Startup Novocell Semiconductor devises initial IP for security, wireless

Mark LaPedus
(05/11/2004 3:45 PM EDT)

  SAN JOSE, Calif.--Startup Novocell Semiconductor Inc. has quietly emerged and shipped its first product--an intellectual-property (IP) line based on an embedded, nonvolatile memory technology.

The product, dubbed NovoBlox, is a low-density, nonvolatile IP line geared for wireless, security and related applications, said Christopher Keil, co-founder, president and chief executive of Novocell.

"NovoBlox is low-density IP for security and encryption," Keil said. "It is for customers who need a small amount of bits for fuse replacement," Keil said in an interview with Silicon Strategies at the Semiconductor Venture Fair, which takes place in San Jose May 11 and 12.

The company has developed its first test chip with IP, based on 0.18-micron and CMOS technologies. "We have shipped NovoBlox in customer designs," he said.

The IP is currently being qualified at five undisclosed foundries. It expects to develop IP based on 130-nm technology this year, according to Keil.

Founded in September of 2002, Novocell is located in Pittsburgh, Penn. It has 8 employees, including Keil, who was a strategic marketing manager for LSI Logic Corp. Keil has also held management positions Team, Protel, and other companies.

Novocell has received less than $1 million in seed funding from Ben Franklin Technology Partners, the State of Pennsylvania, and other investors. It is readying to close its Series A funding.