Semiconductor Engineering .:. The Week In Review: Manufacturing
Cleanliness is a good thing. In the fab, it’s also a very profitable thing. According to a report from Research and Markets, the wafer cleaning systems market will grow more than 6%. The research house notes, however, that the rate of growth is slowing.
GlobalFoundries began volume production of its 180nm ultra-high-voltage process for industrial and power applications. The base platform starts at 3.3V, with options up to 700V, which the company says will reduce the bill of materials by integrating discrete components onto the same die. The foundry also announced that its 22nm FD-SOI technology has been certified as AEC-Q100 Grade 2 for automotive applications, meaning its technology can withstand stress tests for an extended period of time.
UMC began pitching the concept of IC 2.0, or intelligently connected devices, at its China Technology Forum in Shanghai. The foundry is emphasizing specialized technologies, IP, and a strong in-country manufacturing presence for Chinese customers designing AI, 5G, IoT and automotive applications.