Learn more about ROM IP core
An Nor-type MLC ROM, Multi Layer Cell Read Only Memory macro of 16M bits (actual 32M bits) density is presented. The MLC ROM is designed by a 0.090 μm CMOS logic process. The ROM cell of 0.40μm ×0.50μm with 0.03μm per step of the channel width and channel length increase is determined to obtain 4 levels of Ids. A scheme of 2-step sensing with current-to-voltage converter (step1) and an ADC (step2) are applied to obtain an access time of 5 ns. 4 bits per cell can be achieved by inserting more referencing columns of ROM cells to track and to compensate noise from power and ground bouncing.
For large amounts of on-chip code and data, mask read-only memory (ROM) provides an inexpensive and easily programmed storage mechanism. However, the inability to configure ROM after wafer processing means that information stored in the ROM cannot be changed in the field. Antifuse one-time programmable (OTP) provides a flexible, field-programmable alternative to ROM. An antifuse-based bit cell uses controlled, irreversible thin (gate) oxide breakdown to program a bit.
This article covers the flexibility that an OTP with ROM option provides with regard to the product life cycle of high volume products. You will learn how to estimate OTP programming cost and make trade-off analysis to help you decide whether or not a mask ROM conversion makes economical sense.
Embedded security explained: Discover the essentials of secure boot in embedded systems, key principles and design challenges for embedded developers.
Discover the essentials of Secure Boot for embedded systems, ensuring software integrity and building a robust chain of trust for your devices.
In previous articles, we gave an overview about secure SoC architectures (Part I), about the importance of key management (Part II) and secure boot (Part III) - the first line of defense. Part IV of the series focuses on runtime integrity protection, a paramount, ensuring the application remains secure even during active operation.
