X-FAB Enhances Its 180nm Automotive-Grade High-Voltage CMOS Foundry Solutions

XP018 platform adds highly competitive second-generation high-voltage basic devices

Beijing, China, May 21, 2024 - X-FAB Silicon Foundries ("X-FAB"), a globally recognized analog/mixed signal foundry with excellence, announced today that it has updated its XP018 high-voltage CMOS semiconductor manufacturing platform to add new 40V and 60V high-voltage basic devices - these devices have scalable SOA and improve operational robustness . Compared with the previous generation platform, the updated second-generation high-voltage basic devices have an RDSon resistance value reduced by up to 50%, providing better options for certain key applications - especially suitable for systems that need to reduce device size and reduce unit cost.

The XP018 platform is a modular 180nm high-voltage EPI technology solution based on a low mask count 5V single-gate core module. It supports a wide temperature range of -40°C to 175°C and offers a range of optional devices and modules - including high-gain bipolar devices, standard and high capacitance density MIM capacitors, multiple threshold (Vt) options, Schottky diodes and depletion-mode devices.

The platform is equipped with high-reliability automotive NVM solutions such as embedded flash (Eflash), EEPROM and OTP, and is designed for cost-sensitive and robust automotive, industrial and medical applications.

In addition to the new 40V/60V devices, the platform also adds a 5.3V Zener diode to further improve its performance. This new low leakage current Zener diode is designed to provide effective gate oxide protection in critical applications, such as wide bandgap gate driver applications. In addition, it also provides a series of new isolated drain high voltage devices with a maximum voltage of up to 24V and 1.8V MOS devices with medium threshold voltage options.

"This update to our XP018 platform demonstrates X-FAB's commitment to enhancing mature technologies. The XP018 platform has been in production for more than a decade and continues to be widely used in new designs in key market segments such as automotive, industrial and medical," said Tilman Metzger, X-FAB High Voltage Product Line Manager. "These highly competitive high voltage devices and their updates will enable our customers to create more innovative and cost-effective products. Designers using the new XP018 base devices will have full PDK support from major EDA platforms such as Cadence, Siemens EDA, Synopsys, etc., ensuring seamless integration and optimization in a wide range of applications."

The new mid-threshold standard cell library is expected to be released in the third quarter of 2024.