Various product applications bring up with increasing demands of logic NVM IP in advanced technology nodes. Encryption, security, functionality, and identification setting become indispensable in communication and high-end consumer electronics. A non-volatile memory cell, using anti-fuse programming mechanism to achieve high density and excellent data storage lifetime, is proposed. The unique cell design and operation scheme realize low programming-inhibit leakage current, fast program speed, and robust data retention. The memory macro is successfully demonstrated for one-time and multi-time programming applications with its full compatibility to sub-28nm and FinFET processes. IntroductionComparing with the use of commodity or stand-alone memory chips, products with embedded memory enhance the performance and reduce chip pin-counts, board space, and system cost. Embedded nonvolatile memory (NVM) has been widely used in consumer electronics, industrial and automotive applications for program code, firmware code, and data storage.Owing to the process simplicity of embedded logic process compatible NVM technology (logic-NVM), the technology and memory macro enable wider IP usages for: (1) identification or encryption data storage to achieve security or protection consideration, (2) storage of timing, parameter setting, function selection to achieve compact system design, and (3) the flexibility of field updates and product customization. Low/middle-end micro-controller unit (MCU) products have deployed logic-NVM for device ID, serial number setting, signal trimming and user parameter setting in a simpler and more cost-effective way. Now, logic-NVM is further adopted in key components of mobile device, such as CIS, DDI, PMU, AP, connectivity chip, etc., to minimize characteristic difference between chips by trimming and to calibrate system performance discrepancy by parameter setting. In addition, logic-NVM is also beneficial for security sensitivity applications, such as digital right protection and conditional access, which allow products to retain competitiveness. The IP usage of embedded NVM is illustrated in Figure 1.

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