Macronix and Low

power designs
January 27th, 2022

Macronix Proprietary
Chapter 1

Macronix and Portfolio

Macronix Proprietary
Macronix at a Glance
1989 Founded in Taiwan
8,600+ Patents Granted ( ~Dec., 2021)

US$ 1,805Million 2021 Revenue

4,000+ (22% in R&D) Employees Worldwide

2 in-house Fabs Complete In- house Wafer Manufacturing

200mm Fab: NOR ~50K
300mm Fab: NOR/NAND ~50K Design Capacity (wafer/month)

2021 Revenue by Products 2021 Flash Revenue by Applications

HQ in Hsinchu, Taiwan
Macronix Proprietary 2
 Leading Position in NOR Market
NOR Market Share
37%

33%
29%
Macronix
No.1 in NOR

10%
Infineon
(Cypress)
4% 4%
Micron

Source: Omdia (iHS Markit) , Macronix Marketing

www.macronix.com Macronix Proprietary 3

 Product Longevity Program

Reliable and dependable long term supply

Macronix owns 2 wafer fabrication facilities with full
control of manufacturing assuring the reliability.

MPLP (Macronix Product Longevity Program)

provides product up to 10 years support for
customers requiring long term lifecycle systems.

www.macronix.com Macronix Proprietary 4

 Comprehensive Product Portfolio
8Gb 16Gb 32Gb 64Gb
512Kb 1Mb 2Mb 4Mb 8Mb 16Mb 32Mb 64Mb 128Mb 256Mb 512Mb 1Gb 2Gb 4Gb 16 GB
1GB 2GB 4GB 8GB

Serial NOR Flash

3V / 2.5V / 1.8V / 1.2V / Ultra Low Vcc/ OctaFlash / ArmorFlash (512Kb-2Gb)

Parallel NOR Flash

5V / 3V / 1.8V (2Mb-2Gb)

NOR MCP
(64Mb-128Mb)
OctaMCP(512Mb)
SLC NAND Flash
3V / 1.8V (1Gb-8Gb)

NAND MCP
(1Gb-4Gb)

LybraFlash
(1Gb)

e .MMC™
(2GB-8GB)

Customized XtraROM
3V (128Mb-32Gb)
Note: e.MMC™ is the trademark of JEDEC/MMCA.
www.macronix.com Macronix Proprietary 5
 Highlight Products

NOR NAND

ArmorFlash LybraFlash OctaBus Memory Ultra Low Vcc

• AEC-Q100 Compliant • High Reliability & Longevity • Extreme Speed: 250 MHz • Wide Range Vcc 1.65 – 3.6V
• NIST Cryptographic • The Optimum Solution for with 500 MB/s • Ultra Low Vcc 1.2 V
Algorithm Validation Gigabit Flash Memory • Power “ Instant-on” GUI • Power Saving & Simple
Program Application System Design

Reliable & Comprehensive NOR / NAND Portfolio

www.macronix.com Macronix Proprietary 6

 Superior Quality Performance,
Reliability & Efficiency Improvement:
sNOVA Quality Certifications: AEC-Q100
compliant , IATF 16949, ISO
In 1989, Macronix built its own full- 26262
computer quality management system. NVM-NOR Quality Performance
Statistical Methodology supports facts ( Europe/ USA/ Japan Area)
ppb Shipping Q’ty
finding in timely fashion. (Million)

Trouble &
Identificatio Detection Problem
n shooting

Lot History
Statistical Methods & Big Data
Testing Tool / ppb Level
Lot
Avoid individual decision making Probe Card Quality
Defect & Minimize Human Error Clean Room Assurance
Metrolog Facility
y 41+ Data sources
35 TB+ Database Material
Lot WAT
(IQC) 1 ppm
Lot WS/FT Process Tool
Lot Lot (FDC)
WS/FT Lot
Reliability
Datalo Assembl
g y

