Overview
CrossBar Resistive RAM (ReRAM) is a non-volatile memory (NVM) that can be integrated into any complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) semiconductor process. In addition to its High-Performance, High-Density NVM multiple-time programmable (MTP) memories, CrossBar NVM can also be utilized in highly secure few-time programmable (FTP) or one-time programmable (OTP) applications.
CrossBar has two versions of its ReRAM FTP and OTP technology:
ReRAM MTP compatible FTP and OTP memories, and is planning a
Custom FTP/OTP for higher density and shorter write times.
ReRAM MTP compatible FTP/OTP memories use the same ReRAM cell as CrossBar’s high-performance MTP in a single monolithic ReRAM memory. Because of this compatibility, the same memory and controller can be shared between standard MTP memory as well as FTP/OTP applications.
This MTP memory can be written 100,000 to 1,000,000 times. In this case, MTP, FTP, and OTP as well as physical unclonable function (PUF) keys can be flexibly partitioned within the same common ReRAM memory. In addition, CrossBar is planning an optimized ReRAM memory cell designed specifically for lower endurance FTP and OTP applications. This optimized version of FTP/OTP ReRAM memory is expected to result in significantly smaller die area and lower cost when larger amounts of embedded FTP and OTP memory storage are required (KBytes to MBytes).
Since MTP, FTP, OTP memories and PUF keys are able to share a monolithic ReRAM manufacturing process and control circuity, a single chip design can now support custom chips by dynamically re-sizing memory during test time, offering CrossBar business partners additional flexibility.
Whether your embedded NVM implementations require PUF keys or KBytes to MBytes of high-performance MTP, FTP or OTP memories, CrossBar’s ReRAM has the solution for you and your application.
Learn more about eFuse / OTP IP core
The hardware root of trust (HRoT) provides the trust base (root key), hardware identifier (UID), hardware unique key (HUK), and entropy required for the secure operation of the entire chip and therefore is often the focus of hacker attacks. If the design can’t effectively resist attacks, hackers can easily obtain the secrets of the entire chip. Attackers can use the secrets to crack identity authentication and data encryption and steal product design know-how, causing application security problems.
A sensor is a device that detects a change in a stimulus and converts it into an electronic signal that can be measured or recorded. The stimulus can be many things, including a physical property, environmental parameter, chemical composition or a location, to name just a few. All sensing elements have nonlinearities that include an intrinsic nonlinearity over sensing range along with offset and sensitivity nonlinearity variations over temperature.
With the invention of Physical Unclonable Functions (PUF), we can now create a unique, inborn, unclonable key at the hardware level. The natural follow-up question to this is, “but how do we protect this key?” It is like storing your key to secrets in a drawer, a surefire way to break the secure boundary and create vulnerabilities.
The market for piracy is huge and hackers have become increasingly sophisticated even when security is implemented in hardware. The race between the aggressors and protectors is a battle without end. Smart connected home devices are increasingly storing and processing very sensitive and private user data in addition to attempting to deliver copyright protected content from service providers. Protecting consumer data is vital.
While leading foundries keep pushing Moore’s law to the limit of physics, embedded non-volatile memory (eNVM) is becoming a game-changer in designing advanced integrated chips.
Patented by Attopsemi™, I-fuse™ is a revolutionary non-breaking fuse technology that can be reliably programmed by heat assisted electromigration below a break point. Any cell can be tested as programmable if the initial fuse resistance is low enough (e.g. <400 ohms) to generate enough heat for programming.
