Apple 64 bits,Mobile DRAM Market, and Masking Lithography

Samsung Pushes DDR3 Design & Manufacturing to New Efficiencies -

"mass producing what the company said is the most advanced 4Gb DDR3 memory based on a new 20 nanometer process technology using immersion ArF lithography...

key element of the new design and manufacturing technology is a modified double patterning and atomic layer deposition that allows for continued scaling. The new approach to double patterning enables 20nm DDR3 production using current photolithography equipment, Kadivar said. “We have found the most efficient way to manufacture high density DDR3 technology, in this case 4Gb.” Samsung has also created ultrathin dielectric layers of cell capacitors with a very high level of uniformity, which is an important contributor to higher cell performance."

While in the ecosystem of mobile DRAM products sale and marketing -

 “After the 64bit AP was first applied to the iPhone 5S by Apple last year, it was expected to become the basic performance of premium smartphones. However, companies in the Android camp cannot bring themselves to use the 64bit AP. The 64bit AP is not compatible with the Google Android OS yet…

Qualcomm has already unveiled the 64bit Snapdragon, and SEC is known to have almost developed the 64bit AP. If the OS problem is solved, it appears that Android smartphones will not have much difficulty adopting the 64bit AP.

The delayed commercialization of the 64bit mobile AP impacted on the DRAM market. 1~2GB mobile DRAMs are used in 32bit AP smartphones, but 64bit AP smartphones come with 3GB or bigger DRAMs. Memory semiconductor makers established the mobile DRAM production plan for this year in consideration of the demands for the 64bit AP. As demands are not picking up, the Q2 contract prices of mobile DRAMs are expected to go down. (http://english.etnews.com/device/2933349_1304.html)

Ron

Insightful, timely, and accurate semiconductor consulting.
Semiconductor information and news at - http://www.maltiel-consulting.com/

Korea's DRAM Market Suffers as Google Delays Android 64-bit

Apple introduced the first smartphone in the world to run on a 64 bit architecture last September. The iPhone 5S lead the way. Thereafter it was simply expected to become the basic performance of premium smartphones. However, Android OEMs can't match Apple's offering because Android isn't 64bit compatible at the moment even though Qualcomm has a 64bit processor ready to ship. While Samsung is hoping to be the first Android OEM to deliver a 64bit based smartphone this fall, industry Insiders aren't so sure it'll be ready in time. In fact they believe that will be pushed into sometime in 2015.

Those in the DRAM market have suffered a direct blow due to Google's inability to deliver a 64bit version of Android. 

16nm Split Gate NV (Non Volatile) Memory Cell Advance

Split gate nonvolatile memory is often used in embedded flash IC chips. An advance in nonvolatile split gate memory technology by CEA-Leti is discussed below. 

By using a self-aligned of the transistor gate above the nitride charge trapping layer, the number of masks required to make the memory cell is reduced, and the bias and size of the critical mask is also reduced. The new smaller embedded memory cell is smaller and more efficient.

"this self-aligned technology concern the precise control of the spacer memory gate shape and of the memory gate length. Spacer gate has to fulfill two difficult requirements: being as flat as possible in order to get a silicidation surface as large as possible while insuring a functional contact, and getting a steep edge in order to control the drain-junction doping."

A key issue is how manufacturable would be this new masking  process integration. For example controlling the properties of the charge trapping layer in large volume manufacturing could be difficult.

Ron

Insightful, timely, and accurate semiconductor consulting.
Semiconductor information and news at - http://www.maltiel-consulting.com/

CEA-Leti builds 16nm self-aligned split-gate memory

Posted: 17 Mar 2014  

Keywords:CEA-Leti  split-gate memories  transistor  poly-Si spacer 

CEA-Leti has developed what it says are ultra-scaled split-gate memories with a gate length of 16nm. According to the research centre, the memories demonstrate good writing and erasing performances with memory windows greater than 6V.

Split-gate flash memories are made of two transistors: an access transistor and a memory transistor with a charge-trapping layer (nitride, Si nanocrystals etc.). Split-gate architectures use a low-access voltage and minimize drain current during programming, which leads to a decrease of the programming power compared to standard one-transistor NOR memories, stated the research centre. Because programming energy decreases when memory gate length decreases, ultra-scaling is particularly relevant for contactless applications.

The memory gate has been reduced down to 16nm thanks to a poly-Si spacer formed on the sidewall of the select transistor. This approach avoids costly lithography steps during fabrication and solves misalignment issues, which are responsible for a strong variation of the electrical performances, such as the memory window.

