"Multi-Level Thick IMD" Process for Capacitors
Industry-Leading High Breakdown Voltage
"Continuously Advancing Process Technology to Meet Customer Needs"
SK keyfoundry, a semiconductor foundry company, announced on September 23 that it has launched a "multi-level thick IMD" process for capacitors, which boasts the industry's highest level of "high breakdown voltage."
High breakdown voltage enhances the stability and reliability of semiconductor devices in digital insulators, while also improving their lifespan and noise immunity. The new process introduced by SK keyfoundry stacks an insulating film (IMD) with a thickness of 6 micrometers (μm) up to three layers, achieving a total "metal-insulator-metal" structure of 18μm. This enables a high breakdown voltage that can withstand up to 19,000V and delivers high capacitance performance. It is expected to significantly facilitate the manufacturing of capacitors for digital isolation and capacitive coupling blocking in electronic circuits.
Capacitors manufactured using this process have passed reliability tests (TDDB) at major client companies and also met the AEC-Q100 international automotive semiconductor quality standard, which is a benchmark for operational reliability in harsh environments. Notably, it can be integrated into 0.13μm/0.18μm BCD process technology, making it highly applicable in the automotive semiconductor sector.
The company also explained that various design support tools such as PDK, DRC, LPE, LVS, and Pcell are provided to help customers accelerate product development.
SK keyfoundry further stated that this digital isolation technology is expected to outperform conventional optical isolator-based products in terms of performance, reliability, integration, and cost efficiency for electronic devices that require high noise immunity, such as those in electric vehicles, industrial, communications, and healthcare fields.
Lee Dongjae, CEO of SK keyfoundry, said, "We are pleased to have secured industry-leading technology in digital insulator processes that are gaining attention in a wide range of electronic products, including electric vehicles. SK keyfoundry will continue to develop process technology to meet the diverse needs of customers not only in Korea but also globally, including the United States, China, and Taiwan, by providing world-class process technology based on our superior mass production experience compared to competitors."
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