Crocus

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.

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.

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.

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.

The new patents cover use in specialized memory chips known as Content Addressable Memories (CAM), opening the way to denser, faster and less power-hungry CAM, as well as innovative developments in the physics, materials, and manufacturing of MRAM chips with high data stability.  Commercialization of these technologies holds the promise of low cost, advanced technology MRAM to be used in applications ranging from mobile phones and disk drives to personal computers and network routers.

Jean-Pierre Braun, the CEO of Crocus technologies, is visiting Israel these days, and I had the good chance of meeting him. Crocus' technology is based on work done by the French Spintec research center. In fact they get an exclusive access to Spintec MRAM related research and patents for the next 15 years.

Crocus has raised 16.1M$ from VCs and government grants. The grants are from the French research and development agency OSEO.

The company says the new funding will allow it to complete its technology development phase, in advance of product introductions

Read more here (TheDeal.com)

Crocus Technologies today announced that it has qualified its complete manufacturing environment for the development and rapid prototyping of MRAM. Building upon conventional 130nm CMOS sourced at a leading foundry, Crocus is leveraging Silicon Valley-based SVTC's capabilities to complete the integration of its second-generation MRAM technology.

Tegal Corporation today announced that Crocus Technology SA, a startup company specializing in magneticrandom access memory (MRAM), has placed an order for a Tegal 6500series critical plasma etch system outfitted with Spectra(TM) processmodules. Crocus Technology SA of Grenoble, France recently received $17M in funding to commercialize MRAM technology and is in the processof starting a prototype and pilot plant for MRAM production.

Crocus Technology SA, a startup company specializing in magnetic random access memory, has raised $17 million in a Series A round of financing.

The money would be used to allow Crocus (Grenoble, France) to hire engineers and scientists in process engineering, test and design from Europe and the United States, Sofinnova Ventures said. Crocus also needs money to acquire specialized equipment to enable the company to complete a first memory test vehicle within 12 months and its first commercial product shortly thereafter, Sofinnova added.