Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) yesterday announced it would partner with long-term customer Altera Corp to supply more power-efficient and smaller embedded flash (EmbFlash) memory and SRAM chips with its new 55 nanometer process technology.
The 55 nanometer EmbFlash delivers faster computing, increases gate density by 10 times and shrinks flash and SRAM cell sizes by 70 percent and 80 percent respectively, compared with the prior generation embedded flash, a joint statement by the companies said.
The new flash memory and SRAM chips would be used in various applications within the automotive and industrial sectors, it said.
TSMC and Altera have collaborated in developing chips on a wide range of process technologies, including advanced 20 nanometer technology. Their latest partnership came one day after Intel Corp said it would make 14 nanometer chips for Altera.
Jason Chen (陳俊聖), TSMC’s senior vice president for worldwide sales and marketing, said the company’s continued investment in technologies, such as 55 nanometer EmbFlash, helps customers like Altera develop more competitive products.
TSMC, the world’s biggest contract chipmaker, last year spent NT$38.8 billion (US$1.4 billion) on research and development, leading its local peers in terms of R&D spending for the fifth consecutive year, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said in a statement on Monday.
The NT$38.8 billion in R&D accounted for 7.8 percent of TSMC’s total revenue last year and represented an increase of 22.8 percent year-on-year.
Shares of TSMC rallied 1.11 percent to NT$100.5 yesterday, ending two days of decline.
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