The main challenges of this self-aligned technology concern the precise control of the spacer memory gate shape and of the memory gate length. Spacer gate has to fulfil two difficult requirements: being as flat as possible in order to get a silicidation surface as large as possible while insuring a functional contact, and getting a steep edge in order to control the drain-junction doping.

TEM images of ultra-scaled self-aligned split-gate device, with a memory 

gate length of 16nm.

Self Encrypting SSD (SED) to Rescue Security/ Privacy?

The article below discusses benefits of integrating encrypting in the hardware.

"Samsung claims that self-encrypting drives are the solutions to better security...can protect sensitive data better than software solutions because self-encrypting SSDs automatically encrypt information as it's saved to the drive.”

A key benefit of SED (Self Encrypting Drive) is the automated process, which makes it difficult for human error leaving the data vulnerable (see Missed Alarms, 40 Mil. Stolen Credit Card Numbers: Target Blew It). In addition, the additional security level of the hardware on silicon chip increase the difficulty for anybody trying to access the data.

Remaining issues in protecting the data:

Is there any way to replicate the encryption key stored on the silicon chip?

Can a government or a malicious vendor duplicate the encryption and transmit it through a back door?

Ron

Insightful, timely, and accurate semiconductor consulting.
Semiconductor information and news at - http://www.maltiel-consulting.com/

Will Self-Encrypting Drives Help Stop Data Breaches?

• Mar 14, 2014 8:00 AM EST

By Abigail Wang

In light of all the security breaches last year, companies are looking for ways to protect their own and their clients' data. Samsung claims that self-encrypting drives are the solutions to better security software protection. In a recent infographic, the company outlines a few reasons why self-encrypting drives are better for businesses.

In 2012, well over 250 million records with personal information were compromised in security breaches. That same year, the average cost of a data breach was more than five million dollars. Samsung claims this devastating problem can be alleviated with an easy solution: swapping out a PC's hard disk drive for a solid state drive (SSD) with self-encrypting drive (SED) technology. These drives can protect sensitive data better than software solutions because self-encrypting SSDs automatically encrypt information as it's saved to the drive. 

The Perks of SSD with SEDFirst off, data encryption and key management happen in drive hardware so putting in an SSD with SED leads to better security and system performance. Software encryption is just another process on a host device, which makes it more vulnerable to attacks and hinders PC performance when it encrypts data.

Oftentimes employees will turn off software-based encryption, which leads to noncompliance risk. SEDs, on the other hand, cannot be disabled, and encryption transparent to users. There's no need to download special security software to use SEDs either; they meet requirements for enterprise applications and can be controlled by security management software.

Why Self-Encrypting SSD Is the SolutionUsing Crypto Erase technology to wipe out data on your SED is a quick and painless process: the drive simply deletes the active encryption key. Trying to render data unreadable on a hard drive with software-based encryption, on the other hand, can take up a lot more of your time and money.

An additional perk is that SEDs fulfill government and industry requirements that laws like FACTA and HIPAA implement to regulate the security of private electronic data. Several laws also include a Safe Harbor convention for encrypted data, which spares organizations the embarrassment and expense of a public notification of data breaches.

Self-encrypting SSDs costs less than 80 cents per gigabyte, potentially saving millions of dollars for many companies. These drives could be a great tool for companies to use to protect consumer information and avoid the headaches of data breaches. 

Flash NAND, NOR, eMMC Market Growth

NAND market continues to grow while NOR continue to shrink (see article below). 

The reason for NAND dominance were explained on my May 2007 article on Long Term Trends in the NOR and NAND Markets .

Highlights from review of the IHS report in the article below:

"NAND product known as embedded multimedia card (eMMC) enjoyed record shipments in 2013 of more than 1 billion units, up a hefty 49 percent from 687 million in 2012. NAND revenue rose 28 percent to US$25.8 billion.

In comparison, NOR shipments last year fell 10 percent to 606 million units, with revenue down 15 percent to approximately US$3.0 billion....

The evolution of eMMC, in particular, has been rapid, with nearly annual enhancements to performance. As an economical choice for greater flash-memory densities, eMMC has become viable in high-end markets like smartphones and tablets, in which high-density storage capacity is required along with low-power consumption and a small footprint.

Embedded NAND’s utility has also now carried over from smartphones in its early use, to tablets. Last year, eMMC was the standard memory configuration for a vast majority of tablets, the only exception being the Surface Pro from Microsoft, which employs a SATA-interface solid-state drive.

