Electronics Weekly puts its questions to an industry figure: Carlo Rebughini, vice-president of sales at Austria Microsystems
 
What are the most important process technologies and parameters for production of analogue parts?

I think analogue companies have special technology to implement analogue functions. They're using CMOS technology with special processes such as double poly, EEPROM, SiGe (Silicon Germanium), high voltage etc, but the most important things are the high accuracy simulation models for analogue functions.

What are the relative pros and cons of CMOS and SiGe process technologies for the production of analogue and mixed signal ICs?

Generally you don't need the most advanced technology to develop and produce analogue products, but excellence parameters like noise, gain, EMC immunity.  We can achieve this with our analogue CMOS processes. SiGe technology is used when speed, low power and low noise are necessary. From a technology point of view the production line must be flexible and stable.

Which are the most important markets for analogue products and which are driving the technology hardest?

There is no one market that's driving the technology hardest, but applications. There are applications that are looking for low voltage and low power consumption like mobile devices in communications and healthcare; others need high voltage like special drivers and DC-DC converters in industrial market. Low power consumption and low voltage is required in the mobile phone market where driving a flash with high current is essential for example.  Automotive is chasing for a different technology in a market where quality is one of the most important factors. Analogue products are the intermediaries between the real world (analogue) and the digital world (CPU, DSP).

How is the Asic market being affected by the growing influence of programmable devices?

The digital Asic market is being overtaken by FPGAs for sure. The analogue content of mixed signal Asics is more resistant to the FPGA induced decline. The biggest threat to mixed signal Asics is the huge choice of standard products available off the shelf from a large number of vendors. Time to market, design flexibility and lack of NRE are significant advantages that mitigate against mixed signal Asics.

How important is it that Europe retains some capability in semiconductor manufacturing?

It is absolutely fundamental that Europe maintains and expands its semiconductor design, development and building capabilities. Local volume manufacturing must be in place alongside off-shore facilities to properly hedge the risk of unstable politics, catastrophic events as well as supply chain issues. The lack of European semiconductor production is going to penalise the domestic scenario forcing us to rely on foreign technologies.