Foundry technology for RF and high performance analog applications

The requirements for silicon foundry technology serving the RF / mixed signal and high performance analog (HPA) market are very different from those intended for mostly digital designs. RF / HPA applications require a rich set of features in a modular platform with accurate RF models for first-pass design success in demanding applications that stress speed, voltage and noise requirements. In this paper we present examples of such technologies focusing on two areas of particular recent interest: silicon technology for the front-end module of wireless handsets and high-speed SiGe BiCMOS technology serving high-speed networks and mmWave wireless applications.