Samsung, Dream Chip ready to drive automotive sector down to 8nm
Samsung issued a statement saying it is currently producing several automotive semiconductor products such as driving assistant and infotainment systems, mainly based on its 28nm FDSOI and 14nm process nodes. In order to respond to increasing customer inquiries, Samsung plans to expand its automotive process nodes to 8nm FinFET.
While the move to 8nm, the last node prior to extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, could be desirable for infotainment and some ADAS applications, it is notable that there is, as yet, no embedded non-volatile memory option at either 14nm or 8nm. Even on 28nm FDSOI memory options are not straightforward and tend to use novel options such as magnetic RAM or phase-change memory.
Samsung said it has proven its ability to design circuits as IP cores to meet automotive standards, and had received ISO 26262 certification for functional safety in automotive components from TÜV Rheinland. Complying with reliability standard AEC-Q100 and IATF 16969 quality management system, it is also preparing for automotive semiconductor production.
At the SFF Samsung also showcased its technology support for 5G, IoT and high performance computing (HPC).
Next: Dream Chip’s angle
Shortly before the event, automotive SoC developer Dream Chip Technologies GmbH (Hannover, Germany) announced that it had joined the Samsung Foundry design partner program.
Dream Chip was previously closely allied with another FDSOI-capable chip maker Globalfoundries. However, in August 2018 Globalfoundries announced it was dropping advanced process development (see GloFo rethinks its future, drops 7nm FinFET), which may have prompted the developer to seek alternative roadmap options.
Dream Chip said it is now able offer ASICs on 8nm and beyond opening up possibilities for European and car manufacturers and tier one suppliers. Dream Chip also supports IoT by designing to technology such as 28 and 18nm FDSOI as well as 14nm and 8nm FinFET.
Dream Chip is a design service company specialized in the development of ASICs, FPGAs, embedded software and systems with a strong application focus on automotive vision systems. The company is the result of more than 20 years of endeavour having been founded as Sican by the government of lower Saxony in 1990. In 2000 it was acquired by Infineon Technologies and operated as Sci-worx. It was then bought by Silicon Image before a management buy-out in 2010 and a name change to Dream Chip Technologies.
Related links and articles:
News articles:
GloFo rethinks its future, drops 7nm FinFET
Dream Chip shows ADAS processor on FDSOI
Samsung adds 4nm and FDSOI processes to roadmap
Samsung launches 7nm EUV process, SAFE partnership
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