Crocus

The world's first MRAM-based FPGA is ready for production

Menta SAS and LIRMM (The Montpellier Laboratory of Informatics, Robotics, and Microelectronics) has confirmed the tape out of world’s first MRAM-based FPGA. The FPGA is based on Menta's eFGPA Core programmable logic architecture and on CEA-LETI and Crocus's MRAM technology. It is manufactured in CMOS 130nm with magnetic junction in 120nm and provides capacity of 1,444 LUT4, equivalent to approximately 20K logic gates.

Pr Lionel Torres, in charge of the MRAM design project at LIRMM, says that “MRAM-based FPGA proposes better versatility with partial or dynamic re-configurability capabilities, instant on/off total or partial energy saving”.

06/09/2010

Crocus to sample 1-Mbit MRAM at the end of 2010, pricing it at "market price"

Yesterday Crocus has announced a new CEO (Dr. Bertrand F. Cambou) and an 8 million euro investment. Last year we spoke with their previous CEO (Jean-Pierre Braun), and now Dr. Bertrand was kind enough to answer a few questions we had.

Q: The original plan was to release products towards the end of 2009. What's the new target date?
End of 2010 for sampling, mid 2011 for revenue.

Q: Can you tell us a bit more about these products?
At first it will be NV-SRAM 1Mbit. Then we will expand to a family 256Kb-4Mb. We will price it at market price.

Q: When we talked to Jean-Pierre, he estimated the applying the technology for STT-RAM (in 45-60nm) will take at least 4-5 years. What's your view on that?
In my view point the current technology has leg, and will be integrated into CMOS logic all the way to 45nm. STT-TAS will take the relay at 32nm and under within 4-5 years.

Q: Where does he see Crocus' products used in the first few years?
Beside NV-SRAM, Crocus technology should be integrated into logic for embedding memory (replacing SRAM & Flash) into MCU. There is also the opportunity to replace the fuse on SRAM based FPGA to offer re-programable FPGA.

Q: Will Crocus require another round of finance, or do you hope that you can break-even soon?
We will look at strategic corporate partners interested by Crocus technology: NRE/ advance payment on Royalties/ low dilution.....

Dr. Bertrand - thanks again for answering our questions... good luck to both you and Crocus!

05/05/2010

Crocus raised €8 million, changes CEO

Crocus announced an 8 million euro investment, and a change of CEO. The new CEO is Dr. Bertrand F. Cambou. His main task is to bring their MRAM products to the market. Crocus aims to complete the production transfer of its 130nm MRAM technology to manufacturing partner Tower Semiconductor soon.

Crocus has originally planned to start production towards the end of 2009.

05/04/2010

Crocus announced a new STT-MRAM technology that can compete with DRAM and NOR-Flash

Crocus Technology announced the development of a new STT-MRAM technology with a minimum feature size of 50nm that will deliver on the promise of using STT memory in high-density memory applications, that will be competitive with DRAM and NOR-Flash.

Crocus' development addresses two critical problems in the implementation of STT MRAM that have previously hampered competitiveness with other popular memory types: memory bit density and stability. Crocus has developed a magnetic cell with an industry leading dynamic (i.e. sub-10 nanosecond) write current level of 2x10(6) amp/cm(2), e.g. less than 100µA write current per bit, a major milestone which will remove a significant obstacle to bit cell scaling and density. Crocus' STT technology also provides for industry-leading data stability.

10/01/2009

Crocus and Grandis present their MRAM tech at the Flash Memory Summit 2009

The final day of the Flash Memory Summit started with a panel on new memory technologies.

Crocus Technologies presented their TAS MRAM design which is targeted at SRAM and flash applications. Their product compared to SRAM at a 25% smaller cell, adding Non-Volatile capability, and a zero standby current. The product compared to NAND flash by having a smaller cell and only 1X area overhead for controlling circuitry. It is currently being built on a 130nm node and can be scaled. It is targeted at Cache memory, data logging, medical instrumentation, casino gaming and industrial control applications. They are targeting several business models - selling the standard product ICs, licensing IP a process technology licensing service and providing a foundry service.

08/16/2009

Tower to make MRAM chips for Crocus, also invests 1.25M$

Crocus announced today that Israeli Tower fab will manufacture their next-gen MRAM chips. Tower has an exclusive agreement to make the MRAM chips at their 200mm Fab2 facility. Tower has also invested 1.25$ at Crocus.

Crocus aims to start making the chips towards the end of 2009.

06/18/2009

Crocus buys MRAM measurement equipment from CAPRES A/S

Crocus announced today that it has implemented CIPtech, the newest tool from CAPRES A/S, for enabling measurements associated with advanced Spin Torque Technology (STT). This unique new tool, designed especially for the MRAM and magnetic recording Read Head industries, enables Crocus to determine tunneling resistance on MTJ films prior to final test. With this upgrade, measurement that used to require weeks of sample preparation can now be performed within minutes.