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SIPEX ENTERS PRODUCTION WITH JAZZ SEMICONDUCTOR'S BCD05 PROCESS
AND SELECTS BCD25 FOR NEXT GENERATION PRODUCTS
Jazz BCD Processes Enable Sipex to Provide Leading Edge Analog
Solutions and Achieve Higher Levels of Integration, Smaller Size,
and Better Efficiency than General Foundry Offerings
NEWPORT BEACH and MILPATIS, Calif., March
5, 2006 -- Jazz Semiconductor, a wholly owned subsidiary
of Jazz Technologies, Inc. (AMEX: JAZ), and an independent wafer
foundry focused primarily on specialty CMOS process technologies,
and Sipex Corporation (OTC: SXCP), a fabless semiconductor company
that designs, manufactures and markets high performance, value-added
analog integrated circuits (ICs), today announced they have collaborated
to develop a number of power management devices utilizing Jazz Semiconductor's
0.5-micron and 0.25-micron Bipolar CMOS DMOS (BCD) processes. BCD
processes provide features that enable higher levels of integration,
smaller size, and better efficiency than general foundry offerings.
Jazz Semiconductor's BCD processes incorporate into a single foundry
process flow, three different process types: bipolar, for analog
control; CMOS, for digital control; and DMOS, for handling the high
currents required for managing on-chip or system power. The combined
process is ideally suited to address the power requirements of both
consumer and handheld electronics.
Sipex is using the Jazz BCD05 process for the continued development
of their family of WLED backlighting solutions for notebook and
monitor displays. The combination of high voltage and small geometries
allow the integration of digital interfaces and the capability of
driving large numbers of LEDs in series. The BCD05 process will
also be used to manufacture Sipex's PowerBlox™ devices, as
well as, the company's first sub-micron interface device. Sipex
products using the BCD05 process are expected to start shipping
before the end of the year. Sipex has also announced the selection
of Jazz's BCD25 process for its new high performance power devices
and new high-speed interface products.
The Jazz BCD05 process is an industry proven 0.5 micron 40V BCD
process that features dual gate oxides (5.5V and 16V), complementary
N- and P-channel MOSFETs with 5V, 7V, 16V, and 30V capabilities,
vertical NPN (VNPN) and lateral PNP (LPNP) bipolar transistors,
a variety of passive elements, and an NMOS device rated for 40V
operation. This process provides a versatile platform for applications
requiring BiCMOS or BCD-only process technologies and integrates
0.5-micron CMOS with high-voltage drivers, enabling the fabrication
of complex smart-power chips. This process is well-suited for applications
such as power management and smart power, motor control, gate drivers
and microprocessor supervisory circuits.
The Jazz 0.25-micron offering provides a migration path from its
industry proven 0.5-micron, 40V BCD process. Jazz BCD25 can provide
significant cost reductions by allowing designers of power devices
to achieve a shrink of up to fifty-percent in device area size as
compared to BCD05. Jazz BCD25 processes offer advanced CMOS, a combination
of bipolar NPN and PNP devices, as well as high voltage LDMOS FETs
that take advantage of 0.25-micron rules to reduce on-resistance
and size of power cells used in complex power management chips including
driver ICs, battery and portable power management, power control
for PC products, and Class-D audio amplifiers for both fixed and
low-power mobile applications.
The Jazz BCD25 process features 5V CMOS, a 1K ohm poly resistor,
MIM capacitors, a broad voltage range of LDMOS transistors that
is designed to operate at 12V, 20V and 40V with ultra low Rdson
at all voltage levels, VIA stacking, thick top power metal (3µm)
for improved current-carrying capacity, ESD protection circuits,
and triple well isolation. BCD25 reuses existing high performance
and high density features from Jazz Semiconductor's existing, high
volume 0.35-micron and 0.25-micron processes.
"We are one of the leading foundries providing BCD process
technologies to fabless power and analog IC companies like Sipex
looking to differentiate their products through the incorporation
of analog, digital, and complex power functions," said Marco
Racanelli, vice president of technology and engineering, Jazz Semiconductor.
"We are expanding our roadmap for BCD processes to continue
to provide our customers with access to technology that can be utilized
to develop more integrated power and analog products."
"As a fabless company, we rely on key foundry suppliers such
as Jazz for our continued success. We selected the Jazz BCD05 process
technology for a number of new designs, and we'll utilize the BCD25
process for next-generation interface and power products,"
said Lee Cleveland, vice president of engineering, Sipex Corporation.
"With the emergence of the analog foundry model and the growth
in production of power management ICs, our collaboration with Jazz
endorses our timely focus on the right market."
Jazz Semiconductor offers full design kits, models and documentation
for its BCD processes, and additional information or access to the
technologies can be requested through Jazz Semiconductor at info@jazzsemi.com.
About Sipex Corporation
Sipex Corporation is an analog semiconductor company that addresses
standard linear and application specific standard products (ASSP)
for customer systems that are primarily targeted at the consumer,
networking and industrial markets. The products are categorized
into three synergistic areas of power management, interface and
optical storage. Sipex is a global company with operations in Asia,
Europe and North America. It is the mission of the company to create
innovative analog products that enable customers to produce differentiated
products. For more information about Sipex, visit www.sipex.com.
About Jazz Semiconductor
Jazz Semiconductor, a wholly owned subsidiary of Jazz Technologies,
Inc. (AMEX: JAZ), is an independent wafer foundry primarily focused
on specialty CMOS process technologies, including High Voltage CMOS,
SiGe BiCMOS and RFCMOS for the manufacture of highly integrated
analog and mixed-signal semiconductor devices. The company's specialty
process technologies are designed for customers who seek to produce
analog and mixed-signal semiconductor devices that are smaller and
more highly integrated, power-efficient, feature-rich and cost-effective
than those produced using standard process technologies. Jazz customers
target the wireless and high-speed wireline communications, consumer
electronics, automotive, and industrial end markets. Jazz executive
offices and its U.S. wafer fabrication facilities are located in
Newport Beach, CA. Jazz Semiconductor also has engineering, manufacturing,
and sales support in Shanghai, China. The company has expanded its
wafer capacity in China through manufacturing alliances with Advanced
Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation and Hua Hong NEC Electronics
Co., Ltd. For more information, please visit www.jazzsemi.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by
words or phrases such as "trend," "potential,"
"opportunity," "pipeline," "believe,"
"expect," "anticipate," "intention,"
"estimate," "position," "assume,"
"outlook," "continue," "remain," "maintain,"
"sustain," "seek," "achieve," and
similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as "will,"
"would," "should," "could," "may"
and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based largely
on expectations and projections about future events and future trends
and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties,
which change over time. Actual results and consequences, including
any expected benefits, could differ materially from those anticipated
in forward-looking statements and you should not place any undue
reliance on such forward looking statements. Factors that could
cause actual performance to differ from these forward-looking statements
include the risks and uncertainties disclosed in Jazz Technologies'
filings with the SEC. Jazz Technologies' filings with the SEC are
accessible on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.
Jazz Technologies assumes no obligation to update forward-looking
statements.
Sipex Company Contact
Lee Cleveland
408/934-7545
lcleveland@sipex.com
Sipex Media Contact
Joe Vyvijal
408/934-7507
jvyvijal@sipex.com
Jazz Company Contact
Melinda Jarrell
949/435-8181
melinda.jarrell@jazzsemi.com
Jazz Media Contact
Lauri Julian
949/715-3049
lauri.julian@jazzsemi.com
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