| austriamicrosystems’
business unit Full Service Foundry announced today,
at the electronica 2004 EXPO, a further extension of
its foundry IP & technology portfolio with the launch
of the industry’s most economical OTP (one-time-programmable)
memory capability for CMOS-baseline processes.
The new polyfuse-based OTP memory cells are programmable
at 3.3V operating voltage and offer very fast read access
time of 50 nanoseconds per byte. This makes them ideal
for storing serial numbers, unique configuration codes
or analog IC trim or calibration parameters in a pure
CMOS chip. Possible memory configurations for secure
storage of data range from a few bits to up to several
kilobits. Data retention is guaranteed for at least
10 years.
The blocks can be used by our foundry customers on
austriamicrosystems’
fully TSMC1) compatible 0.35µm CMOS process family,
i.e. the CMOS baseline process as well as the RF CMOS,
high voltage CMOS and silicon germanium (SiGe) processes.
The silicon-proven IP block can be obtained from austriamicrosystems
based on a one-time license fee and integrated into
the product design using the HIT-Kit, austriamicrosystems’
well known process design kit.
“Offering a field programmable memory option
on a standard CMOS process without the need for additional
masks enables our customers to design highly competitive
products," states Peter Gasteiner, Senior Vice
President and General Manger of austriamicrosystems
business unit Full Service Foundry. "It allows
storing such as calibration parameters, serial numbers
or unique configuration codes on a standard CMOS chip
or any other chip designed on one of our specialty processes."
About austriamicrosystems
austriamicrosystems’
business unit Full Service Foundry has successfully
positioned itself in the mixed-signal foundry market
offering well-established RF CMOS, High Voltage CMOS,
BiCMOS and SiGe-BiCMOS processes. With superior support
during the design phase, high-end tools and experienced
engineers, austriamicrosystems
succeeds to be an attractive analog/mixed-signal foundry
partner especially for fabless design houses.
austriamicrosystems
AG is a leading designer and manufacturer of highly
integrated analog-intensive mixed-signal ICs. austriamicrosystems
combines more than 20 years of design capabilities,
product and marketing know-how with its own cutting
edge analog manufacturing and test facilities. Operating
worldwide with more than 800 employees, austriamicrosystems
serves four strategic markets: Communications, Industry
& Medical, Automotive and Full Service Foundry.
austriamicrosystems
AG is listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange in Zurich (ticker
symbol: AMS). | 
