Zhuhai Chuangfeixin: OTP IP Based on 90nm CMOS Image Sensor Process Technology Successfully Mass-Produced

April 17, 2024 -- Zhuhai Chuangfeixin Technology Co., Ltd.(CFX), a leading one-stop NVMIP (Non-Volatile Memory IP) provider in China, recently announced that its OTP IP (One-Time Programmable memory IP core) for 90nm CMOS Image Sensor (CIS) process technology has successfully entered mass production at one of the top five global foundries. This OTP IP utilizes CFX’s second-generation storage cell, which is 55% smaller than the first generation, offering significant advantages and competitiveness. The OTP IP has passed the reliability quality verification required by the foundry for the 90nm CIS process technology and is now verified in customer products and realized in large-scale mass production. This technological breakthrough marks an important advancement in the company’s IP products in the image sensor field, providing customers with highly reliable, low-cost, and compact OTP IP solutions.

The Role of OTP IP in the CIS Field

OTP IP plays a crucial role in the CIS field by offering programmable functionality that ensures data integrity and security once programmed, preventing alteration or erasure. With the growing adoption of embedded applications, OTP IP serves as a protective measure for hardware designs, safeguarding products against unauthorized access. It finds wide application in display drivers, image sensors, power management chips, MCUs, Bluetooth chips, and other areas. In the image sensor domain specifically, even the most advanced manufacturing processes can result in image distortions due to variances. OTP IP addresses this by storing information like defective pixel locations and sensor array calibration data, aiding in image correction during operation.

CFX Launches Secure, Reliable, and Compact OTP IP Tailored for CIS Applications, Offering Several Advantages:

• No Additional Mask and Process Steps Required: CFX’s core team has been developing OTP patents since 2013, establishing a robust foundation in anti-fuse OTP IP technology. This technology is market-validated, customer-approved, completely reliable, and secure. The manufacturing process for anti-fuse OTP IP doesn't necessitate extra conditions or steps, allowing it to be designed using the same rules as logic devices in standard CMOS processes. This results in low secondary development costs and scalability benefits.
• Increased Reliability: The underlying technology of anti-fuse OTP IP involves programming through oxide layer breakdown via the application of high voltage. Since no changes are needed in the manufacturing process, anti-fuse OTP IP achieves the same yield and reliability as standard CMOS processes.
• Compact IP Core Area: CFX developed a highly competitive IP area through continuous iteration and technical expertise. The second-generation storage cell-based OTP IP is 55% smaller than the first generation, empowering customers' CIS product applications and offering secure, reliable, cost-effective, and low-power solutions.

About CFX OTP IP Product Dynamics

CFX has established strategic partnerships with advanced wafer manufacturers globally, validating processing nodes including 180/130/110/90/55/40/28/22nm, etc. These partnerships enable our company to customize OTP IP solutions according to specific customer needs, achieving desired benchmarks in power consumption, size, performance, cost, and more. As a leading OTP IP supplier in mainland China, CFX is dedicated to improving embedded non-volatile storage, providing various mature, reliable, and competitive OTP IP solutions to many industry-leading design companies in China. Understanding the unique requirements of the local market and customers, CFX assists domestic IC enterprises in achieving domestic substitution, serving over 50 customers and powering more than 1 billion chips using CFX’s NVMIP solutions. Leveraging its strong R&D capabilities and extensive technical experience, CFX is committed to furthering its investment in R&D, enhancing core competitiveness, and offering comprehensive OTP IP technology solutions to a broader application market, significantly contributing to the domestic NVMIP field.