GlobalFoundries has enhanced two of its technology platforms to enable critical applications for next-generation electric and autonomous vehicles, along with commitments from automotive suppliers, Robert Bosch and Inova Semiconductors. The pure-play foundry also announced the industry's first RFSOI foundry solution manufactured on 300mm wafers.
Building upon its 8SW RFSOI technology and designed in collaboration with key customers, GF's 9SW RFSOI technology is GF's most advanced RF solution and will offer significant improvements in performance, integration and area advantages in front-end modules (FEM) for today's 5G operating frequencies, as well as future 5G mobile and wireless communication applications, spanning Sub-8GHz, mmWave and FR3.
GF's 9SW technology offers a low-cost, low-power, highly flexible solution for RF front end applications, improving on 8SW with superior switching, low-noise amplifiers (LNA) and logic processing capabilities. The technology features a significant reduction in standby currents for longer battery life, creating products over 10% smaller than previous generations with more than 20% enhancement in efficiency through lower on-resistance and off-capacitance. The technology is more energy-efficient, lowering power consumption in both inactive and active states. It's designed to enable the features customers want most - extremely fast downloads and longer battery life with higher quality and longer-range connectivity.
The advanced 9SW technology will be manufactured on GF's 300mm production line at its fabrication site in Singapore and will provide the industry with manufacturing capacity to meet expected market demand.
"Developing high-speed, more reliable connectivity is critical for the key 5G mobile and next-generation applications that we all depend on to live, work and play," said David Archbold, VP of product marketing of Broadcom's wireless semiconductor division, in GF's statement. "With this new generation of technology, Broadcom will enable our customers to deliver the best possible 5G mobile experience to their end users."
In a separate statement, GF announced advancements for two of its technology platforms that will support the growing demand for the technologies needed for autonomous, connected and electrified vehicles.
The 40ESF3 AutoPro175 technology will be part of GF's existing AutoPro platform, which provides GF's automotive customers a broad set of technology solutions and manufacturing services that minimize certification efforts and speed time-to-market. With a junction temperature of 175-degrees Celsius, this technology is suited to manage the critical functions of a vehicle under temperature extremes.
In addition, GF is advancing its portfolio of power management solutions with its 130BCDLite Gen2 ATV125, part of GF's BCD/BCDLite platforms. The technology will enable multiple automotive applications, allowing for die shrink and higher conversion efficiency for products requiring up to 40V, while also meeting the rigorous Auto Grade 1 qualification - a standard indicating the component's reliability in extreme automotive temperatures. Over 30 customers are currently engaged on the 130BCD/BCDLite platforms, enabling them to efficiently develop products with cost-effective integration of diverse functionality with power devices across a wide range of voltages.
"By leveraging this 40nm technology on GF's AutoPro platform, Bosch will continue to build cutting-edge solutions that address the growing needs of the automotive industry for software-defined vehicles that rely on complex electronics systems that are controllable and reliable," said Jens Fabrowsky, Bosch EVP of automotive electronics, in GF's statement.
Also in the same statement, Inova CEO Robert Kraus noted "as a highly innovative company, Inova Semiconductors is expecting the same from its suppliers as we continue to provide to our global automotive customers reliable, high-quality chips enabling easier, faster, and more reliable communication inside the vehicle. We are pleased to collaborate with GlobalFoundries on new technologies that meet and exceed the demands of the industry."
"The shift from internal combustion engines (ICE) to autonomous, connected, and electrified (ACE) requires vehicle re-architecture. GF is perfectly positioned for this shift, and our recent technology advances support increased safety, enhanced user experience, and sustainability through vehicle electrification," GF chief business unit officer Mike Hogan said.
Both technologies are planned to be fully qualified and released into production by September 2023, and will help ensure technology readiness, operational excellence, and a robust automotive-ready quality system to continually improve quality and reliability throughout the product life cycle.
