Enhanced automotive-grade high-voltage CMOS foundry solution

X-FAB Silicon Foundries SE has updated its XP018 high-voltage CMOS semiconductor fabrication platform with new 40V and 60V high-voltage primitive devices, which offer an extended SOA for enhanced operational robustness. These second-generation high-voltage primitive devices exhibit up to a 50% reduction in RDSon figures compared to the earlier version. This supplies an alternative better positioned to address certain key applications, particularly where devices’ footprints need to be reduced, and unit costs need to be minimised.

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 an extended temperature range of -40C to 175C and delivers a wide range of optional devices and modules, including high-gain bipolar devices, standard and high-capacitance MIM capacitors, multi-threshold (Vt) options, Schottky diodes, and depletion devices.

The platform is supported by high-reliability automotive NVM solutions, including embedded Flash, EEPROM, and OTP, specifically designed for cost-sensitive and robust automotive, industrial, and medical applications.

The platform has been improved by the inclusion of 5.3V Zener diodes in addition to the new 40V/60V devices. The new low-leakage Zener diode is designed to effectively protect the gate oxide in critical applications, such as Wide Bandgap gate driver applications. Furthermore, new isolated drain high-voltage devices up to 24V and a new 1.8V medium Vt option are also provided.

Tilman Metzger, product line manager for High-Voltage at X-FAB, comments: “With this update of our XP018 platform we are demonstrating X-FAB’s commitment to enhancing established technologies. XP018 has been in production for more than a decade and still sees widespread adoption for new designs from our focus market segments: automotive, industrial and medical. The new competitive high-voltage devices and updates will enable our customers to implement more innovative and cost-effective products. Designers utilising the new XP018 primitive devices have access to comprehensive PDK support across major EDA platforms like Cadence, Siemens EDA, Synopsys, ensuring seamless integration and optimisations for a range of applications.”