process.
This process can be applied to the latest MCU (Micro Controller Unit) or Smart Card IC (Integrated Circuit). It is expected through this development, Samsung Electronics will be able to attract many foundry customers that are targeting automotive and IoT (Internet of Things) device markets.
According to industries on the 7th, Samsung Electronics’ DS (Device Solution) Semiconductor Foundry Business Department recently finished developing 28-nano embedded flash memory process and informed such news to its major customers. This process is a technology that ingrates system semiconductor such as MCU and flash memory into single chip (Die).
Samsung Electronics had been producing through 65-nano and 45-nano embedded flash memory process technologies. Through this new development, performance of a flash memory that is installed into a system semiconductor will be improved by 50% while amount of electricity consumption will be lowered by 20%. Area that a flash memory cell takes up within a chip will be reduced by 25% based on same capacity. Samsung Electronics is the first one to develop 28-nano embedded flash memory process.
Reason why a flash memory is integrated into a MCU is due to easy design. Many of MCUs that were released in the past were based on OTP (One Time Programmable) method that can only be used once. EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) that makes only reading possible was included inside of a MCU. There was inconvenience with OTP method since chip itself had to be replaced if operating software such as RTOS (Real Time Operating System) is changed.
Software can be easily upgraded if a flash memory is included. Although OTP method was preferred in the past for MCUs for cars due to possibilities of hacking, recently embedded flash memory process is being used much more often due to enhanced security functions. NXP, Infineon, and ST Micro are using 40 to 55-nano embedded flash memory processes either to produce MCUs for cars or IoT directly or produce them through foundry businesses.
Samsung Electronics is planning to expand its business power in order to attract MCU manufacturers as its customers through its new 28-nano embedded flash memory process. NXP, which is the world’s top automotive semiconductor manufacturer, already decided to produce MCUs through Samsung Electronics’ 28-nano process and integrate flash memories and MRAMs.
Samsung Electronics is going to invite potential foundry customers to its foundry forums that will be held on the 15th of this month in Japan and the 18th of next month in Germany and introduce its new embedded memory process in detail.
Staff Reporter Han, Juyeop | powerusr@etnews.com