The billion-unit shipment level of eMMC last year is a milestone, Yang remarked, and the product shows the way forward for managed NAND solutions by its deft handling of error correction and enhanced reliability at the solution level."

Ron

Insightful, timely, and accurate semiconductor consulting.
Semiconductor information and news at - http://www.maltiel-consulting.com/

NAND eMMC hits a record year, while NOR Flash shrinks further

25 February, 2014 Posted by Kevin Gomez

Source: IHS Technology, February 2014

• 
  

The global memory market presented a vivid picture of contrast last year given the wildly divergent fortunes of its two main segments, with spritely NAND offset by the sobering continued downturn of beleaguered NOR flash, according to a new report from IHS Technology.

On the one hand, the NAND product known as embedded multimedia card (eMMC) enjoyed record shipments in 2013 of more than 1 billion units, up a hefty 49 percent from 687 million in 2012. NAND revenue rose 28 percent to US$25.8 billion.

In comparison, NOR shipments last year fell 10 percent to 606 million units, with revenue down 15 percent to approximately US$3.0 billion.

The overall flash market in 2013 was worth US$28.8 billion, up from US$23.7 billion a year earlier, as shown in the attached figure.

“The key driver to NAND lies in its proliferating use for mobile consumer electronics, exemplified by the memory’s increasingly widespread application in devices like smartphones, tablets and notebook PCs,” said Michael Yang, senior principal analyst for memory & storage at IHS.

“Meanwhile, NOR’s once-broad portfolio of applications in low-end mobile handsets and desktop PCs has mostly matured, and its next killer market has yet to manifest.”

These findings are contained in the report, “Mobile & Embedded Memory Tracker – Q4 2013,” from the Semiconductors & Components service of IHS.

NAND memory, in the form of either raw NAND or eMMC, is now the standard memory used for most smartphones. The only exception is Apple’s iPhone, which uses its own managed NAND memory product.

The evolution of eMMC, in particular, has been rapid, with nearly annual enhancements to performance. As an economical choice for greater flash-memory densities, eMMC has become viable in high-end markets like smartphones and tablets, in which high-density storage capacity is required along with low-power consumption and a small footprint.

Embedded NAND’s utility has also now carried over from smartphones in its early use, to tablets. Last year, eMMC was the standard memory configuration for a vast majority of tablets, the only exception being the Surface Pro from Microsoft, which employs a SATA-interface solid-state drive.

The billion-unit shipment level of eMMC last year is a milestone, Yang remarked, and the product shows the way forward for managed NAND solutions by its deft handling of error correction and enhanced reliability at the solution level.

The rise of eMMC has also bred a new cast of suppliers. While Samsung remains dominant, players like SK Hynix, SanDisk and Toshiba are fiercely competitive and poised to gain ground.

The eMMC space, however, could see challenges this year. With growth slowing in the smartphone and tablet markets, there could be a possible oversupply of the memory type, in the process also leading to a possible large drop in eMMC average selling prices.

The steady decline of the NOR flash market began in 2007 and hasn’t stopped since. At its peak, the NOR market exceeded US$9 billion a year and last hit US$8 billion back in 2006—a far cry from its current numbers.

The NOR picture is also complicated by the contrasting outlook for its two sub-segments.

Parallel NOR, long used in computers for boot-code execution or serving as a storage medium for entry-level cellphones, will see its run in wireless devices come to an end sometime next year.

Parallel NOR will continue to be used in high-level industrial, medical, networking and military applications, but its exit from wireless will be a blow.

Meanwhile, serial peripheral interface (SPI) NOR, rival to parallel NOR, will go on to wider use in both wireless and consumer devices.

SPI NOR’s relative simplicity in design and low manufacturing cost will prove appealing, and the memory will be especially attractive to manufacturers of low-cost cellphones that need to keep a lid on expenses.

The shift from parallel to SPI NOR has also impacted their respective suppliers. Micron Technology and Spansion, the foremost producers of parallel NOR, now also have SPI offerings.

However, both companies have been at pains to differentiate their SPI product from the rest of the pack, in order to stave off the aggressive penetration of other SPI NOR suppliers such as Macronix, Winbond Electronics and GigaDevice.

The ongoing growth of SPI NOR will help offset a shrinking parallel NOR market, but the industry would be healthier if consolidation took place and reduced the number of players to four, IHS believes.

There are five suppliers at present that command 75 percent of the market, along with a spattering of smaller producers that make up the rest of the market.

Even so, there are no quick fixes, with the largest NOR applications disappearing or on their way out, and new deployments like automotive NOR still facing an uphill climb.