NXP and TSMC have made the first single-chip 45nm global LCD TV platform, and NXP is delivering engineering samples to its lead customers.
The chip has NXP's PNX85500 processor, built on TSMC's 45nm low power process technology.
Called TV550, the single-chip digital TV platform enables HD TV and internet access.
Early productisation of the chip was enabled by early access to silicon test results from TSMC, resulting in accurate transistor characterisation using state-of-the art PSP models.
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NXP called on TSMC, who had announced the industry's first 45nm process technology in 2007, to achieve its time-to-market lead. NXP selected TSMC's 45LP process technology for its performance characteristics such as multiple Vt to achieve lower power consumption, excellent current drive capability and one of the industry's smallest SRAM cell size of 0.299-micron(2).
"Digital switchover and high definition content are the major demands for the TV industry," says Lou Schreurs, business line TV general manager, NXP Semiconductors, "with TSMC's valuable experience in advanced CMOS technologies and NXP's TV system design expertise, we are able to deliver these high end features with a reduced bill-of-materials. Our customers are highly impressed with TV550's superb picture quality and its capability to handle the complex global digital standards with a single platform."
The TSMC 45 LP process offers designers up to twice the density of 65nm with significant low power and up to 40% smaller die size. Compared with TSMC 40G technology, the 45LP requires less photo masks and is ideal for products demanding excellent cost performance ratio.
"NXP has clearly achieved its leadership with the availability of this single-chip digital TV SoC. The device is 'right-the-first-time fully functional silicon that delivered as flip chip packaged samples just eight weeks after tape out," says John Wei, senior director, advanced technology marketing at TSMC.