NXP and TSMC partner to develop 16nm FinFET embedded MRAM
Believed to be the industry’s first automotive embedded MRAM (magnetic random access memory) in 16nm FinFET technology has been developed by NXP Semiconductors in collaboration with TSMC.
It has been introduced to meet automotive industry challenges. As automakers transition to software-defined vehicles (SDVs), they need to support multiple generations of software upgrades on a single hardware platform, said NXP. The company’s S32 automotive processors are combined with fast, reliable non-volatile memory in 16nm FinFET technology, which it claimed provides the ideal hardware platform for this transition.
MRAM can update 20Mbytes of code in approximately three seconds; flash memories take about one minute. This reduction minimises the downtime associated with software updates and enables carmakers to eliminate bottlenecks that arise from long module programming times. MRAM is a reliable technology for automotive mission profiles, continued the company, because it offers up to one million update cycles, a level of endurance that is 10 times greater than flash and other emerging memory technologies.
SDVs enable carmakers to roll out new comfort, safety and convenience features via over the air (OTA) updates, extending the life of the vehicle and enhancing its functionality, appeal and profitability. As software-based features become more widespread in vehicles, the frequency of updates will increase and MRAM’s speed and robustness will become even more important.
TSMC’s 16FinFET embedded MRAM technology exceeds the rigorous requirements of automotive applications with its one million cycle endurance, support for solder reflow and 20-year data retention at 150 degrees C.
“The innovators at NXP have always been quick to recognize the potential of TSMC’s new process technologies, especially for demanding automotive applications,” said Dr Kevin Zhang, senior vice president of business development at TSMC. “We’re excited to see our leading MRAM technology employed in NXP’s S32 platform to enable the coming generation of software-defined vehicles.”
Henri Ardevol, executive vice president and general manager of automotive processing at NXP, added: “MRAM is a breakthrough addition to NXP’s S32 automotive solution portfolio supporting next-generation vehicle architectures”.
Test vehicle samples are complete and in evaluation. Initial product samples are scheduled for lead customer availability in early 2025.
