Licensing agreement between X-FAB & IHP Leibniz Institute leads to innovative 130nm SiGe BiCMOS platform
12 September 2022
X-FAB_wafer_SiGe_HBT
Specialty semiconductor producer, X-FAB Silicon Foundries has announced a further expansion of its longstanding partnership with the Leibniz Institute for High Performance Microelectronics (IHP). As part of a new agreement, X-FAB will now license IHP’s cutting-edge SiGe (Silicon Germanium) technology. It will mean the performance benefits of this technology can be brought to high-volume customers.
Significantly strengthening the X-FAB technology portfolio, the newly created 130nm platform provides a unique solution attaining the elevated performance parameters needed to address next generation communication requirements. Examples of areas benefiting from this technology include Wi-Fi 6 (and future Wi-Fi 7) access points, plus next generation cellular infrastructure, in particular 5G mmW (millimetre wave) and emerging 6G standards, and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication. This technology will also be pivotal in the development of +100 GHz radar systems, for use in both automotive and consumer applications.
This license agreement follows on from the collaborative work that began in 2021, where X-FAB’s copper backend was added to IHP’s SG13S and SG13G2 frontend technologies to boost the bandwidth figures that could be supported. In relation to this innovative SiGe platform, X-FAB is set to start engaging with selected early adopters on prototyping projects during Q4 2022. An early-access PDK (Process Design Kit) is available enabling Prototyping, while volume manufacturing will happen at X-FAB France, the company’s facility near Paris.
According to Professor Gerhard Kahmen, Scientific Director at IHP: "The incorporation of IHP’s HBTs (Heterojunction Bipolar Transistor) into X-FAB’s RF (radio frequency) platform will provide customers with a truly differentiated SiGe BiCMOS (Bipolar Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) technology that is certain to bring tangible performance benefits. The technology transfer between our two organisations is a perfect example of how industry and research institutions can work together to achieve outstanding results.”
“X-FAB and IHP have a successful track record of combining our respective resources to develop advanced semiconductor solutions, and this latest SiGe announcement takes that on to a whole new exciting phase,” states Dr. Greg U’Ren, RF Technology Director at X-FAB. “This is the starting point for us to make further SiGe BiCMOS related innovations that will contribute to defining the communications sector in the years ahead, covering industrial automation, consumer and automotive use cases.”
X-FAB-IHP Facility
About X-FAB
X-FAB is the leading analog/mixed-signal and MEMS foundry group manufacturing silicon wafers for automotive, industrial, consumer, medical and other applications. Its customers worldwide benefit from the highest quality standards, manufacturing excellence and innovative solutions by using X-FAB’s modular CMOS and SOI processes in geometries ranging from 1.0 µm to 130 nm, and its special silicon carbide and MEMS long-lifetime processes. X-FAB’s analog-digital integrated circuits (mixed-signal ICs), sensors and micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) are manufactured at six production facilities in Germany, France, Malaysia and the US. X-FAB employs about 4,000 people worldwide. www.xfab.com
About IHP
IHP is a Leibniz Association institute and Europe's leading research centre for silicon-based systems and ultrahigh frequency circuits and technologies including new materials. The institute develops innovative solutions for application areas such as wireless and broadband communication, security, medical technology, Industry 4.0, automotive industry and aerospace. IHP has an advanced process infrastructure, including 1500m² DIN EN ISO 14644-1 cleanroom, which is used to manufacture qualified Si-based RF technologies and systems for mmWave, THz and photonics applications. Technology module extensions are quickly brought to a reliable and applicable level through the in-house Design Kit developments. The flagship technology is the world's fastest, stabilized and qualified 130nm SiGe BiCMOS process line (SG13G2 and the newest SG13G3 with next generation high performance SiGe HBT). IHP employs about 360 people. www.ihp-microelectronics.com
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