Jazz Offers High-Voltage BCD Process for Power Management & HV Analog
Jazz Semiconductor, an independent wafer foundry focused primarily on specialty CMOS process technologies, has announced the availability of 0.5 micron BCD process technology targeted for power management integrated circuits (ICs) and high performance amplifiers and drivers required for consumer applications. This recent announcement underscores Jazz Semiconductor's commitment to expand beyond its core foundation of high-speed analog and RF into the emerging power management and high voltage markets.
"Our newly available high voltage BCD and complementary bipolar process technologies expand our current analog offerings and are aligned with our business strategy and technology roadmaps," said Paul Kempf, chief technology and strategy officer, Jazz Semiconductor. "This is another step toward providing our customers with all of the technologies required for complex analog sub-systems that may include RF transceivers, power amplifiers, power management, audio and other specialized functions. The mainstream fabless community will now have access to technology that can be leveraged to create innovative, more integrated power and analog products."
BCD (bipolar CMOS DMOS) processes incorporate, into a single foundry process flow, what are typically three different process types: bipolar, for analog control; CMOS, for digital control; and DMOS, for handling the high currents required for managing on-chip or system power. The combined process is ideally suited to address the emerging power requirements of both consumer and handheld electronics. To date, these processes have been predominantly the exclusive domain of integrated device manufacturers (IDMs).
The BCD process technology being offered by Jazz has been in fabrication for over ten years, making Jazz one of the leading foundries to bring this technology into the mainstream for fabless power and analog IC companies looking to differentiate their products through the incorporation of analog, digital and complex power functions. BCD processes provide features that enable higher levels of integration, smaller size, and better efficiency than general foundry offerings.
A significant number of analog-centric fabless and fab-lite companies have already designed into the BCD processes which are used for wireless and consumer electronics such as cell phones, personal computers, DVD players and recorders, hard disk drives, portable audio players and gaming devices.
The Jazz BCD process is an industry proven 0.5 micron, 40V BCD process that features dual gate oxides (5.5V and 16V), complementary N- and P-channel MOSFETs with 5V, 7V, 16V, and 30V capabilities, vertical NPN (VNPN) and lateral PNP (LPNP) bipolar transistors, a variety of passive elements, and an NMOS device rated for 40V operation.
This process provides a platform for applications requiring BiCMOS or BCD-only process technologies and integrates 0.5 micron CMOS with high-voltage drivers, enabling the fabrication of complex smart-power chips. This process is well-suited for applications such as power management and smart power, motor control, gate drivers and microprocessor supervisory circuits.
