The Power to Lead
By: Mr. Erez Sarig, Dr. Amol Kalburge | October 30, 2019
US Energy Information Administration estimates that by year 2050 the global energy consumption will grow by 50% over 2018, and electricity use will increase by 79%, because of rising global living standards and population growth. [Ref. 1] To reduce greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., CO2) and slow down the global temperature rise, there are two trends that will accelerate in coming years [Ref.2]:
1. Greater reliance on renewable energy: Renewable energy is already the fastest growing source of energy thanks to advances in energy generation and efficient and low-cost energy storage technologies such as Li-ion batteries. BP estimates that by 2040, about half of energy demand growth will be supplied by renewable sources.
2. Increased energy efficiency: Energy efficiency has been improving steadily as well, at an average of 2.1% YoY from 2010 to 2018 [Ref. 3].
Source: TowerJazz
However, a sustainable development growth requires energy efficiency to increase by almost 4% YoY. To achieve this goal, all sectors (industrial, transport, residential and commercial) will see increasing adoption of power electronics in power conversion and management.
This is where TowerJazz comes in. For the past decade, we have been offering foundry solutions for efficient power conversion and power management. Higher power efficiencies are gained at device level by reducing Rdson and Qgd of power transistors, and by reducing RC parasitic losses of passive components. Smart design enablement techniques and fundamental device design innovations enable our technologies to deliver higher power density with each technology generation. By shrinking CMOS nodes to 180nm and 65nm, we enable greater digital density (gates/mm2) that results in a higher level of integration between power domain and the digital microcontroller.
TowerJazz power management solutions can be broadly grouped into two main platforms:
(1) 180nm BCD technology on 200mm wafer size (TS18) and (2) 65nm BCD technology on 300mm wafer size (TPS65).
180nm BCD (TS18)
Supporting the market for high power battery-operated power tools, hybrid and electric vehicles, and industrial motors requires power ICs to sustain higher voltages (up to 200V and growing). Traditionally, such high-voltage technologies were built on 6” wafers in 1um process nodes with large die size and limited digital integration capabilities. Nowadays, companies are seeking high-voltage power management platforms that include multiple isolation schemes, rich device options and digital integration for smarter control. A 180nm technology platform highly suites these requirements and provides improved solutions for such applications.
TowerJazz’s 180nm BCD technology offers a complementary platform that includes a low Rdson power LDMOS with 140V breakdown voltage, bootstrap diodes, and capabilities to float at these elevated voltages on bulk substrate up to 140V. These enable robust gate driver ICs and DCDC converter designs that are ideally suitable for the above markets. This platform also includes an SOI (Silicon on Insulator) option that allows voltage extension to 200V. It also speeds up design time with lower risks as circuits can be reused with different isolation scheme.
65nm BCD (TPS65)
We identified early on that for higher digital integration, leapfrogging to 65nm would provide unparalleled advantage to our customers for sub-24V applications. To serve this large and diverse market, we introduced our industry leading TPS65 BCD platform with highest power efficiency and density using its ultra-low Rdson devices and very thick top metallization supporting high-current applications. Integrating high performance power devices on a 65nm platform allows designers to benefit from the densest digital library on a BCD process. We have developed this offering keeping in mind cost constraints designers face in these competitive markets, with innovative device designs that require minimal process steps. From a PMIC for the next generation mobile devices to embedded motor controller and high power discrete / multi-chip module solutions, the 65nm BCD is today by far the best-in-class technology as measured by three power management figures of merit: power efficiency, power density and digital integration.
We invite you to learn more about our advanced power management solutions here.
180nm BCD (TS18)
Supporting the market of high power battery-operated power tools, hybrid and electric vehicles, and industrial motors, requires power ICs to sustain higher voltages (up to 200V and growing). Traditionally, such high-voltage technologies were built in 1um 6” process nodes with large die size and limited digital integration capabilities. Nowadays, companies are seeking high-voltage power management platforms that include multiple isolation schemes, rich device options and digital integration for smarter control. A 180nm technology platform highly suites these requirements and provides improved solutions for such applications.
TowerJazz’s 180nm BCD technology offers a complimentary platform that includes a low Rdson power LDMOS with 140V breakdown voltage, bootstrap diodes, and capabilities to float at these elevated voltages on bulk substrate up to 140V. These enable robust gate driver ICs and DCDC converter designs that are ideally suitable for the above markets. This platform also includes an SOI (Silicon on Insulator) option that allows voltage extension of 200V. It also enables to speed up design time with lower risks as circuits can be reused with different isolation scheme.
65nm BCD (TPS65)
We identified early on that for higher digital integration, leapfrogging to 65nm would provide unparalleled advantage to our customers for sub-24V applications. To serve this large and diverse market, we introduced our industry leading TPS65 BCD platform with highest power efficiency and density using its ultra-low Rdson devices and very thick top metallization supporting high-current applications. Integrating high performance power devices on a 65nm platform allows designers to benefit from the densest digital library on a BCD process. We have developed this offering keeping in mind cost constraints designers face in these competitive markets, with innovative device designs that require minimal process steps. From a PMIC for the next generation mobile devices to embedded motor controller and high power discrete / multi-chip module solutions, the 65nm BCD is today by far the best-in-class technology as measured by three power management figures of merit: power efficiency, power density and digital integration.
Mr. Erez Sarig
Director of Power Management Business Development & Marketing
Erez Sarig was appointed Director of Business Development & Marketing in 2016 after serving as Director of Europe Sales from 2014 to 2016. From 2007 until 2014 he managed the Design team in TowerJazz’s design center after serving 6 years as an analog design expert .
Dr. Amol Kalburge
Senior Director RF & HPA Strategic Marketing
Dr. Amol M Kalburge serves as Sr. Director of Strategic Marketing for TowerJazz and Head of the Automotive Program. He has held various positions of increasing responsibility at Jazz Semiconductor, including Director of Process and R&D Engineering and Manager of Device Technology.
