SONOS nonvolatile semiconductor memories for space and military applications

Silicon-Oxide-Nitride-Oxide-Silicon (SONOS) based nonvolatile memory has emerged as the most mature nonvolatile semiconductor memory (NVSM) currently in use for space applications. SONOS 64k EEPROMs have been flying in numerous satellite applications since 1992 with a 256k EEPROM version of this part qualified for space applications in 2000. This paper summarizes the production and development status of a family of SONGS-based devices (EEPROMs, FPGAs, Controller ASICs) currently being manufactured at the Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC) Advanced Technology Laboratories in Baltimore, Maryland.