15 August 2011

MagnaChip ramps Peregrine’s STeP5 UltraCMOS RF switches to mass production

MagnaChip Semiconductor Corp of Seoul, South Korea (a designer and manufacturer of analog and mixed-signal semiconductor products for high-volume consumer applications) has announced its ramp to mass production of RF switch products using the latest-generation STeP5 UltraCMOS SOS (silicon-on-sapphire) technology of Peregrine Semiconductor Corp, a fabless provider of high-performance radio-frequency integrated circuits (RFICs).

UltraCMOS technology uses a sapphire substrate, enabling high levels of monolithic integration which results in smaller die, higher yields and fewer external components compared with compound semiconductor processes such as gallium arsenide, Peregrine claims.

Peregrine and MagnaChip have been engaged in the transfer of the patented UltraCMOS technology since mid-2007 and have implemented Peregrine’s STeP3 and STeP4 process generations at MagnaChip's 0.35µm manufacturing facility in Cheongju, South Korea. MagnaChip has now completed the final qualification phase in the transfer of STeP5 process generation and has ramped to high-volume production.

“The continued introduction of these robust and unique RFIC solutions is a direct result of the combined expertise – MagnaChip’s manufacturing services and Peregrine’s technology and design engineering – and of the long-term strategic roadmap we have outlined,” comments TJ Lee, senior VP & general manager of MagnaChip’s corporate and SMS engineering.

Tags: Peregrine Semiconductor

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