X-FAB Improves Options for High-Frequency Applications in 0.6 um BiCMOS Process and Offers Programming Capabilities via OTPs; New 'XB06' Features Available in Design Kits in October, 2001.Business/Technology Editors ERFURT, Germany & SANTA CLARA Santa Clara, city, Cuba Santa Clara (sän`tä klä`rä), city (1994 est. pop. 217,000), capital of Villa Clara prov., central Cuba. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 10, 2001 X-FAB Semiconductor Foundries AG today announced an expansion to the existing 0.6 um BiCMOS process, or XB06, increasing the spectrum of available process features. The additions to the qualified, robust BiCMOS process include a smaller parasitic effect for high-frequency applications, which realizes a reduction in power consumption; installation of programming options using OTPs, currently zener zaps; and, in the near future, embedded EPROM EPROM in full erasable programmable read-only memory Form of computer memory that does not lose its content when the power supply is cut off and that can be erased and reused. memory blocks for improved OTP (1) (One Time Programmable) Refers to programming content or logic into chips such as EPROMs and EEPROMs, which cannot be reversed. See antifuse. (2) (One Time P . By implementing isolated transistors, X-FAB has made the combination of high-voltage demands in BiCMOS applications possible. A third, fat-metal layer option is also planned, which will facilitate the creation of spiral inductors with an increased q-factor. The devices involved include special unipolar unipolar /uni·po·lar/ (u?ni-po´ler) 1. having a single pole or process, as a nerve cell. 2. pertaining to mood disorders in which only depressive episodes occur. devices such as insulated n-MOS, N- and P-MOS transistors with increased breakdown voltage Breakdown Voltage (Insulator) = The minimum voltage that causes a portion of an insulator to become electrically conductive. Breakdown Voltage (diode) = The minimum reverse voltage to make the diode conduct in reverse. , special bipolar arrangements for advanced analog applications and zener zapping diodes with requisite circuitry for one-time programming. Additional process modules allow X-FAB customers to implement depletion NMOS (N-Channel MOS) Pronounced "n-moss." A type of microelectronic circuit used for logic and memory chips. NMOS transistors are faster than their PMOS counterpart and more of them can be put on a single chip. It is also used in CMOS design. See MOSFET. , natural PMOS (Positive channel MOS) Pronounced "p-moss." A type of microelectronic circuit in which the base material is positively charged. PMOS transistors were used in the first microprocessors and are still used in CMOS. , varicap diodes with increased CV-behavior, photodiodes with improved uniformity and n-channel JFET See FET. JFET - Junction Field Effect Transistor . Taking advantage of existing process statistics, X-FAB has been able to verify all parameters, which will benefit its customers by allowing them to profit from smaller tolerances. "The introduction of our XB06 process family 12 months ago was already very successful and resulted in strongly positive resonance from our customers", said Thomas Hartung, vice president, X-FAB Sales & Marketing. "Now we are able to offer improved capabilities and extended features for a wider range of possible application areas, along with increased functionality and performance for RF-ICs and for precision analog devices Analog Devices (NYSE: ADI) is an American multinational producer of semiconductor devices. Analog specializes in ADC, DAC, MEMS, and DSP chips for consumer and industrial goods. Analog is presently designing circuits in the 65 nanometer to 3 µm process feature sizes range. . Those new additions, combined with a better cost-performance ratio, will help our customers to design complex RF-devices more securely and will make such developments faster and easier to implement." All of the improvements to the XB06 process will be implemented in the next design kit update, available in October, 2001. This kit includes many additional, basic device layouts, which are applicable to the existing BiCMOS process and have been fully tested and qualified. About X-FAB X-FAB, with headquarters in Erfurt, Germany, is a European, independent mixed-signal foundry. The company has -- with X-FAB Texas Inc. (Lubbock, Texas) -- two manufacturing sites with a combined capacity of more than 12,000 6-inch wafers per week. X-FAB has more than 800 employees worldwide. For further information: www.xfab.com Addresses X-FAB Semiconductor Foundries AG X-FAB Texas Inc. Haarbergstrasse 67 2301 N. University Ave. 99097 Erfurt Lubbock, TX 79451 Germany USA Tel: +49 361 427-6000 Tel: +1 806 747-4400 ext. 2271 Fax: +49 361 427-6111 E-Mail: info@xfab.com |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion