A low power CMOS compatible embedded EEPROM for passive RFID tag

A 512-bit low-voltage CMOS-compatible EEPROM is developed and embedded into a passive RFID tag chip using 0.18 μm CMOS technology. The write voltage is halved by adopting a planar EEPROM cell structure. The wide Vth distribution of as-received memory cells is mitigated by an initial erase and further reduced by an in-situ regulated erase operation using negative feedback. Although over-programmed charges leak from the floating gates over several days, the remaining charges are retained without further loss. The 512-bit planar EEPROM occupies 0.018 mm2 and consumes 14.5 and 370 μW for read and write at 85 °C, respectively.