Note: 1 ppm = 1000 ppb

www.macronix.com Macronix Proprietary 7
 Gaining Influence with Quality Recognition
350+ Million Automotive-grade parts shipment since 2012
NOR Flash Market Share
in Automotive No.1
in Automotive
by 2023

No.2
in Automotive

Y2012 Y2013 Y2014 Y2015 Y2016 Y2017 Y2018 Y2019 Y2020 Source: Macronix Marketing

www.macronix.com Macronix Proprietary 8

 Market Position Leadership

3D
Memory-
PPb
centric
Computing

Value-added Constant Uncompromised

Segments Innovation Quality

www.macronix.com Macronix Proprietary

Ecosystem Relationship
10
 Ecosystem Engagement

Chipset
Vendors

Software System
Providers Providers

www.macronix.com Macronix Proprietary 11

 Key Global Partnership

Chipset Vendor System Providers Software Providers

AMD Abbott AMI
Broadcom Bosch Insyde
CirrusLogic Cardinal Health Phoenix
Intel Continental
Mediatek Denso BPM Microsystems
Nordic Fujitsu Data I/O
nVidia Fresenius Medical Dediprog
NXP Garmin Elnec
Qualcomm GE Medical Hi-Lo Systems
Renesas Google
STMicro IBM Conax
TI Medtronic Nagravision
Xilinx NEC NDS
Lattice Nokia
Panasonic QNX
…

Siemens

…
…

www.macronix.com Macronix Proprietary 12

Portfolio
13
Flash Process Technology

NOR
130nm 110nm 75nm 68nm 55nm - 2022

NAND
75nm 36nm
SLC SLC
19nm
SLC MLC
Gen.1
TLC
Gen.2
TLC - 2023

Macronix Proprietary 14
 Serial NOR Flash Memory Portfolio
Update:2021/06/15

512Kb 1Mb 2Mb 4Mb 8Mb 16Mb 32Mb 64Mb 128Mb 256Mb 512Mb 1Gb 2Gb

MX25/66L
3V MX25/66Lxx55 * Secure
MX25V
Multi-I/O 2.5V MX25V

1.8V MX25/66U

1.2V MX25/66S
Wide Range
1.65~3.6V MX25R
Vcc & ULP

3V MX78L MX75L
ArmorFlash
1.8V MX78U(M) MX75U

MX25/66LM
3V
MX25/66LW
octaflash * RWW

MX25/66UM
1.8V
MX25/66UW
* RWW
Note: (1) Roadmap information is subject to change without notice. (2) Light shaded means new products in development

Macronix Proprietary 15
 NAND Flash Memory Portfolio
Update:2021/03/11

1Gb 2Gb 4Gb 8Gb

MX30/60L
3V
SLC MX30LxxS
* Secure
Standard
1.8V MX30/60U

3V MX35L
Serial NAND
1.8V MX35U

2GB 4GB 8GB 16GB

e·MMCTM
MX52L
(JEDEC v5.1)

Note: (1) Roadmap information is subject to change without notice. (2) Light shaded means new products in development

Macronix Proprietary 16
Chapter 2

Let’s talk about low-

power

Macronix Proprietary
 Why do we need low power flash?

For devices power up by batteries or by harvesters

 IoT sensor with logging feature
 Water/Gas meter
 Medical sensors
 Wearables

Macronix Proprietary 18
Market Trends Driving Low Power

Macronix Proprietary 19
 A bit of theory to do low power

About power About energy

 P = U.I  E = U.I.t

 P = U2.C.F (for switching logic)

 We consider reducing power when voltage  We consider reducing energy when battery or
source has a limited current max (like supercap is the voltage source
harvester), or when it is about regulation

To do low-power design, we need to : To do-low energy design, we need to :

 Choose the lower voltage  Choose the lower voltage
 Reduce the current (features, running mode)  Limit the current
Or reduce the frequency  Limit the time of current consumption

Macronix Proprietary 20
 How to choose voltage
Different considerations can be evaluated
 Availability of main components in different voltages (MCU, Sensors, NVM, RF Trx, drivers, …)
 Battery technology
 Goal to keep design simple (Avoid level shifters and complex power architecture)
 ….

