Mature CMOS (0.5um to 180nm)

Why IC designers need specialty I/O and custom ESD cells

Most foundries running mature CMOS processes offer a wide range of ESD protection clamps. In these legacy processes, conventional ESD approaches remain effective. Typically, a complete General Purpose I/O (GPIO) library is also available at no cost, with ESD cells already integrated.

However, for emerging applications, IC designers may find the standard GPIO library limiting. The parasitic capacitance of the integrated ESD protection clamps can be too high for high-bandwidth interfaces, whether wired, wireless, or optical.

Additionally, the leakage current of traditional ESD clamps may be unacceptable for low-power applications such as IoT or medical devices.

Many of these new applications also demand significantly higher ESD robustness.

Sofics IP for Mature CMOS

Process technology covered

TSMC 350nm
TSMC 250nm
TSMC 180nm
UMC 180nm
Tower Semi 350nm
Tower Semi 180nm
Silterra 180nm
Several proprietary IDM fabs

Foundries covered

TSMC
UMC
Tower Semi
Silterra
IDM fabs

Key focus areas

High-Speed interfaces

Beyond standard voltage levels

Sofics IP is used in high bandwidth communication interfaces networks. These interfaces need ESD clamps with low parasitic capacitance. Sofics clamps provide standard ESD robustness and do not require a resistance in the signal path.

Our IP was used for sensor interfaces, battery connections and more. We have delivered solutions for high voltage tolerance (5V or higher) thanks to a flexible but deterministic solution set.

ESD with low capacitance

High voltage tolerant ESD

Battery powered applications

Harsh environments

Customers have integrated Sofics ESD in IoT systems. The leakage of our ESD cells is 100x lower compared to conventional approach. Huge improvements can be made in stand-by, sleep, operational modes and during power-cycles. Sofics has solutions available for interfaces and rail clamps.

Automotive applications typically require higher ESD robustness levels. Sofics ESD technology can be easily scaled to reach higher HBM and CDM protection levels. In some cases the on-chip ESD cells are adapted to sustain contact discharge 8kV IEC 61000-4-2.

Low leakage ESD

Clamps with high ESD robustness

Radiation hard and cold-spare

Integrated circuits used in space, nuclear physics research or several medical applications require a higher tolerance against radiation. The conventional I/O circuits and ESD devices degrade under this kind of stress. Fortunately, Sofics has proven solutions.

Rad-hard ESD clamps

IC products from our customers

Our customers have created amazing products even on considered ‘old’ CMOS technology. Examples include high-speed interfaces for consumer applications, wireless IoT circuits, low-power Internet of Things devices and TCON (Timing controller) chips in flat panel displays. Several of our IDM customers have used Sofics IP for Display Drivers for these same displays.