Latest news with #FlashMemory
The Australian
5 days ago
- Business
- The Australian
Weebit's IP fuels ReRAM ambitions
ReRAM is rising as Flash runs out of road Weebit's licensing model starts to deliver real dollars Big customers, big market, $8.07 target on the table Special Report: Weebit Nano's ReRAM tech is quietly locking into billion-dollar markets with a licensing model most ASX investors are only just starting to understand. If you want to understand why Weebit Nano (ASX:WBT)is starting to draw attention in the semiconductor world, you've got to start with a deceptively small acronym: ReRAM. Short for resistive random-access memory, ReRAM is part of a new breed of memory technology that's been waiting in the wings while Flash memory hogged the spotlight. But as the world moves towards AI-powered edge devices and autonomous everything, Flash has hit a wall. ReRAM, on the other hand, is built to scale - which is why Weebit is showing up on a few more investor radars. The case for ReRAM In today's world of edge computing - smartwatches, self-driving cars, factory floor sensors - devices are expected to do more with less. They need to be smart, secure, fast and frugal with power. The problem is that traditional Flash memory isn't playing ball. It simply can't shrink down to the chip sizes modern applications demand. That's where ReRAM shines. Read later: Why Weebit's ReRAM tech looks ready for the next era of smart devices Instead of storing data using electric charge like Flash, ReRAM does it by tweaking resistance - meaning it's less power-hungry and easier to embed directly onto the same chip as the processor. 'ReRAM seems to be the number one replacement technology. But we're not there yet, Weebit's not there yet, although making good progress, last week announcing its first product licence,' said Andrew Johnston, a senior analyst at MST Access. 'But we know that people can get there, we've got the example of TSMC.' Johnston said that TSMC, the world's most advanced chip manufacturer, was the only other company to successfully commercialise ReRAM. But because they develop and use their own tech, that leaves the rest of the global market - 85% by Johnston's estimate - wide open for Weebit to chase. Inside Weebit's IP engine Unlike traditional chipmakers who spend billions building factories (or "fabs"), Weebit doesn't manufacture anything. Instead, it licenses its ReRAM technology to other companies who integrate it into their chips. 'There's just not a lot of this sort of company listed in Australia,' Johnston observed. And that's why many ASX investors might not yet grasp just how powerful an IP licensing model can be. It's an asset-light approach that could prove highly rewarding, especially once the royalties start to roll in. 'The chip manufacturers license technology from Weebit to use in the manufacture of the chips they make. 'Receipts from customers that Weebit recorded is the payment of those licence fees. But it's the royalty payments where the big dollars are.' Here's how the model works: A chip manufacturer like onsemi or DB HiTek signs a licence agreement and pays an upfront fee. Then comes the technical dance known as 'qualification' - embedding Weebit's IP into their chipmaking process. That alone can take 18–24 months. Once done though, royalties start flowing every time those chips are sold to end customers. This isn't niche; it's the same licensing model used by industry giants like ARM, and even TSMC still licenses its IP. And because Weebit doesn't need fabs, inventory or warehouses, its gross margins are, frankly, off the charts. 'Gross margins on these businesses are going to be 90% or more,' said Johnston. 'There's no massive investment in capex, and not a lot of friction in between.' Validation from a giant For those still questioning Weebit's commercial traction, the January licence deal with US$25-billion market-capped onsemi (NASDAQ:ON) marked a huge step forward. onsemi is a Fortune 500 company, a Nasdaq 100 heavyweight, and, most importantly, a major supplier of chips to the automotive industry. 'They're a really important company,' Johnston pointed out. 'New cars have something like 1,000 chips in them and with Weebit's technology, the auto sector is a particularly important segment.' That deal wasn't just symbolic. According to Johnston's estimates, the upfront payment from onsemi may have landed between $2–3 million, seven to nine times what DB HiTek paid. That kind of cheque says more about the customer's conviction than the cash itself. 'The upfront fee is a rounding error compared with the dollars the chip manufacturers have to invest to get that technology into their manufacturing. 'It's a major sign they believe in the product.' And once the IP is embedded, it stays put. 'The process is a long one but once it's embedded, it tends to stick, bringing in revenues for years to come.' Why MST thinks Weebit could rise 4x Weebit shares are trading around $2.17, but MST has a valuation of $8.07 on the stock, almost 4x upside. That figure is based on a DCF model to FY33, with assumptions around licensing growth, royalty potential and business scalability. 'I can point you to a pathway to that $8,' Johnston said. 'The addressable market is probably number one. Number two, the quality of the IP and the validation. And then there's no capex, it can scale quickly.' Still, investors need to be patient. MST's forecasts only expect $4 million in revenue for FY25, rising to $9.6 million in FY26 and $30 million by FY27 - when royalty payments are expected to really kick in. So for those chasing strong franked income, Weebit might not be the right fit - at least for now. Licensing in a time of uncertainty The chip industry is indeed going through a generational shift. Building new fabs now costs tens of billions. As a result, even global leaders are becoming IP customers, opting to license tech like Weebit's rather than reinventing the wheel. Weebit has already signed two major customers, secured its first design licence with a product company last week, and is aiming to lock in two more IDM or foundry deals, plus two product company agreements, by year-end. Qualification with DB HiTek is the next major milestone. The company's tech has already passed AEC-Q100 automotive-grade standards and DB HiTek is preparing live demos of Weebit-enabled chips - a key signal to the market. DB HiTek is a foundry, making chips for other companies. On the other hand, onsemi is what's known as an integrated device manufacturer or IDM; they make and use their own chips. The difference matters, because IDMs often move faster from qualification to royalty generation, said Johnston. In short, there are many doors, and Weebit's knocking on all of them. This article was developed with support from Weebit Nano, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
