NVM new technologies have been developed in the last 25 years in order to replace flash and DRAM memories, either on niche applications (like FRAM) or for mainstream business, with limited impact up to now. But a series of new technologies (and companies) are now entering volume production, using resistive RAM, magnetic RAM technologies… Let’s discover with Ishai Naveh, co-founder and Vice President of Marketing and Business Development for Adesto Technologies, how the company is envisioning the evolution of its business.
Adesto is both developing CBRAM technology, mainly for low power and low energy applications. One of the very smart moves of Adesto, in parallel to its development, has been the acquisition in 2012 of the serial flash memory activities of ATMEL, generating both sales and direct contacts with customers potentially interested in the CBRAM technology. Yole Développement recently launched a report on Emerging Non Memory Volatile technologies and market trends. Discover more about it here.
Yole Développment: Ishai Naveh, could you briefly introduce Adesto, its history and current activities?
Ishai Naveh: Adesto Technologies is inventing memory for “Things”, providing innovative non-volatile memory solutions for consumer, communication, mobile and industrial markets. Adesto has proprietary non-volatile memory technologies specifically addressing low power/ low energy applications such as wearable and battery operated mobile computing. Adesto's business model includes manufacturing, sales and distribution of products based on its proprietary low power technologies and also licensing of Intellectual Property. Adesto has over 200 customers including many tier 1 consumer electronics companies. Adesto uses a system of reps and distributor networks globally to reach and service its customer base.
In 2007, the founders of Adesto Technologies set out to build a new company focused on developing innovative, low-power memory solutions based on a promising type of Resistive RAM technology called Conductive Bridging RAM (CBRAM).
Adesto’s CBRAM® technology is the world’s first commercially available resistive memory technology and also a disruptive technology that enables fast and extremely low-voltage/low-energy operation for energy-conscious applications
As explained in the introduction, in September 2012, Adesto expanded the company’s value-added memory business by acquiring Atmel’s DataFlash and Serial Flash product lines. Since the acquisition, Adesto has enhanced its Serial Flash lines by bringing to market new, low voltage, feature-rich products. These products deliver to customers high quality Serial
Flash solutions which help designers to extend battery life, reduce system power, and reduce overall system costs.
With approximately 100 employees and a patent portfolio of more than 1OO patents, Adesto is in a great position to take full benefit of the expansion of the internet of things applications.
YD: What are the competitive advantages of your offer?
IN: It is based on CBRAM's unique capabilities:
1) Ultra-low Power Operation
- Capability to operate at extremely low voltage using very low energy will empower new applications such as energy-harvesting (battery-free) sensors and monitors, as well as other ultra-low power embedded devices.
-CBRAM’s power and energy requirements for reading and writing data are 10 to 100 times lower than today’s technology solutions.
2) Faster Performance
- Adesto’s CBRAM provides extremely fast read and write capability (currently 200X faster than EEPROM memory devices).
3) Robust in Extreme Environments
- The growth of wearable electronics in the health care industry requires a sterilization level not met by today’s general purpose microelectronics industry.
-Adesto’s CBRAM’s is tolerant to gamma radiation sterilization. This enables CBRAM products to be used in medical and health service environments and other applications that require sterile components.
4) In addition to CBRAM, our Serial Flash technologies lead the industry in low-voltage and wide voltage range operation. They also include smart energy conservation features such as ultra-deep power down and built-in capability to reduce overhead on system microcontrollers.
YD: Adesto focuses on Internet of things low power applications. What are the different IoT applications targeted by Adesto?
IN: We are looking at all the applications that require low power and low energy, like Wearables (eg., smart watches and fitness monitors), Health Monitors and Appliances, Industrial Sensors (including energy metering), Home Automation Sensors and Appliances (temperature and light sensors, security systems, energy management systems, etc.). Wireless Consumer Electronics.
The market driver for such applications are clearly longer battery life, reduced component costs, component-level data security - growth of the IoT particularly in code and data logging applications. Adesto is both looking at embedded applications and standalone products, in order to cover all the needs of the customers.
Adesto’s product focus is on expanding IoT applications such as wearables, home automation,
industrial controls, health and fitness monitors, and agricultural environment monitors.
YD: What is the timeframe for the development of such applications?
IN: Many component and embedded solutions are ready now, 1.65v memory is expected H1 2015 and 1.2v for the second part of the year 2015.
YD: There are many different kinds of RRAM on the market (CBRAM, OxRAM, CMox…). What is the positioning of your memory in this landscape and its distinctive features?
IN: CBRAM is created by applying patented metallization and dielectric stack layers between CMOS interconnect layers. The size of the memory cell is determined by the underlying access transistor (whether using a Logic or DRAM process). The result is a superior NVM with long-term CMOS scalability. CBRAM is not an esoteric fabrication, it competes with FLASH and EEPROM devices in cost structure. Adesto is the only commercial manufacturer of resistive RAM with discrete devices for sale today. Our expertise and experience designing and manufacturing CBRAM allows us to be generations ahead of other fabless RRAM developers. CBRAM is also better suited to embedded applications than other RRAM technologies even with FinFET and High K Metal Gates.
Adesto’s product portfolio includes standard Serial Flash and CBRAM serial memory. The devices are manufactured and sold as discrete packaged components, as wafer-level chip scale packages, and as embedded memory technology.
YD: How easy or difficult is it to set up a supply chain for such technology?
IN: This was a fundamental, driving force behind the acquisition of our Serial Flash product lines. Almost instantly, we obtained customers and established a distribution network for product sales. Our distributors include the world’s leading providers of electronic components, and our manufacturing reps and direct sales managers are expanding our footprint globally. For the manufacturing process, CBRAM requires only one extra piece of standard process equipment; several foundries are interested in adding that to their portfolio.
YD: How do you think a fabless company can be successful in this memory business?
IN: Adesto’s strategy is not to pursue the largest density products, but rather a combination of medium density products at mainstream process nodes with added features that provide additional value. We believe this directly targets the needs of the IoT.
YD: Adesto has presented a 1.2 V low power CBRAM at Electronica conference. What are the next important milestones in your technology developments?
IN: The next milestone will be moving to smaller fab architectures (sub 70 nm)… and of course to move today’s product portfolio to large volume production.
YD: What are the remaining challenges to have access to IoT wearable market ?
IN: It remains a broader awareness and adoption of new memory.
Ishai Naveh
Ishai Naveh is a co-founder and the Vice President of Marketing and Business Development for Adesto Technologies. In his role, he is responsible for forging partnerships as well as positioning the company in growing, lucrative markets. Previously Mr. Naveh, was the VP of Marketing for Non-volatile Memories and Mixed Signal Technologies at Tower Semiconductor USA. Prior to arriving in the USA, he was Senior Director for foundry technologies at Tower. Mr. Naveh began his career at National Semiconductor, holding several positions in the USA and Israel. Mr. Naveh holds a B.Sc. from the Hebrew University and MBA from Heriott-Watt University. He has published several papers and issued over 10 patents.
Source: www.yole.fr / http://www.adestotech.com/
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