Chipus starts partnership with LFoundry to develop analog IP cores

January 29, 2010 -- Chipus Microelectronics, a Brazilian start-up with focus on power management and analog-front-end IPs, and LFoundry, a German advanced analog and mixed-signal semiconductor manufacturing foundry, established a partnership to develop ultra-low power analog IPs for mixed-signal and RF IC applications. “The idea behind the partnership is to increase the set of analog IPs for LFoundry´s LF150 all-in-one Product Design Kit (PDK) which is based on a 0.15μm RFCMOS process, and also to have an opportunity for Chipus analog IPs portfolio to reach silicon-proven status” – say Murilo Pessatti, CTO of Chipus Microelectronics.

“It is fundamental for a start-up company like Chipus to have its IP portfolio silicon-proven in a flexible and modular foundry process like LFoundry’s LF150, allowing us to make our IPs available for our customers in a customizable approach, within a short time frame. This enables low-risk development of ultra-low power ICs for applications such as wireless communications, energy harvesting and RFID” – explains Pessatti.

This partnership will enable Chipus to develop its first testchip. The company philosophy is to develop testchips in a regular basis in order to constantly optimize its IPs, synchronized with the fast-moving semiconductor market requirements. “With this international partnership, we are opening a leading analog mixed signal foundry access for Brazilian and worldwide fabless and IDM companies to develop their ICs, increasing thereby the microelectronics market opportunities” – highlights Pessatti.

About Chipus Microelectronics

Chipus Microelectronics is an analog IP provider with focus on power management and analog-front end solutions targeted for the ultra-low power market. It is located at MIDI Tecnológico incubator, maintained by Associação Catarinense das Empresas de Tecnologia (Acate), inside the capital of innovation and wonderful island of Florianópolis, south of Brazil.

LFoundry, is a leading analog / mixed signal silicon foundry with a 200 mm production line based in Landshut, Germany, providing access to manufacturing services down to advanced analogue 0,15 μm CMOS technologies with innovative extensions. Based in the heart of Europe, LFoundry is in an excellent position to support a wide portfolio of applications, especially when it comes down to high flexibility and the customization of technologies.