eMemory Announces Validation of On-Chip Security IP on UMC Advanced Nodes

Hsinchu, Taiwan (July 27, 2017) – eMemory announced today that it has verified its latest on-chip security IP on several of UMC’s advanced nodes. The IP, based on unique IC biometrics, can enable a wide range of in-field security applications and be tailored for hardware protection within IoT and data centers.

In collaboration with UMC, eMemory’s NeoPUF IP has been taped out on the foundry’s 28nm HPC+ technology platform. In addition, it has been verified on UMC’s 55nm ULP platform, while verification on UMC’s 55nm ULP eFlash platform is expected to be completed soon.

As IC security has become immensely important, silicon PUF (Physical Unclonable Functions) is increasingly used in security applications for its “uniqueness” and “unclonability”. During the IC manufacturing process, variability occurs and creates physical differences among ICs, which become the so-called silicon fingerprint of ICs.

The silicon fingerprint is an unclonable identifier of individual ICs and can be used as a root of trust. An embedded NeoPUF scheme can secure the chip and IoT objects from the first point of the manufacturing process to their implementation and long-term operation.

eMemory’s NeoPUF technology is derived from the standard CMOS logic process and does not require costly error correction measures. It can be used to facilitate various security functionalities in the field, including authentication, encryption, and secure key generation.

The joint efforts between eMemory and UMC will enable the deployment of NeoPUF on UMC platforms, allowing customers to add security features to products tailored to the booming IoT market.

"eMemory’s NeoPUF IP is a welcome resource for our foundry customers wishing to customize their ICs to serve IoT and other security markets," said T H Lin, Division Director of IP Development & Design Support at UMC. "We are pleased at the results of this IP collaboration for our 28nm HPC+, 55nm ULP, and 55nm ULP eFlash technology platforms, as these processes are specifically engineered to address the performance and ultra-low power requirements of IoT applications."

"NeoPUF is a security solution that provides customers with comprehensive security and competitive edges, and we’re pleased to work with UMC to extend the IP to its 28nm HPC+, 55nm ULP, and 55nm ULP eFlash platforms,” said Michael Ho, Vice President of Business Development at eMemory.

PUF-based schemes have long been used at government and military information centers that necessitate the most stringent degree of security requirements. It is now increasingly used in other applications including IoT and data centers.

eMemory’s NeoPUF is able to fix major problems of conventional PUF solutions such as the high costs of complicated error correction codes (ECC). Its PUF responses have been reliably tested and the performance remains robust in temperatures ranging from -40°C to more than 125°C.

In addition, NeoPUF is able to extract a highly scalable random seed of up to 1024 kbits. Users are provided the desired flexibility to choose their own key-generation approaches.

About eMemory

eMemory (Stock Code: 3529) is a global leader in logic process embedded non-volatile memory (eNVM) silicon IP. Since it was established in 2000, eMemory has devoted itself to research and development of innovative technologies, offering the industry’s most comprehensive platforms of patented eNVM IP solutions, including NeoBit (OTP Silicon IP), NeoFuse (Anti-Fuse OTP Silicon IP), NeoMTP (1,000+ Times Programmable Silicon IP), NeoFlash (10,000+ Times Programmable Silicon IP), and NeoEE (100,000+ Times Programmable Silicon IP). The solutions are supplied to foundries, integrated devices manufacturers (IDMs), and design houses worldwide.

eMemory’s eNVM silicon IPs support a wide range of functions, including trimming, function selection, code storage, parameter setting, encryption, and identification setting. The company has the world’s largest NVM design/engineering team and prides itself on providing partners with a full-service solution - from design, fabrication to packaging and testing. For more information about eMemory, please visit www.ememory.com.tw.

About UMC

UMC (NYSE: UMC, TWSE: 2303) is a leading global semiconductor foundry that provides advanced IC production for applications spanning every major sector of the electronics industry. UMC’s comprehensive foundry solutions enable chip designers to leverage the company’s sophisticated technology and manufacturing, which include high volume 28nm High-K/Metal Gate technology, 14nm FinFET mass production, ultra-low power platform processes specifically developed for Internet of Things (IoT) applications and the automotive industry’s highest-rated AEC-Q100 Grade-0 manufacturing capabilities for the production of ICs found in vehicles. UMC’s 11 wafer fabs are strategically located throughout Asia and are able to produce nearly 600,000 wafers per month. The company employs over 19,000 people worldwide, with offices in Taiwan, China, Europe, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and the United States. UMC can be found on the web at http://www.umc.com.