TSMC, ADI Jointly Release Precision Analog IC Process Platform
2012/06/22 | By Ken LiuTaipei, June 22, 2012 (CENS)--Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) and Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) recently co-released an analog process technology platform for precision analog integrated circuits.
Industry executives pointed out that cooperation with the world's No.5 analog chip vendor represents TSMC's significant advancement in analog technology capability.
According to TSMC, the new process technology platform significantly improves analog performance for a number of devices, including analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters, power management devices, and audio coders/decoders that are widely used in consumer, communication, computer, industrial and automotive applications.
TSMC's 0.18-micron, Bipolar-CMOS-DMOS process supports a range of operating voltages and provides cost-effective operation with a minimal footprint and a high degree of energy efficiency. It lends itself to many computer, industrial and consumer applications.
The 0.18 micron, 5-volt process has achieved performance enhancements, including an order of magnitude noise improvement, a 70% lower standby leakage current, a 50% improvement in linearity and a 50% better capacitor and resistor matching.
Recently introduced ADI products developed with the new platform include isolated CAN (control-area network) transceivers; a HART (Highway Addressable Remote Transducer) modem IC; an ECG (electrocardiogram) AFE (analog front-end); a series of digital potentiometers, and an audio codec.
David Robertson, vice president of Analog Devices' analog technology division, pointed out that the combination of an optimized process along with circuit and architecture innovation is key to the company's high-performance converter and linear products.
His counterpart at TSMC, President Rick Cassidy of TSMC North America, said collaboration on this important, new platform demonstrates the ADI/TSMC commitment to specialty technology development, and the great number of applications for these improved products.