Analogue process suited for low noise sensing applications

The A30 technology features performance optimised, isolated 3.3V devices (NMOSI and PMOSI), isolated 3.3V low Vt devices (NMOSIL and PMOSIL), an isolated high voltage device with thin gate oxide (NMOSI20T), vertical bipolar transistors (VERTN1 and VERTPH) as well as an isolated 3.3V low noise transistor (NMOSISLN), which offers flicker noise on the level of 0.46pA/Hz (at 1kHz, Ids=1μA @Vds=3V, 10x1.2μm²). It enables flicker noise reduction by at least a factor of four to ten for high drain currents compared to H35 process. Passive devices such as various capacitors (poly, sandwich and MOS varactor) and resistors (diffusion, well based, poly, high resistive poly and precision) complete the device offering.

The A30 process is suitable for low noise sensing applications and analogue read-out ICs which require noise optimised input stages or high signal-to-noise ratios. It allows the development of solutions for consumer electronics, automotive, medical and IoT devices. The A30 process is fully qualified and manufactured in ams’ 200mm fabrication facility ensuring low defect densities and highest yield. All 0.30μm elements are drawn and verified as 0.35μm devices. The optical shrink (factor of 0.9) is done in the mask shop on the completed GDSII data and results in smaller die sizes respectively more dies per wafer.

“Our High Performance Analogue Low Noise process A30 enables the development of competitive sensing applications and analogue read-out ICs where superior noise performance is key”, said Markus Wuchse, General Manager for the Full Service Foundry division at ams. ”Foundry customers benefit twice when using the A30 process for their complex ICs: Our super low noise transistor with industry-benchmark flicker noise figures boost performance whereas the optical shrink notably reduces die area of noise sensitive applications.” 

The A30 process is supported by the hitkit, ams’ process design kit. Based on Virtuoso Custom IC technology 6.1.6 from Cadence, the hitkit helps design teams to reduce time-to-market for competitive products in the analogue-intensive mixedsignal arena. Offering accurate simulation models, extraction and verification run sets for both Calibre and Assura and flexible SKILL-based PCells, the hitkit provides a comprehensive design environment and a proven route to silicon.