QEOS Inc of Milpitas, CA, USA (a designer of low-power connectivity and sensing CMOS millimeter-wave solutions) and GlobalFoundries of Santa Clara, CA, USA (one of the world's largest semiconductor foundries, with more than 250 customers and operations in Singapore, Germany and the USA) are partnering to co-develop what is claimed to be the first millimeter-wave (mmWave) CMOS platform.
Leveraging GlobalFoundries' 45nm and 40nm low-power process technologies, the mmW platform includes support for the higher data rates required in future mobile broadband access networks, while enabling customers to integrate mixers, low-noise amplifiers (LNAs), power amplifiers (PAs), and inter-frequency (IF) amplifiers, all in a single package. The co-designed platform aims to leverage GlobalFoundries' production-proven expertise in advanced silicon RF technologies and QEOS' next-generation design environment and IP to expand the mmWave wireless technology offerings to enable gigabit interactivity everywhere — from centimeters to hundreds of meters — at a cost of less than $500 per link.
Demonstrations of a 77GHz CMOS design library and an adaptive 60GHz CMOS link for gigabit wireless outdoor connectivity can be seen at European Microwave Week (EuMW 2015) in Paris, France (6–11 September).
The available mmW IP includes: a low-power Bits In/Out architecture; BIST/BIOS for digital die sort; beam steering; an integrated transceiver; a frequency synthesizer; and co-designed system-in-package with antenna.
"MmW technology is a key pillar for next-generation wireless markets including IoT, 5G and automotive," says Ted Letavic, department leader of strategic applications and product segments at GlobalFoundries. "Our expanded partnership with QEOS enables our customers to address the challenging requirements for adaptive next-generation gigabit wireless sensing and connectivity, and lays the foundation for accelerating market adoption of mmW products and solutions in high-growth markets," he adds.
"GlobalFoundries' and QEOS' partnership is a key milestone for enabling the next generation of low-power mmWave CMOS," comments Rob Shaddock, chief technology officer of TE Connectivity. "TE Connectivity has been watching the developments in this field closely, and we believe that this is going to have a major impact across the connectivity and sensing markets."
As part of GlobalFoundries' GlobalSolutions ecosystem, QEOS' 45/40nm-based mmWave CMOS IP will be available in two forms. Basic block-level IP will be available from GlobalFoundries, while more complex subsystem IP will be licensable directly from QEOS. QEOS will provide support and design services for all IP.