And at the end select the right Macronix Serial Nor!

Macronix Proprietary 21
 Serial NOR Flash : Voltage selection
Update:2021/06/15

512Kb 1Mb 2Mb 4Mb 8Mb 16Mb 32Mb 64Mb 128Mb 256Mb 512Mb 1Gb 2Gb

MX25/66L
3V MX25/66Lxx55 * Secure
MX25V
Multi-I/O 2.5V MX25V

1.8V MX25/66U

1.2V MX25/66S
Wide Range
1.65~3.6V MX25R
Vcc & ULP

3V MX78L MX75L
ArmorFlash
1.8V MX78U(M) MX75U

MX25/66LM
3V
MX25/66LW
octaflash * RWW

MX25/66UM
1.8V
MX25/66UW
* RWW
Note: (1) Roadmap information is subject to change without notice. (2) Light shaded means new products in development

Macronix Proprietary 22
 Let’s talk about Macronix MX25R
Voltage Features

Standard Serial
NOR Proven 75nm NOR
Flash Interface
Technology
Common Serial Flash(F rev)
Commands and Small
Very Pin out Form
High reliable
Ultra Low inPower
Process prod
Factor
since 4 year (extreme Temp
andUSON,
AECQ100Consumption
reliability)
WLCSP, KGD
(Typ)
Deep PowerWide Down Current
Range Vcc~7nA
Active Current< 4mA
1.7~3.6V
Peak Active Current< 8mA

+
+ +++ + + + +
+
+
++ ++
Macronix Proprietary
 MX25R Wide Range Vcc
Extends Battery Life Time and Total BOM Cost

LDO inside to regulate internal power

Battery

1.65~3.6V

LDO SPI
MCU
MX25R
Extends battery life time

No system LDO needed Ex LI SOCL2

P batt : 3.6V (typ)

Macronix Proprietary
 1.2 V Serial NOR Flash

• The MX25S Series meets these needs by featuring ultra-low VCC

(1.14V-1.3V) and ultra-low power consumption (1.65mA ICC_active,
7nA ICC_dpd), capable of more than 80% power saving (compared to
the existing Serial NOR Flash). The MX25S will also effectively extend
the battery life.

Macronix Proprietary
Why 1.2V NOR Flash?
• Logic Technology is moving to 40nm and beyond
 The core voltage down to 0.9V for deep sub-micron process

• Low power
 For lower power (I*V*t)

• Battery Technology is moving to Metal-air & Metal Oxide

 Silver Oxide battery voltage ranged from 1.14V to 1.6V
 Zinc-air battery voltage ranged from 0.9V to 1.5V

• DRAM goes to 1.2V DDR4

• Low BOM simple system requires 1.2V NOR

 Current solution is using DC/DC regulator
 uC, RAM & 3-axis sensors use 1.2V - only NOR cannot meet 1.2V

Macronix Proprietary 26
 How to limit current
Need to limit current when flash is not used : Off Mode
Need to limit current when flashed is power on but not used : Standby mode
Need to limit current when flashed is used : Read/Program/Erase Mode
Need to reduce Average current : Find the right trade off in between modes

Macronix Proprietary 27
 Serial NOR Flash : Low current selection
Update:2021/06/15

512Kb 1Mb 2Mb 4Mb 8Mb 16Mb 32Mb 64Mb 128Mb 256Mb 512Mb 1Gb 2Gb

MX25/66L
3V MX25/66Lxx55 * Secure
MX25V
Multi-I/O 2.5V MX25V

1.8V MX25/66U

1.2V MX25/66S
Wide Range
1.65~3.6V MX25R
Vcc & ULP

3V MX78L MX75L
ArmorFlash
1.8V MX78U(M) MX75U

MX25/66LM
3V
MX25/66LW
octaflash * RWW

MX25/66UM
1.8V
MX25/66UW
* RWW
Note: (1) Roadmap information is subject to change without notice. (2) Light shaded means new products in development

