Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation ("SMIC", NYSE: SMI and HKSE: 981), one of the leading semiconductor foundries in the world and the largest and most advanced foundry in Mainland China, providing integrated circuit (IC) foundry and technology services at 0.35um to 45nm, and Chingis Technology Corporation, a leader in nonvolatile memory products and IP provider, announced today the availability of SMIC's 0.18um embedded flash memory process technology and IP portfolio.
SMIC's 0.18um embedded flash process, the product of a close collaboration between a pioneering foundry and an expert in embedded non-volatile memory, is based on the third generation of Chingis's patented 2T PMOS flash (pFLASH(TM)) architecture, and is fully qualified and ready for mass production. The process offers customers a high-performance, cost-effective non-volatile memory solution with excellent endurance (up to 100K cycles) and data retention (up to 10 years), and proven yield and quality in volume production.
With its low power consumption, small area, and configuration flexibility, the 0.18um embedded flash process is an attractive option for customers involved in a wide range of applications, such as microcontrollers, USB keys, smartcards, and devices for the fast-growing automotive market. Customers can use the 0.18um technology as a starting point or, if already manufacturing at a larger technology node, easily port their designs to this more advanced process.
"The 0.18um embedded flash process technology is another key development with significant importance due to the potential market size and the number of current and potential applications, particularly in China," said Dr. Chiou-Feng Chen, SMIC's vice president of marketing and sales. "SMIC is one of the leading foundries to provide both in embedded Flash and EEPROM technology, and we are fully prepared to serve the needs of our customers."
"This new advanced technology is intended to enable customers to develop high performance products with very competitive cost," said Alex Wang, president and CEO of Chingis Technology Corporation. "We are very pleased to cooperate with SMIC to successfully build up the third generation pFLASH platform in such a short time."