Con il comunicato stampa congiunto di seguito allegato, Fujitsu Microelectronics Limited e Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) hanno annunciato l'inizio di una partnership che favorirà la collaborazione delle due aziende nell'ambito del nuovo processo di fabbricazione dei circuiti integrati (o IC, Integrated Circuits) a 28nm.
Più in dettaglio, la tecnologia a 28nm sarà applicata in alcune fabbriche di Fujitsu Microelectronics con la supervisione di TSMC e, simultaneamente, sarà avviato lo sviluppo di uno step evolutivo del processo a 28nm, che si vuole ottimizzare per il miglioramento delle prestazioni.
La nuova collaborazione ricalca una strategia già sostanzialmente consolidata, ove si consideri che Fujitsu e TSMC hanno operato e stanno operando in maniera congiunta in fase di sviluppo e supporto del processo a 40nm.
Il primi sample di IC prodotti in tecnologia a 28nm saranno disponibili verso al fine del 2010.
Fujitsu Microelectronics Limited and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd. (TWSE: 2330, NYSE: TSM) today announced that they have agreed to collaborate on 28-nanometer (nm) process technology targeted for foundry production of Fujitsu Microelectronics' 28nm logic ICs and to jointly develop an enhanced 28nm high-performance process technology by utilizing TSMC's advanced technology platform. Previously, both companies announced that Fujitsu Microelectronics will collaborate with TSMC on 40nm production. This will extend Fujitsu Microelectronics' 40nm collaboration with TSMC and covers joint development of an optimized 28nm high-performance process technology. Initial 28nm samples are expected to ship toward the end of 2010.
This collaborative effort combines Fujitsu Microelectronics' expertise and strength in advanced high-speed process and low-power design technologies with TSMC's expertise and strength in power-efficient high- performance logic/SoC process and leading-edge technology platform that is part of the Open Innovation Platform™ from TSMC. Extending the collaboration to 28nm will provide the opportunity for both companies to capitalize on a competitive and high-performance 28nm technology based on TSMC's 28nm technology portfolio that includes high-performance and low-power applications.
The two companies are also discussing possibilities for collaborating on advanced packaging that could include joint developments that combine Fujitsu Microelectronics' strengths in high-performance lead-free and ultra-high-pin count packaging technologies, with TSMC's strength in chip-package integration and advanced Cu/ELK interconnect.
¡§We are rapidly progressing in our previously-announced collaboration with TSMC on 40nm process technology, with several product designs in progress at present,¡¨ said Haruyoshi Yagi, Corporate Senior Vice President of Fujitsu Microelectronics Limited. ¡§With this further agreement with TSMC on 28nm high-performance process technology development and production, we combine both companies' strengths to create greater value for our customers, and will further drive the growth of businesses for TSMC and Fujitsu's ASIC and ASSP (*1) core products.¡¨
¡§Fujitsu Microelectronics selected TSMC as a partner based in part on TSMC's unsurpassed record of developing and ramping advanced technologies. The agreement today is also a vote of confidence in TSMC's technology platforms that include design related considerations such as design kits, design flows, TSMC and 3rd party IP; robust device related documentation, processes technology excellence and backend assembly and test capabilities,¡¨ said Jason Chen, Vice President, Worldwide Sales and Marketing, TSMC.
ASIC: Application specific IC. Customized ICs for specific applications (customers).
ASSP: Application specific standard product. IC products for specific applications, such as image processing and network-related processing.
Source: Fujitsu Microelectronics & TSMC Press Release
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