X-FAB Silicon Foundries,
the leading analog/mixed-signal foundry and expert in "More than Moore"
technologies, today announced XA035, a comprehensive, analog/mixed-signal complementary
metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) high-temperature foundry process for integrated
circuits (ICs) requiring operating temperatures up to 175 degrees Celsius. The
modular 0.35 micrometer process is the first to enable high-temperature-capable
system-on-chip (SoC) solutions, combining high-voltage (HV) and embedded non-volatile
memory (NVM) elements. Design support includes the XA035 Lifetime Calculator,
a unique new tool that calculates expected IC lifetime for a given mission profile
to help determine lifetime/temperature trade-offs. The new XA035 high-temperature
process surpasses the stringent AEC-Q100 qualification tests for automotive
IC quality and reliability. Compared to the more costly discrete solutions,
it allows the manufacturing of cost-effective IC solutions for operation in
hostile environments. The XA035 process is ideally suited for high-precision
analog circuits, sensor front-ends, and brushless DC motor controls for automotive,
industrial, aerospace and military markets.
According to Thomas Hartung, X-FAB's vice president of sales and marketing,
"We expect the XA035 process with its unprecedented range of support and
accurate temperature effect modeling will open new markets for high-temperature
engine management applications in the automotive space and for energy-conversion
products. Customers seeking a cost-effective solution for high-temperature applications
- like valve control for factory automation, brushless DC motor controls,
sensor interfaces, or drilling or jet engine control - now have it with
XA035."
Comprehensive Solution, Flexible Design Support
XA035 technology includes a large portfolio of primitive devices such as high-voltage
transistors and pre-qualified non-volatile memories, among others, enabling
analog/mixed-signal SoC design. The 0.35-micrometer single poly, triple metal
N-well CMOS basic process features operating temperatures up to 175°C, with
an absolute maximum of 185°C. It covers voltage ranges from 3.3 to 45V.
It also comes with small-area EEPROM blocks including a charge pump, meeting
automotive quality requirements. The design rules and transistor performance
for all XA035 modules are compatible with X-FAB's corporate state-of-the-art
0.35-micrometer CMOS processes.
X-FAB offers XA035 design kits covering all major EDA platforms. It also features
a variety of dense standard cell libraries optimized for area, speed, low power
or low noise; and I/O libraries, including ESD support. All libraries take the
temperature effects into account.
In addition, XA035 supports parasitic diode modeling. This new feature enables
pre-layout parasitic diode leakage simulation and lets designers simulate leakages
at high temperatures early in the design flow.