1st Silicon and UniqueICs target sensor market: News from X-Fab Sarawak

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1st Silicon (Malaysia) and UniqueICs of Russia, a subsidiary of Kedah Wafer Emas (KWE) of Malaysia, have announced completion of colour CMOS photoreceiver cells that will be manufactured using 1st Silicon's 0.25um standard CMOS mixed signal process. The cell technology allows sensors to receive three colours from one pixel using the principle of color separation on internal energy barriers. This technique does not use common organic colour filters or microlenses.

Using a set of photoreceiver cells manufactured in 0.25um process technology, companies can create matrix sensor structures of up to 4 Megapixels.

The applications for photoreceivers are digital video and digital still cameras, CCTV, biometric identification systems and toys.

'Sensors are one of technology's most promising new products because they benefit a myriad of products designed for lifestyle applications, as well as for business and security products,' stated Dr John Nelson, Chief Executive Officer of 1st Silicon.

'We enter this exciting market with rich insight and experience gained over our collaboration with UniqueICs.' Vladimir Perminov and Dr Yury Tishin, Directors of UniqueICs, said, 'Our strong background in research and development has provided the foundation for bringing sensors to market'.

'By working with 1st Silicon, we offer our customers a ready source of combined product and manufacturing expertise'.

UniqueICs is now offering sample production of 1.3-Megapixel sensors, with volume production planned for this spring.

The 3-Megapixel sensor is scheduled for volume production in the fourth quarter.

UniqueICs has submitted several patents for this photoreceiver technology.

Following current production, 1st Silicon plans to continue collaborating with UniqueICs to migrate the colour photo receivers to its 0.18um technology for production of 4- to10-Megapixel photoreceivers.

About 1st Silicon (Malaysia) - 1st Silicon is a dedicated semiconductor foundry founded in 1998 by the Malaysian State of Sarawak.

1st Silicon's 200mm wafer fab has a capacity in excess of 45,000 wafers per month when fully ramped.

The Company offers volume production of digital and mixed-signal CMOS technologies in 0.25um and 0.18um processes.

0.15um logic and 0.13um Flash technologies will be available by first quarter of 2005.

The Company also focuses on niche markets by offering reliable and cost-effective embedded non-volatile memory, high-voltage, CMOS image sensor and CCD processes.

1st Silicon's customers include integrated device manufacturers and fabless semiconductor companies worldwide.

1st Silicon has its headquarters in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, and sales offices in US, Korea and Taiwan.

About UniqueICs - UniqueICs, a Russian subsidiary of Kedah Wafer Emas (KWE) of Malaysia, is a fabless design house working in fields of optoelectronics and customer electronics.

The Company offers leading edge IC design on the base of patented technologies to provide unique, high quality products and system solutions at competitive prices.

More than 30 PhDs, Professors and 100 MSc's staff are working for Unique ICs.

The Company has established 40 personal grants for talented students and young scientists of the best Russian technical Universities.

UniqueICs head office is based in Zelenograd, center of Russian electronics.

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1st Silicon and UniqueICs target sensor market

Colour CMOS photoreceiver cell technology allows sensors to receive three colours from one pixel using the principle of colour separation on internal energy barriers.