UMC and Micronas Collaborate on Low-cost, High-performance Flat-panel Video Controller ICs (0210)
Companies achieve first-pass yield success for DPS 9450 SoC design
Freiburg (Germany), and Hsinchu City (Taiwan), April 2, 2002-- Micronas, the Germany-based IC developer, and UMC (NYSE: UMC), a world leading semiconductor foundry, today announced the first-pass silicon success of the DPS 9450 video controller chip. The DPS 9450, designed in UMC's 0.18 micron mixed-mode CMOS technology, provides a single-chip solution that greatly simplifies integration of video and TV functionality for the fast-growing flat-panel display market that includes LCD and plasma displays.
The DPS 9450 is a true system-on-chip design that includes IP, embedded memories, I/Os and customized high-performance analog macros. The combination of these elements into one IC ensures that the DPS 9450 controller chip is able to deliver higher performance with greater efficiency at lower system costs over traditional multi-chip configurations.
"The short development window in which we have been able to achieve these outstanding results reflects the close cooperation and technological expertise that exists between our two companies' teams," commented Fu Tai Liou, chief officer of worldwide sales and marketing for UMC. "Through our cooperative efforts, Micronas is able to provide their chips for the flat panel market, an area with tremendous growth potential in the coming years."
The DPS 9450 can work in conjunction with Micronas' MDE 9500 TV audio/video decoder systems as well as with the Multi Standard Sound Processors of the MSP-Family, both of which are being produced by UMC. With the latest development, the MDE 9500, a hybrid analog/digital TV decoder IC, Micronas can provide state-of-the-art system solutions for digital broadcast decoding and advanced display performance. The MSP chips integrate demodulator and baseband functions for use in TV sets and have become the industry´s most successful chips in its class, working together with all major TV standards world wide. Also part of Micronas TV frontend system solutions are the members of the VSP 94xy family of scan rate converter chips enabling 100 Hz and progressive scan television designs at very competitive prices.
"This single-chip solution will give the flat-panel display market a boost in time to market and an edge in performance over traditional solutions", said Nik Kaeppeler, vice president of operations at Micronas, "Upcoming video products will profit from this first-pass success."
About UMC
UMC (NYSE: UMC, TSE: 2303) is a world-leading semiconductor foundry that manufactures advanced process ICs for applications spanning every major sector of the semiconductor industry. UMC delivers the cutting-edge foundry technologies that enable sophisticated system-on-chip (SOC) designs, including 0.13-micron copper/low k, embedded DRAM, and mixed signal/RFCMOS. In addition, UMC is a leader in 300mm manufacturing with three strategically located 300mm fabs to serve our global customer base: Fab 12A in Taiwan, UMCi in Singapore (completion in 2002), and AU Pte. Ltd., a joint venture facility with AMD also located in Singapore (production in 2005). UMC employs over 8,500 people worldwide and has offices in Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Europe, and the United States. UMC can be found on the web at www.umc.com.