SemiBlocks gets credit to get CMOS timing circuit in to silicon
RVO is providing €1.7 million (about US$1.95 million) to help SemiBlocks turn its crystal oscillator technology from a working proof-of-concept prototype into first silicon.
SemiBlocks raised €3 million (about $3.5 million) for its mission to develop CMOS circuits to compensate for hysteresis and frequency errors due to temperature variation in crystal oscillators (see Startup funded for timing compensation).
SemiBlocks uses CMOS technology to allow the use of lower cost, lower precision crystal oscillators and support for larger temperature ranges. The circuits can be integrated into other SoCs giving an even lower cost of use. The technology is patented and applicable to telecommunications infrastructure, data centers and smartphone and tablet platforms
With the addition of RVO’s credit SemiBlocks expects to complete the tape out of the first engineering samples in February. This will be followed by a period of testing before a second engineering sample run. SemiBlocks is on track to have production of the first commercial products for small 4G/5G base stations up and running early in 2020, the company said.
SemiBlocks crystal oscillator technology is a disruptive technology that offers significant cost and performance benefits particularly for emerging 5G technology markets, from mobile devices and infrastructure to electric and autonomous vehicles. Operating with standard low-cost crystals, the SemiBlocks IC will eliminate the effects of hysteresis and compensate for frequency errors due to temperature variations while improving timing accuracy.
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