Peregrine Semiconductor Corp., a supplier of high performance RF CMOS and mixed-signal communications ICs, and MagnaChip Semiconductor Ltd., an Asia-based designer and manufacturer of analog and mixed-signal semiconductor products for high volume consumer applications, announced that the companies have completed the final qualification phase in the process technology transfer of Peregrine’s UltraCMOS™ Silicon-On-Sapphire (SOS) technology to MagnaChip’s Cheongju wafer manufacturing facility.
Peregrine and MagnaChip began the final qualification phase of the technology transfer in July 2008 and released it to production eight weeks ago. The 10-month qualification cycle of UltraCMOS technology is exceptionally short due to its standard CMOS foundation.
“We always understood that the value of UltraCMOS to the RF industry would be its unique ability to manufacture products with the highest RF performance possible, and ensure swift portability from fab to fab because of its industry-standard CMOS foundation,” said Jim Cable, CEO of Peregrine Semiconductor Corp. “With MagnaChip as a fully qualified and deployed manufacturing resource, our customers continue to be assured of the supply and availability of Peregrine’s products and technology.”
The two teams worked diligently to ensure a smooth final qualification, including the completion of a 500-hour reliability test that delivered zero failures. “The initial production lot has been processed through the fab in record time and is used for customer samples,” said Chandra Kantamneni, Vice President of Foundry Operations at Peregrine Semiconductor. “Customer qualification audits are underway for MagnaChip’s Cheongju facility and are eagerly anticipating the first deliveries from this additional source.”
Channy Lee, Executive Vice President and General Manager of MagnaChip’s Semiconductor Manufacturing Services, commented, “MagnaChip’s manufacturing services are targeted to customers who require differentiated, specialty analog and mixed-signal process technologies serving high-growth markets. With its revolutionary UltraCMOS SOS technology and high-performance RFIC products, Peregrine exemplifies this type of customer. MagnaChip’s reliable manufacturing expertise combined with our customers’ design capabilities will continuously allow us to provide robust and cost-competitive manufacturing solutions to our customers.”
