Genfødte Plessey Semiconductor annoncerer produktstrategi

Toplederne i engelske Plus Semi og X-FAB  er gået sammen om at relancere Plessey Semiconductors, hvis produktstrategi netop er annonceret (in english).

In February the re-born Plessey Semiconductors Ltd.started trading from its semiconductor manufacturing facility in Roborough, Plymouth, UK. Plessey Semiconductors has been created from the acquisition of the share capital of X-FAB UK Limited together with existing key engineering competence within a design and technology centre located in Swindon, UK. The name of the operating business has been subsequently changed to Plessey Semiconductors.

The semiconductor manufacturing facility in Roborough currently produces eight-inch wafers for external customers in a foundry business model on 0.35-micron CMOS process technologies. Plessey Semiconductors is transferring its world-class bipolar process technologies on both silicon and silicon-on-insulator substrates into its Roborough facility. The transfer of these processes is scheduled for completion in 2010.

Both the CMOS and the bipolar process technologies will be used to support a set of existing foundry customers. However, Plessey Semiconductors aims to follow in its namesake’s footsteps by developing and supporting a range of high performance analog and mixed-signal semiconductor products.

- We are very excited about the re-launch of the Plessey Semiconductors’ brand and our new business strategy. Our positioning addresses the critical and immediate requirements we have identified in the market for our high performance analog technology and products,  says Paul James, Commercial Director of Plessey Semiconductors Ltd.
- We have been receiving very positive responses from the market about our plans to support both our existing foundry customers and to engage new customers with exciting new product releases. 

The new product strategy

Plessey Semiconductors will release  a number of innovative semiconductor products including a range of amplifiers, demodulators, synthesisers and high-speed pre-scalers. These products have been designed primarily for the defence and space markets, but are also used in the general communications, automotive and industrial control market segments. The types of end products that will use these components include television systems, fibre optic communications, CCTV and data communication systems.

Dr. Paul James, Commercial Director for Plessey Semiconductors explains:
- The first Plessey products designed on the bipolar processes are now coming out of the fab with very positive results. We are ahead of schedule on the first product releases and expect to have prototypes available in Q3 of this year. This is a very exciting time for the company as the realisation of our plan to transition from a foundry to a products company is starting to become a reality.

- We are leveraging our extensive in-house semiconductor design experience together with our expertise in process technology development and optimisation, says Dr. Keith Strickland, Technology Director. He continues:
- These first product releases will lead us to continue to create innovative products for defence, medical, aerospace and aeronautical applications, such as sensors, low and ultra-low power devices, imaging products, and devices for power and battery management. The 0.35 micron CMOS process with its very low dark current is ideal for industrial imaging products.

- With our recent advances in process technology and our design knowledge we will be able to extend and broaden these product offerings. We will take advantage of our high voltage silicon-on-insulator processes coupled with high precision passive components to create exciting new high precision products for the industrial instrumentation market. Our silicon-on-insulator processes offer extended high temperature operation for radiation tolerant products for space and defence as well as the automotive and industrial markets.

Prototypes for the following products will be available in Q3 of 2010.
- Current and voltage feedback high slew rate operational amplifiers (PS13000 range)
- High-speed pre-scalers, operating at up to 13GHz, (PS15000 range)
- Demodulators (PS20100 range),
- Synthesisers, (PS20500 range)
- Direct digital synthesisers (1.4GHz PS20614 and 1.6GHz PS20616)