Adesto buys CBRAM IP from Qimonda

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Adesto Technologies Inc. has acquired intellectual property (IP) and patents related to conductive-bridging random access memory (CBRAM) technology from now-defunct Qimonda AG.

The agreement includes the purchase of 30 CBRAM patent families and the licensing of additional undisclosed patents. Qimonda had a history in developing emerging memory technologies like CBRAM.

Qimonda, the former leading memory chip producer based in Munich, is under insolvency administration in Germany since January of 2009. In the course of the insolvency proceedings it is marketing its approximately 10,000 worldwide patents and patent applications stemming from decades of semiconductor research and development.

Adesto-a memory startup funded by Applied Materials Inc. and others-is readying its first product-a CBRAM. Build around a 130-nm process, the CBRAM device is based on programmable metallization cell (PMC) technology.

CBRAM is an low power, CMOS-compatible memory that is customized for a wide range of discrete and embedded markets. Adesto plans to sample what could be the world’s first CBRAM as early as the first quarter of 2011.

CBRAM is seen as a potential candidate to replace conventional flash memory. Other candidates include FRAM, MRAM, phase-change, RRAM, among others.  

“Our agreement with Qimonda now positions Adesto as the clear leader in CBRAM memory technology and enhances our current IP position in this area tremendously,” said Narbeh Derhacobian, CEO of Adesto Technologies, in a statement. “We are impressed with the Qimonda  developed IP and believe it will accelerate our time to market in delivering our memory technology platform solution to end users in discrete and embedded application spaces.”