Landshut Silicon Foundry GmbH (LFoundry) has reached a key milestone in its manufacturing collaboration with EPCOS: it has now successfully completed the ramp-up for the volume production of new RF-MEMS products (radio frequency micro-electro-mechanical systems). The collaboration with EPCOS was initiated in July 2009. Since October 2009 EPCOS has been combined with the electronic components business of TDK in the new company TDK-EPC Corporation, which markets its products under the product brands, TDK and EPCOS.
The first products to be manufactured by LFoundry using its advanced 200-mm, 0.15 µm analog mixed signal technology will be miniature RF-MEMS-based tunable matching networks for advanced mobile phones. These new RF-MEMS products are used between the transmit/receive unit and the antenna to adaptively keep the impedance of the antenna in the optimal range. In addition the partnership will include a cooperation for the associated CMOS ASICs.
“LFoundry’s expertise especially in the area of CMOS processing and analog circuits is an ideal complement to our strength in RF and module technology,” comments Christian Block, CTO of EPCOS’ Systems, Acoustics, Waves (SAW) Business Group. “The cooperation enables us to increase the integration level and value-added of our products even further. Our customers thus will profit from modules that not only combine the functions of passive electronic components and semiconductors, but now also CMOS-based technology applications, which in turn will reduce development and logistics costs.”
LFoundry offers an extremely flexible and state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for the new RF-MEMS products and will allow EPCOS to optimize the time to market. Within the scope of the cooperation, EPCOS will benefit from LFoundry’s LF150 high voltage and RF CMOS technology in the design and production of the necessary ASICs.
“With this collaboration LFoundry will have a partner who will utilize all three segments of our manufacturing and technology business model: CMOS foundry, custom process installation and joint development of new technologies,” comments Michael Lehnert, CEO LFoundry.
About TDK-EPC Corporation
TDK-EPC Corporation (TDK-EPC), a TDK group company, is a leading manufacturer of electronic components, modules and systems headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. TDK-EPC has emerged from the combination of the electronic components business of TDK and the EPCOS Group and markets its products under the product brands, TDK and EPCOS.
The product portfolio includes ceramic, aluminum electrolytic and film capacitors, ferrites and inductors, high-frequency components such as surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter products and modules, piezo and protection components, and sensors. With this product spectrum TDK-EPC offers a broad range of products and solutions of outstanding value from a single source and focuses on demanding markets in the areas of information and communication technology and automotive, industrial and consumer electronics. The company has design and manufacturing locations and sales offices in Asia, Europe, and in North and South America.
The first products to be manufactured by LFoundry using its advanced 200-mm, 0.15 µm analog mixed signal technology will be miniature RF-MEMS-based tunable matching networks for advanced mobile phones. These new RF-MEMS products are used between the transmit/receive unit and the antenna to adaptively keep the impedance of the antenna in the optimal range. In addition the partnership will include a cooperation for the associated CMOS ASICs.
“LFoundry’s expertise especially in the area of CMOS processing and analog circuits is an ideal complement to our strength in RF and module technology,” comments Christian Block, CTO of EPCOS’ Systems, Acoustics, Waves (SAW) Business Group. “The cooperation enables us to increase the integration level and value-added of our products even further. Our customers thus will profit from modules that not only combine the functions of passive electronic components and semiconductors, but now also CMOS-based technology applications, which in turn will reduce development and logistics costs.”
LFoundry offers an extremely flexible and state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for the new RF-MEMS products and will allow EPCOS to optimize the time to market. Within the scope of the cooperation, EPCOS will benefit from LFoundry’s LF150 high voltage and RF CMOS technology in the design and production of the necessary ASICs.
“With this collaboration LFoundry will have a partner who will utilize all three segments of our manufacturing and technology business model: CMOS foundry, custom process installation and joint development of new technologies,” comments Michael Lehnert, CEO LFoundry.
About TDK-EPC Corporation
TDK-EPC Corporation (TDK-EPC), a TDK group company, is a leading manufacturer of electronic components, modules and systems headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. TDK-EPC has emerged from the combination of the electronic components business of TDK and the EPCOS Group and markets its products under the product brands, TDK and EPCOS.
The product portfolio includes ceramic, aluminum electrolytic and film capacitors, ferrites and inductors, high-frequency components such as surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter products and modules, piezo and protection components, and sensors. With this product spectrum TDK-EPC offers a broad range of products and solutions of outstanding value from a single source and focuses on demanding markets in the areas of information and communication technology and automotive, industrial and consumer electronics. The company has design and manufacturing locations and sales offices in Asia, Europe, and in North and South America.