Macronix Proprietary 28
 Let’s talk about Macronix MX25R
Current Features
Wide Range Vcc
Standard Serial 1.7~3.6V
NOR Proven 75nm NOR
Flash Interface
Technology
Common VeryFlash
Serial (F rev)
Small Form
Commands and Pin out Low Power
Ultra
High Factor
reliable Process in prod
Consumption
since 4 year (extreme Temp (Typ)
USON, WLCSP,
and AECQ100 KGD
reliability)
Deep Power Down Current ~7nA
Active Current< 4mA
Peak Active Current< 8mA

+
+ +++ + + + +
+
+
++ ++
Macronix Proprietary
Off Mode 
No FET
Lower System Cost

Battery
Battery
Vcc

IO

Flash MCU SPI

SPI Flash MCU

MX25R
Deep power down current
95% lower

Design approach for conventional flash was to switch off the flash by a FET
transistor when not in use to save power consumption but :
• FET has an internal power consumtion : Iq (Ex TI TPS2049 is around 1uA)
• Can be a problem if SPI IOs are not stable
• Wake-up done by reset : too long (Energy budget!) 800uS vs 35uS

Macronix Proprietary
Ultra Low Deep Power Down Current
Current (uA)

Conventional

-95%
Macronix
MX25R
Family

Macronix Proprietary
MX25R Deep Down Power mode
Deep
Down 7nA
Power
Turn Off
Reset# low Deep Down Power
or Command 0xB9
CS# low 20ns Delay to Deep Down Power
Recovery ~35us Mode ~10us
(45us HPM)
Turn Off
Power off
Standby 5uA
Turn On
Startup time
~800us
Any command Internal
operation
completion

Turn Off

Active

Macronix Proprietary
Off Mode : Reminder!

Battery

IO
IO
Flash Vcc IO
IO MCU
IO
SPI IO

Macronix Proprietary
Active mode
Current (mA)
Ultra Low Active Current
Conventional

-70%
Macronix
MX25R Family

Active current: Avarage of Erase, Write & Read current

Macronix Proprietary
Ultra Low Peak Active Current
Current (mA)

Less Capacitor Needed

Conventional Low System Cost

-60%

Macronix
MX25R Family

Macronix Proprietary
Active mode : Switching mode

P = U2.C.F

Macronix Proprietary
Different access modes : 1-2-2

Macronix Proprietary
Different access modes : 1-4-4

Macronix Proprietary
Saving energy = Most efficient

MX25R8035F datasheet extract

Acces Mode VS Frequency VS Duration

Access Mode Nb of cycles Current (mA) Energy
1-2-2@16MHz 27 2.2 x59.4
1-4-4@16MHz 21 2.8 x58.8

Macronix Proprietary
 Let’s talk about Macronix MX25R
LP/Perf Modes
Wide Range Vcc
Standard Serial 1.7~3.6V
NOR Proven 75nm NOR
Flash Interface
Technology
Common Serial (F rev)
Flash Ultra Low Power
Commands and Pin out Form
Very Small
HighFactor
reliable Process in prod Consumption (Typ)
Different
since 4 year modes
(extreme Temp
and AECQ100
USON, reliability)
LowWLCSP,
powerKGD or Performances Deep Power Down Current ~7nA
Active Current< 4mA
Peak Active Current< 8mA

+
+ +++ + + + +
+
+
++ ++
Macronix Proprietary
MX25R
Ultra Low Power/High Performance Mode Swappable
High Performance Mode (HPM)

80MHz Read
bit1 =1
Default Ultra Low Power Mode

bit1 =0
DPD Current 7 nA typ.
Standby Current 5 uA typ.
bit1 =0

Ultra Low Power Mode (ULP)

Macronix Proprietary
 MX25R Performance Mode
MX25Rxx35FH High
Standby current: 9uA
High Perfomrance Performance Deep Power Down current:
Mode 7nA
Mode by default Read Current: 5.6mA
(HPM)
Program Current: 5.8mA
Erase current: 4mA

