austriamicrosystems releases new versions of its best-in-class process design kit for 0.18µm High-Voltage CMOS technology

austriamicrosystems (SIX: AMS) business unit Full Service Foundry today announced at the 48th Design Automation Conference (DAC) the availability of two new analog/mixed signal high performance process design kits (HIT-Kit) for its 0.18µm High-Voltage CMOS technology H18. Jointly developed with IBM, the 0.18µm High-Voltage CMOS process is the 6th generation of continuously improved High-Voltage CMOS technologies developed at austriamicrosystems.

Based on Cadence® Virtuoso® custom design platform (both, IC 5.1.41 and 6.1.4 releases), the new HIT-Kits significantly improve the time-to-market for highly competitive products in the analog intensive mixed signal, smart sensor and System-on-Chip arena. Supporting designers in creating their first-time-right mixed signal designs even for complex designs, this comprehensive design environment with its highly accurate simulation models and flexible SKILL-based PCells provides a proven route to silicon.

Both new HIT-Kits, version 3.78 (qualified for IC 5.1.41) as well as version 4.01 (qualified for IC 6.1.4) support the 0.18µm specialty process technology H18 (High-Voltage CMOS) which is based on IBM’s industry proven foundry process technology CMOS7RF.The kits come complete with silicon-qualified digital, analog and RF library elements, complete sets of low voltage devices (1.8V and 5.0V) and high-voltage devices with various gate oxide thicknesses (20V and 50V devices). Furthermore fully characterized simulation models, extraction and verification run sets for both, Calibre and Assura and automatic layout device generators (pcells) are included. Routines such as Safe Operating Area verification tool (SOAC) as well as a Life-Time simulation tool complete the H18 HIT-Kit offering; hence product developers are enabled with a plug-and-play tool set which facilitates first time right designs.

The H18 process is already the 6th generation of High-Voltage CMOS processes developed at austriamicrosystems and it is now ready for design and volume production. Both new HIT-Kits are a result of austriamicrosystems' continuous efforts to deliver best-in-class design environment and analog foundry services to our customers states Thomas Riener, Senior Vice President and General Manager of austriamicrosystems' Full Service Foundry business unit. Offering two new HIT-Kits supporting different Cadence versions provide full flexibility to our customers and enable them to easily start design activities with our 0.18µm High-Voltage CMOS specialty process in a broad range of smart green applications such as power management and LED driver applications.