Since its launch in 2017, GlobalFoundries’ 45RFSOI platform has generated more than $1 billion in design win revenue from more than 20 clients for 5G/mmWave mobile and wireless infrastructure applications. GlobalFoundries (GF) announced this milestone today at its annual Global Technology Conference (GTC).
GF said it has improved the RF performance of the 45RFSOI platform with two new features:
An enhanced power amplifier (PA) FET provides 2x higher output power, enabling fewer antenna elements in a phased array antenna to achieve a given effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP). Designers can integrate the PA with a low noise amplifier (LNA), switch and phase shifters to create a 5G beamformer on a single chip, yielding a more compact design at lower cost. Small size and low cost are important requirements for smartphones.
Secondly, more IP and RF support helps designers achieve their design requirements, reducing iterations and development cost and increasing confidence in the reliability of the IC. GF’s 45RFSOI PDK models are now qualified on the Virtuoso RelXpert Reliability Simulator, a simulation tool from Cadence Design Systems, that analyzes FET device degradation with various use cases, ensuring specified performance and reliability targets are met.
“Cadence provides the Virtuoso RelXpert Reliability Simulator, which is used by GF for reliability model development, and Spectre native reliability, which is used for circuit design and verification for reliability analysis. Both of these tools are now tightly integrated with the PDK for GF’s 45RFSOI solution.” — Wilbur Luo, vice president, product management in the custom IC & PCB group at Cadence Design Systems
GF has a long history of high frequency RF wafer and module test development and implementation. GF’s engagement model offers clients comprehensive package design, thermal and electrical modeling services in partnership with leading outsourced assembly and test companies. For example, GF’s turnkey testing and packaging services can perform accurate phase measurements between antenna ports for phased array multi-RF channel designs of more than 64 antenna elements.
“The numerous design wins we’ve received for our enhanced 45RFSOI solution early in its lifecycle reflect the high value our clients place on our RF solutions.” — Bami Bastani, senior vice president and general manager of the mobile and wireless infrastructure segment at GF