OTP with a ROM Conversion Option Provides Flexibility and Cost Savings for On-Chip Microcode Storage
August 31, 2009
By Bernd Stamme
Programming time and cost for larger one-time programmable (OTP) non-volatile (NVM) on-chip memories can be significant. Depending on the process technology and the OTP memory size it can take several seconds to program the OTP with automated test equipment (ATE) in manufacturing.
OTP provides invaluable flexibility and time-to-market advantages over mask read only memory (ROM) during early product phases. High volume products that have reached a maturity level that no longer require microcode updates are increasingly under price pressure and a prime target for reducing manufacturing cost. Conversion of the on-chip OTP to mask ROM is an option to improve product margins by eliminating the programming time and cost for the OTP.
This article covers the flexibility that an OTP with ROM option provides with regard to the product life cycle of high volume products. You will learn how to estimate OTP programming cost and make trade-off analysis to help you decide whether or not a mask ROM conversion makes economical sense.