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XFab woos opto customers
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EE Times Europe


MUNICH, Germany — Foundry services provider XFab (Erfurt, Germany) is about to expand its technology range with focus on optoelectronics. The company sees a rapidly expanding market.

The company offers five additional options for its 0.6 micron BiCMOS platform. These include a light shield module that according to the vendor overcomes previous on-chip light barriers used to protect light-sensitive areas on the semiconductor. Using a special protective layer of black resistive on top of the passivation, the barrier can be used in bare-die as well as in chip-on-board applications to cover the entire surface of the die. The barrier is said to be more cost-effective compared to conventional barriers which use metal layers to shield the photo-sensitive parts of the chip. In addition, the new barrier causes less parasitic capacitances compared to metal barriers, the company claims.

Another option is a blue PIN diode receiver module with a high sensitivity that according to the company approaches the physical limits of that technology. Aiming at Blu-ray applications in the first place, the manufacturing option also allows for the design of other wavelength laser devices in a wide spectrum from infrared to ultraviolet up to wavelengths of 850nm, the company said.

XFab's further technology enhancements include a junction FET module for low-noise applications, Schottky diodes with enhanced forward current capabilities and a polyimide option for compensation of mechanical stress.

With the move, the company strengthens its activities beyond the flagging automotive market. X-Fab VP Marketing and Sales Thomas Hartung points out that the offers are a unique selling proposal for the foundry services provider. "It is a differentiating feature," he said, "currently only a handful of chip manufacturers are able to offer this capability, and among them we are the only foundry services provider; the others are all producing for their captive markets."

Related Article

Update: X-Fab writes red figures among poor visibility






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