AMI Semiconductor's Enhanced Mixed-Signal Technology Delivers Power Kits for Smaller Power ICs.

POCATELLO, Idaho -- Improvement of HV Transistor Capabilities Reduces Size or Power Consumption of Medium- and High-Voltage Automotive and Industrial Mixed-Signal ASICs

E[acute accent]AMI Semiconductor (Nasdaq:AMIS), a designer and manufacturer of state-of-the-art integrated mixed-signal and structured digital products, has enhanced its I2T100 'Smart Power' mixed-signal semiconductor technology by significantly reducing transistor on resistance performance (RDS(ON)). The reduction in RDS(ON) by up to 25 percent has allowed AMIS to improve transistor efficiency, enabling higher power capabilities or lower transistor size and facilitating further reductions to the size of mixed-signal ASICs and ASSPs employed in a wide variety of automotive, industrial and computer peripheral applications. E[acute accent]AMI Semiconductor's I2T100 (Intelligent Interface Technology) mixed-signal semiconductor technology includes 40V, 60V and 100V high-voltage transistors based on 0.7-micron mixed-mode CMOS technology. It allows low-, medium- and high-voltage circuitry, high-precision analog circuitry, non-volatile memory, and some medium complexity digital circuitry to be integrated into a single IC. As a result, I2T100 is ideal for automotive, industrial and computer peripheral applications such as sensor interfaces, transceivers and actuators and motor drivers. E[acute accent]In the latest version of its I2T100 technology, AMIS has been able to reduce the pitch of the most used DMOS transistors by introducing new features in its back-end process. This has helped to reduce transistor size for 40V and 60V implementations by approximately 25 percent. As a result, the size of mixed-signal ASICs and ASSPs based on I2T100 technology can be reduced without compromising performance. Alternatively, for an equivalent transistor area, the new version can consume significantly less power. Embedded power switches, H-bridge circuitry and other applications requiring higher current draw (up to 5A) will benefit most from this new enhanced transistor technology. E[acute accent]"Mixed-signal ASICs and ASSPs are playing an increasingly important role in automotive, industrial and computer peripheral applications," said Bob Klosterboer, senior vice president of integrated mixed-signal products at AMIS. "These ICs allow OEMs to combine analog and digital circuitry with high-voltage driver capabilities, minimizing component count and simplifying circuit design. Now, by further enhancing our I2T technology, we can provide these OEMs with higher levels of performance and efficiency in even smaller IC packages, allowing them to address the size, power and performance challenges of their latest designs." E[acute accent]I2T100 devices are created using two to three metal layers, floating NMOS and PDMOS transistors and low-, medium- and high-voltage bipolar transistors. The technology allows for integration of medium- and high-resistivity polysilicon resistors, medium- and high-voltage floating capacitors and deep, N+ doped guard rings. Using the technology, ASICs and ASSPs can integrate low-, medium- and high-voltage circuitry such as motor controller drivers and DC-DC converters alongside high-precision analog circuits including bandgap filters, ADCs and DACs. Availability of a comprehensive family of IP blocks that includes common interfaces and controllers minimizes the time-to-market of new designs based on I2T platforms.

E[acute accent]About AMI Semiconductor:

E[acute accent]AMI Semiconductor (AMIS) is a leader in the design and manufacture of silicon solutions for the real world. As a widely recognized innovator in state-of-the-art integrated mixed-signal products, mixed-signal foundry services and structured digital products, AMIS is committed to providing customers with the optimal value, quickest time-to-market semiconductor solutions. Offering unparalleled manufacturing flexibility and dedication to customer service, AMI Semiconductor operates globally with headquarters in Pocatello, Idaho, European corporate offices in Oudenaarde, Belgium, and a network of sales and design centers located in the key markets of the North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region.