LONDON — Kilopass Technology Inc. (Santa Clara, Calif.), a provider of semiconductor nonvolatile memory (NVM) intellectual property (IP), is making evaluation kits available for its XPM technology targeting 65-nanometer low power and general purpose processes.

The technology is intended as a replacement for ROM and EPROM. It allows post-manufacture programming of non-volatile memory implemented in standard logic CMOS processes. Kilopass said its working closely with foundry partners but did not mention particular foundries that could manufacture the memory at 65-nm.

In July Kilopass said XPM one-time programmable memory had been qualified in a TSMC 130-nm CMOS logic manufacturing process by passing tests that included more than 1,000 hours of high-temperature operating life tests. Targeted applications include: digital rights management, encryption keys, electronic security, chip ID, mixed-signal trim and calibration, memory and pixel repair, firmware and parameter storage, and hardware configuration.

"Older technologies, like floating gate technologies, run into serious manufacturing challenges at geometries smaller than 130 nm. Since many of our customers understand these manufacturing hurdles, we are seeing a high demand for our IP, especially from customers designing products on advanced process geometries," said Craig Rawlings, Kilopass director of marketing, in a statement.

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