GloFo buys Renesas’ non-volatile memory tech

News | February 10, 2023

By Peter Clarke

PLDs/FPGAs/ASICs Memory & Data Storage

GlobalFoundries Inc. (Malta, New York) has acquired conductive bridging random access memory (CBRAM) technology from Renesas for an undisclosed sum.

CBRAM is a form of resistive RAM (ReRAM) non-volatile memory first developed by Adesto Technologies Inc. It is based on the movement of copper ions through amorphous silicon dioxide to form cross-point filamentary bridge switches.

Globalfoundries was planning to offer CBRAM as an embedded NVM option on its 22FDX silicon-on-insulator 22nm manufacturing process in 2022. This offer was based on a license from Dialog Semiconductor plc (see Dialog licenses non-volatile memory to GloFo). That arrangement passed to Renesas when it acquired Dialog in 2021 (see Dialog confirms takeover talks with Renesas).

CBRAM is one of few ReRAM technologies to make it to market despite more than a decade of research by numerous companies. CBRAM is said to be suitable for harsh environments making it applicable to IoT and 5G connectivity, artificial intelligence and consumer, medical, and select industrial and automotive applications. It can require as little as one additional mask layer to be added to logic process.

“We’re committed to differentiating our technology portfolio to be the foundation of our customers’ energy efficient IoT applications today and for decades to come,” said Mike Hogan, chief business officer of GlobalFoundries, in a statement. “CBRAM technology unleashes a new paradigm of performance and ultra-low energy use, enabling a wide range of applications, from wearable devices to smartphones, to extend the time between battery charges from hours to weeks to years in specific use cases.”

Globalfoundries said CBRAM is being qualified on the 22FDX manufacturing process with plans to extend its uses to other manufacturing processes.