CMOS semiconductor process available for automotive applications
X-FAB Silicon Foundries has announced that its high-voltage 180nm CMOS semiconductor process (XH018) is now available for automotive applications via the company’s production facility in France. This is a major step in X-FAB’s plan to offer dual sourcing for all its 180nm processes (in both CMOS and SOI), so that continuity of supply is always assured.
Located in Corbeil-Essonnes, just outside Paris, the X-FAB manufacturing plant in France is the company’s largest in Europe. It has 15,000m² of used cleanroom area, with additional 9,000m² cleanroom space that can be equipped for future demand. The high-voltage XH018 technology now available in France complements the RF-SOI technology already in production at that site for many years.
Specifically optimised for automotive, industrial and medical applications, the XH018 mixed-signal process has a modular architecture that delivers maximum customer flexibility. Besides supporting high-temperature and low leakage operation, XH018 comes with advanced PDK features to improve the design robustness and enables first-time-right functional silicon.
The offering includes advanced digital memory IP optimised for power, performance and area as well as analog/mixed-signal reference design kits and tools for checking operating conditions and ESD robustness.
“We are very pleased that our XH018 high-voltage process, currently running in our high volume fab in Malaysia, has now been successfully installed also in France. With this, we now have a dual source for our main 180nm platform and the capacity needed to serve the increasing demands of our customers,” said Rudi De Winter, X-FAB’s CEO.
From this point onwards, X-FAB France will be accepting XH018 tape-ins for automotive applications.