Virage Logic Corporation (NASDAQ:VIRL), the semiconductor industry's trusted
IP partner, and Semiconductor
Manufacturing International Corporation ("SMIC"; NYSE: SMI and SEHK:
0981.HK) today announced a radio-frequency identification (RFID) optimized
version of Virage Logic's AEON MTP NVM solution. The RFID-optimized NVM solution,
ideal for use in passive tags, is being developed on SMIC's 180-nanometer (nm)
low leakage (LL) process, which provides enhanced RF performance.
Virage Logic's AEON/MTP RFID is based on a single-poly standard
logic CMOS process. This architecture eliminates costly manufacturing steps
normally involved with floating-gate memory, while reducing the engineering
effort and associated costs of integrating NVM into RFID designs. Its multi-time
programmability provides AEON with significant flexibility and testability advantages
over one-time programmable (OTP) NVM. AEON's RFID architecture is
targeted at ultra-low power applications, specifically EPC Gen2 and ISO15693
passive RFID tags, because it maximizes tag range.
AEON/MTP RFID supports 100,000 write-erase cycles and bit counts up to 4K bits,
giving RF system architects the freedom to increase the feature sets and functionality
of end products. With read operation down to 1.0V, AEON NVM lowers the demand
on the passive power generation circuitry and allows more reliable reads which
provides an ideal solution for ultra-low-power applications such as RFID tags.
"We are pleased to partner with Virage Logic to bring a world-class
RFID solution to our mutual customers," said Max Liu, vice president
of design services at SMIC. "As the industry's leading
embedded NVM provider, Virage Logic's AEON product has already been
integrated and shipped in hundreds of millions of RFID tags worldwide. The combination
of SMIC's process technology and RFID specific capabilities together
with Virage Logic's low power, multi-programmable AEON NVM IP brings
best-in-class performance and capability to design engineers in worldwide markets."
"By developing our AEON/MTP NVM on SMIC's 180nm low-leakage
process technology, it will be optimized for ultra-low-power RF applications
to provide our mutual customers with a superior IP solution for their RFID applications,"
said Virage Logic's Dr. Yankin Tanurhan, vice president and general
manager, NVM Solutions. "Virage Logic's embedded NVM
technology has already been adopted by several leading RFID manufacturers and
we are pleased to work with SMIC to develop a locally available RFID solution
for the rapidly expanding China market."