32-Bit RISC-V Embedded Processor and Subsystem, Maps ARM M-0 to M-4. Optimal PPA,
Will Apple Drive Analog ICs?
Stephan Ohr, Consultant, Semiconductor Industry Analyst
EETimes (1/11/2016 00:16 AM EST)
Analog expert Stephan Ohr turns his oscilloscope on the possible impact Apple could have with its new fab in San Jose.
No one outside Apple knows what the iPhone giant will do with the 70,000-square foot analog production line it recently purchased from Maxim. But Apple’s extraordinary ability to get semiconductor suppliers to develop new devices for them — in fact, its ability to swallow entire companies without even belching — suggests Apple could influence the analog market for years to come. So it’s worth asking what Apple is currently doing in analog, what improvements would help them and how many of those improvements are manufacturing related.
We know the North First Street facility includes chip manufacturing equipment from Applied Materials, Hitachi, Novellus, and ASML. The fab will produce roughly 7,000 eight-inch wafers a month at geometries from 0.6-micron down to 90nm. Note: The sweet spot for analog manufacturing is still in the 0.35- to 0.18-micron range.
E-mail This Article | Printer-Friendly Page |
Related News
- Agile Analog joins Intel Foundry Services Accelerator IP Alliance Program to drive forward semiconductor design innovation
- EDA Tools for Analog: Where Do I Go From Here?
- What's driving the acquisitions in the analog design realm?
- Is analog IC fab renaissance in the works?
- Is Apple planning to acquire Intel's mobile business?
Breaking News
- Keysight, Synopsys, and Ansys Deliver Radio Frequency Design Migration Flow to TSMC's N6RF+ Process Node
- Siemens collaborates with TSMC on design tool certifications for the foundry's newest processes and other enablement milestones
- Leveraging Cryogenics and Photonics for Quantum Computing
- Kalray Joins Arm Total Design, Extending Collaboration with Arm on Accelerated AI Processing
- Credo at TSMC 2024 North America Technology Symposium
Most Popular
- Huawei Mate 60 Pro processor made on SMIC 7nm N+2 process
- Silicon Creations Reaches Milestone of 10 Million Wafers in Production with TSMC
- GUC provides 3DIC ASIC total service package to AI/HPC/Networking customers
- Analog Bits to Demonstrate Numerous Test Chips Including Portfolio of Power Management and Embedded Clocking and High Accuracy Sensor IP in TSMC N3P Process at TSMC 2024 North America Technology Symposium
- Alphawave Semi: FY 2023 and 2024 YTD Trading Update and Notice of Results