Accent and Kilopass announce the successful implementation of XPM secure memory technology in SoC fo

Santa Clara, CA and Milan, Italy – 19 April 2005. Accent Srl and Kilopass Technology Inc. announced today that Accent has successfully implemented Kilopass’ embedded non-volatile memory (NVM) intellectual property (IP) in a System-on-Chip (SoC) that will provide the key technology element in the electronic infrastructure for an intelligent building application. The SoC has been designed by Accent to be easily adaptable to its customer’s entire range of electronic products.

Kilopass’ XPM memory technology has security characteristics that make it effectively impossible to reverse-engineer. Because the memory block is embedded, information is internally secured to the SoC’s design. There is no floating charge as with Flash technology, so low-cost passive reverse-engineering methods are not possible. In addition, an XPM memory cell has no visible indicators that would reveal its state, if the chip were to be de-layered.

"We chose Kilopass’ XPM non-volatile memory technology for the intelligent building SoC project not only because it met our customer’s security requirements but because it could also be embedded easily into an SoC using standard CMOS process technology," said Massimo Vanzi, Accent’s General Manager. "It also meant that the technology could be cost-effectively manufactured by many leading CMOS foundries around the world."

The companies have also announced that Kilopass has become an IP partner in Accent’s Highway to Silicon programme. Highway to Silicon was conceived to offer customers a seamless path for access to and integration of the most advanced silicon technologies into a single chip as well as simplify the management of the semiconductor supply chain, even for low volume production. With the growing requirement to incorporate secure NVM technologies in SoC projects, the availability of Kilopass’ NVM technology enhances Accent’s portfolio of technologies available through IP providers.

"Our XPM technology is now being used by leading companies all over the world for secure storage and firmware protection," added Bernie Aronson, Kilopass President. "We are pleased that Accent has picked us as one of its IP partners and is successfully using our technology for its customers' applications."

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About Accent

Accent S.r.l. is a leading electronics design house that helps customers worldwide to realise their new product ideas and concepts as well as further innovate existing products through the development of dedicated ICs (integrated circuits) and complex, high performance SoCs (systems-on-chip). Accent works closely with IDMs, OEMs and fabless companies alike as well as increasingly with non-electronics companies that need access to electronics expertise as part of their product innovation processes. Accent can provide a turnkey design service from concept and architecture definition through to design implementation and prototyping as well as assist customers’ own design teams with experienced design engineers at every stage of the development flow. Accent can also manage the whole electronics supply chain including access to the major foundries for small-to-medium volumes silicon with a COT (customer-owned tooling) approach through its Highway to Silicon programme. Accent operates through offices and representatives in Germany, Israel, Italy, the UK and the USA. For more information about Accent, please visit www.accent.it, call +39 039 629011 or email info@accent.it

About Kilopass

Kilopass Technology, Inc. was founded with the mission of becoming the industry leader in embedded non-volatile memory (NVM) technology. The Company’s super-programmable memory technology is manufactured using standard commercial CMOS process, and is used for storage of firmware and security codes. The company is headquartered at 3333 Octavius Dr. Suite 101, Santa Clara, CA 95054, USA. For more information, please visit http://www.kilopass.com, call (408) 980-8808 or email klptinfo@kilopass.com.