Intel Ups Stake in Phase-Change Memory Creator

Online staff -- Electronic News, 10/19/2005

Intel Capital has made an additional investment of an undisclosed amount in semiconductor memory technology developer Ovonyx Inc., creator of a memory technology uses a reversible phase-change memory process that has been previously commercialized worldwide in rewritable CD and DVD optical memory disks.

The chip giant first invested in Ovonyx in February 2000, when the Ovonyx had licensed its phase-change memory technology to Intel. The companies have been working together since then to develop and demonstrate the feasibility of high-density, non-volatile memory based on the technology, the companies said.

Ovonyx’s array-addressed semiconductor memory technology can be used in applications that benefit from non-volatile low power memory ranging from mobile computing, communications and information appliances to embedded applications such as microcontrollers and reconfigurable MOS logic.

“The investment will be used to further the strategic goals of Ovonyx, principally by supporting ongoing development activities, and we look forward to continuing our joint development program with Intel,” said Tyler Lowrey, president and CEO of Ovonyx, in a statement.

Stefan K. Lai, Intel VP and director of California Technology Manufacturing said, “Intel's incremental investment in Ovonyx reflects our continued interest in exploring the potential of the technology as a future nonvolatile memory alternative.”

Ovonyx was formed to commercialize the proprietary phase-change semiconductor memory technology originally invented and pioneered by S. R. Ovshinsky at Energy Conversion Devices Inc.

This nonvolatile memory technology is meant to allow faster write and erase speeds and higher cycling endurance than conventional Flash memory, while using a simple fabrication process that allows the design of semiconductor chips with embedded nonvolatile memory using only a few additional mask steps.

Ovonyx is pursuing commercialization of its array-addressed memory systems through joint development programs with a number of licensees including BAE Systems, Intel, ST Microelectronics, Nanochip and Elpida Memory.