High Performance
Swithing power mode is done by setting Ultra Low Power mode
Power off
the L/H Switch bit in the configuration Deep Down Power
register 2 by write status register current is equal

MX25Rxx35FL Ultra Low Standby current: 5uA

Low Power Mode by Power Mode Deep Power Down current:
(ULP) 7nA
default Read Current: 2.8mA
Program Current: 3.5mA
Erase current: 3.1mA

Macronix Proprietary
MX25R Battery consumption

Macronix Proprietary
Average current : Activity cycle

Un activity cycle is composed of differents consecutive modes

• Off mode : driving Ioff current during Toff time
• Standby mode : driving Isb current during Tsb time
• Active mode : driving Iac current during Tac time

Average current = (Ioff*Toff + Isb*Tsb + Iac*Tac) / (Toff+Tsb+Tac)

This average current will allow to define the battery parameters

Let’s see an example!

Macronix Proprietary
 Application and cycle definition
• Thermostat based on the EFM32 MCU from Silabs + 1 SPI flash used for the DATA
log.
• The flash is used only to store data like the Date, the Hour and the temperature

– Measurement is done once every 30min: 1 page Program of 256B written

– Once the Page Progam (256B) is done SPI flash is turned into Deep Down
power Mode for the next 30min
– After 8 hours ( 16 x 256B written in the Flash, the sector N of 4KB is full)
– After 30min of Deep Power Down:
• Read 4KB out of the sector N
• Erase sector N-1
• Measure temperature and Program 1 page of 256B in sector N+1

Macronix Proprietary
 Application Definition
• Memory Usage: the flash spend 99.999% in Deep Down Power mode

1 Page Prog 1 Page Prog 1 Page Prog 1 Page Prog 1 Page Prog 1 Page Prog 1 Page Prog 1 Page Prog 1 Page Prog 1 Page Prog 1 Page Prog 1 Page Prog 1 Page Prog 1 Page Prog 1 Page Prog 1 Page Prog Read 4KB (@10Mhz)
Erase4KB

Deep Deep Deep Deep Deep Deep Deep Deep Deep Deep Deep Deep Deep Deep Deep Deep
Down Down Down Down Down Down Down Down Down Down Down Down Down Down Down Down
Power Power Power Power Power Power Power Power Power Power Power Power Power Power Power Power

CF Flash DS CF Flash DS CF Flash DS CF Flash DS CF Flash DS CF Flash DS CF Flash DS CF Flash DS CF Flash DS CF Flash DS CF Flash DS CF Flash DS CF Flash DS CF Flash DS CF Flash DS CF Flash DS CF Flash DS
30min 30min 30min 30min 30min 30min 30min 30min 30min 30min 30min 30min 30min 30min 30min 30min

8 hours

• The system is Battery Powered: CR2016 3V 90mAh

Macronix Proprietary
MX25L6433F Vs Battery Life
Estimated Operating Life: 2Years 305days

Macronix Proprietary
MX25R6435F in LP mode Vs Battery Life
Estimated Operating Life: 11Years 49days

Macronix Proprietary
Let’s talk about Macronix MX25R

Standard Serial
NOR Flash Interface
Common Serial Flash Wide Range Vcc
Commands and Pin out 1.7~3.6V

Proven 75nm NOR

Technology (F rev) Ultra Low Power
High reliable Process in prod Consumption (Typ)
since 4 year (extreme Temp Deep Power Down Current ~7nA
and AECQ100 reliability) Active Current< 4mA

+
+++ +
Peak Active Current< 8mA

+
+
Very Small Form
+
++ ++
Factor Different modes

+
USON, WLCSP, KGD Low power or Performances

+ +
Macronix Proprietary
Before leaving, what about NAND flash?

• 1.8V Serial NAND : Deep power down available

• eMMC : Sleep power mode, several access
modes available

Macronix Proprietary
This is the end! Thank you!

Questions ….

Macronix Proprietary
Macronix Proprietary