TowerJazz announced the availability of H5, a 300 GHz SiGe process optimized for 400 Gbps optical communications. The H5 process increases device f_t and g_m and incorporates “other proprietary features” to address 400G applications. While boosting data rates, H5 also enables lower power consumption in products with lower data rates.

The H5 process joins TowerJazz’s terabit platform, comprising the earlier HX, H2, H3 and H4 processes. H2 addresses 10 to 28 Gbps requirements, and H3 extends the range to 100 Gbps. H4 and H5 have transistor speeds greater than 300 GHz and reduce power consumption by nearly an order of magnitude. Designers can migrate existing ICs to H5, as layouts are virtually identical to prior generations.

The SiGe terabit platform combines advanced CMOS with low noise, high speed and high power SiGe devices and patented features to meet demanding performance requirements in high speed communication links, such as transimpedance amplifiers (TIA) on the receive path and laser drivers on the transmit path.

Developing the H5 process, TowerJazz worked with market leaders to optimize the technology, which led to a design win with Broadcom.