austriamicrosystems launches fully automotive-qualified non-volatile process for foundry customers

Further IP portfolio expansion complements Full Service Foundry strategy
 
March 3, 2005 -- austriamicrosystems’ business unit Full Service Foundry today announced the release of one of the industry’s most reliable embedded EEPROM blocks for its 0.35µm process family. The new EEPROM blocks offer low power operation and high data retention over an extended temperature range by using a proven PMOS-based NVM technology. The memory blocks are available as an add-on process module to the 0.35µm CMOS process transferred from TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company).

austriamicrosystems’ embedded EEPROM blocks contain a bus interface, an internal charge pump and are easy to embed into a chip design. The NV process module was developed especially for low power and low voltage applications and enables the operation at supply voltage ranges from 1.8V to 3.6V. Write currents of less than 100µA make the process ideally suited for all mobile applications as well as RFID products. The memory cells can also be configured as EEPROM blocks or Flash memories without any process changes.

The EEPROM process is fully automotive-qualified and eminently suited for harsh environment, making it ideal for designs in automotive, medical and industrial applications. The silicon-proven memory IP blocks can be obtained from austriamicrosystems based on a one-time license fee. Integration into the product design is very fast and user-friendly using the HIT-Kit, austriamicrosystems’ industry benchmark process design kit. Due to the modularity of the processes foundry customers can re-use 100 percent of their standard 0.35µm CMOS designs, while the memory block is added right before starting production of the wafer.

“Offering high reliable embedded EEPROM blocks as an add-on to our 0.35µm standard CMOS process enables our customers to design highly competitive products, which are increasingly needed in analog mixed signal designs for sensor and bus interfaces, power management etc.," commented Peter Gasteiner, Senior Vice President and General Manger of austriamicrosystems’ business unit Full Service Foundry. "Compared to other non-volatile memory processes available on the market, our EEPROM blocks are very robust and offer significant lower write currents at low operating voltages. These high-performance features allow our customers to address their target markets in the analog and mixed signal areas with additional features."

Beside non-volatile EEPROM/Flash memories, austriamicrosystems also offers OTP blocks which can be combined on the same chip with no additional mask layers. These polyfuse blocks are one-time programmable at 3.3V operating voltage and offer very fast read access time of 50 nanoseconds per byte. This makes them ideal for storing serial numbers, unique configuration codes or analog IC trim or calibration parameters.

About austriamicrosystems
austriamicrosystems’ business unit Full Service Foundry has successfully positioned itself in the mixed-signal foundry market offering well-established RF CMOS, HV CMOS, BiCMOS and SiGe-BiCMOS processes. With superior support during the design phase, with high-end tools and experienced engineers, austriamicrosystems is an attractive analog/mixed-signal foundry partner especially for fabless design houses.

austriamicrosystems is a leading designer and manufacturer of high performance analog ICs, combining more than 20 years of analog design capabilities and system know-how with its own state-of-the-art manufacturing and test facilities. austriamicrosystems leverages its expertise in low power and high accuracy to provide industry-leading customized and standard analog products. Operating worldwide with more than 800 employees, austriamicrosystems focuses on the areas of power management, sensors & sensor interfaces, portable audio and car access through its business units Communications, Industry & Medical, Automotive and Full Service Foundry. austriamicrosystems is listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange in Zurich (ticker symbol: AMS).