KIOXIA Launches UFS Ver. 4.1 Embedded Flash Memory Devices for Automotive Applications
Inventors of Flash Memory Drive Next-Gen Automotive Innovation with Higher Performance, More Efficient Data Handling, and Automotive-Grade Reliability SAN JOSE, Calif., July 31, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--KIOXIA America, Inc. today announced that it has begun sampling1 new Universal Flash Storage2 (UFS) Ver. 4.1 embedded memory devices designed for automotive applications. Engineered to meet the rigorous demands of next-generation in-vehicle systems, these new devices deliver significant performance, flexibility, and diagnostic enhancements - powered by KIOXIA's 8th generation BiCS FLASH™ 3D flash memory technology and in-house designed controller technology. Available in capacities of 128 gigabytes (GB), 256 GB, 512 GB and 1 terabyte (TB), the new UFS 4.1 devices are designed to fit the needs of infotainment, ADAS3, telematics, domain controllers, and vehicle computers. They meet AEC-Q100/1044 Grade 2 standards, supporting case temperature up to 115°C. Elevating the performance from KIOXIA's previous UFS 3.1 generation5, the new UFS 4.1 (512 GB) devices deliver6: Approximately 2.1 times sequential read performance Approximately 2.5 times sequential write performance Approximately 2.1 times random read performance Approximately 3.7 times random write performance These improvements provide a more responsive user experience in data-intensive automotive environments. Key features include: Compliant with the UFS 4.1 Specification, which includes WriteBooster related extensions such as WriteBooster Buffer Resizing and Pinned Partial Flush Mode, providing better flexibility for optimal performance. UFS 4.1 is backward compatible with UFS 4.0 and UFS 3.1 Enhanced Diagnostic Capabilities, including a newly added vendor-specific device health descriptor, simplifying device status monitoring and predictive maintenance 8th Generation KIOXIA BiCS FLASH 3D flash memory UFS Ver. 4.1 devices from KIOXIA integrate the company's innovative BiCS FLASH 3D flash memory and a controller in a JEDEC®-standard package. KIOXIA's 8th generation BiCS FLASH 3D flash memory introduces CBA (CMOS directly Bonded to Array) technology - an architectural innovation that marks a step-change in flash memory design. "KIOXIA continues to drive innovation in automotive memory with our new UFS 4.1 devices," said Maitry Dholakia, vice president, Memory Business Unit, KIOXIA America, Inc. "As modern vehicles grow more complex and technologies like AI, multi-gigabit Ethernet and real-time data processing become essential, our UFS 4.1 solutions empower developers to design the next generation of intelligent, responsive vehicles." For more information, please visit and follow the company on X, formerly known as Twitter and LinkedIn®. About KIOXIA America, Inc. KIOXIA America, Inc. is the U.S.-based subsidiary of KIOXIA Corporation, a leading worldwide supplier of flash memory and solid-state drives (SSDs). From the invention of flash memory to today's breakthrough BiCS FLASH™ 3D technology, KIOXIA continues to pioneer innovative memory, SSD and software solutions that enrich people's lives and expand society's horizons. The company's innovative 3D flash memory technology, BiCS FLASH, is shaping the future of storage in high-density applications, including advanced smartphones, PCs, automotive systems, data centers and generative AI systems. For more information, please visit © 2025 KIOXIA America, Inc. All rights reserved. Information in this press release, including product pricing and specifications, content of services, and contact information is current and believed to be accurate on the date of the announcement, but is subject to change without prior notice. Technical and application information contained here is subject to the most recent applicable KIOXIA product specifications. Notes: 1: Sample shipments of the 1TB device began in June, 128 GB and 256 GB device began in July. Specification of the samples may differ from commercial products2: Universal Flash Storage (UFS) is a product category for a class of embedded memory products built to the JEDEC UFS standard specification. Due to its serial interface, UFS supports full duplexing, which enables both concurrent reading and writing between the host processor and UFS device3: Advanced Driver Assistance System4: Electrical component qualification requirements defined by the AEC (Automotive Electronics Council)5: UFS3.1 512 GB device "THGJFGT2T85BAB5"6: Based on Kioxia internal testing In every mention of a KIOXIA product: Product density is identified based on the density of memory chips(s) within the product, not the amount of memory capacity available for data storage by the end user. In terms of product capacity, available user storage capacity (including examples of various media files) will vary based on file size, formatting, settings, software and operating system, pre-installed software applications, media content, and other constraints. Actual formatted capacity may vary. KIOXIA Corporation defines a gigabit (Gb) as 1,073,741,824 bits, a megabyte (MB) as 1,000,000 bytes, a gigabyte (GB) as 1,000,000,000 bytes and a terabyte (TB) as 1,000,000,000,000 bytes. However, a computer operating system, reports storage capacity using powers of 2 for the definition of 1 GB = 2^30 bytes = 1,073,741,824 bytes and 1 TB = 2^40 bytes = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes. Read and write speeds are the best values obtained in a specific test environment at Kioxia Corporation and Kioxia Corporation warrants neither read nor write speeds in individual devices. Read and write speed may vary depending on a device used and file size read or written. LinkedIn is a trademark of LinkedIn Corporation and its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. JEDEC is a registered trademark of JEDEC Solid State Technology Association All company names, product names and service names may be trademarks of third-party companies. View source version on Contacts MEDIA CONTACT:Dena JacobsonLages & AssociatesTel.: (949) 453-8080dena@ COMPANY CONTACT:Mia CoolKIOXIA America, (408) Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
