TSMC, MediaTek demonstrate joint achievement

Taipei, March 12 (CNA) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) and MediaTek Inc. have jointly demonstrated the first silicon-proven power management unit (PMU) and integrated power amplifier (iPA) using TSMC's N6RF+ process, the companies announced Wednesday.

The achievement enables the integration of the PMU and iPA into a system-on-chip (SoC) using an advanced RF process for wireless connectivity products, the companies said in a press release.

This allows for a significantly smaller form factor while maintaining a performance that is competitive with stand-alone modules, they said.

The smaller area enabled by TSMC's N6RF+ technology reduces the size of the wireless connectivity product module by a double-digit percentage, the companies said.

The results also showed great improvement in power efficiency for the PMU while iPA performance was competitive with benchmark products.

The collaboration between MediaTek and on Design-Technology Co-Optimization (DTCO) is a result of MediaTek's expertise in driving system specifications and technology requirements in its products and design, as well as TSMC enhancing its technology for product differentiation, the press release said.

"This achievement on TSMC's N6RF+ process shows how the company combines its leadership in advanced logic and broad portfolio of specialty technologies to provide differentiated solutions for customers' products," the release quoted Lipen Yuan (袁立本), senior director of TSMC's Advanced Technology Business Development, as saying.

Meanwhile, MediaTek Vice President Wu Ching-san (吳慶杉) was quoted as saying that "by combining MediaTek's leadership in wireless technology and TSMC's expertise on DTCO, N6RF+ will become a competitive technology for RFSoC projects, creating a significant advantage in the industry."

N6RF is TSMC's most advanced RF CMOS technology, which enables customer products to deliver full 5G/Wi-Fi 6 & 6E performance while maximizing battery life by leveraging superior RF capability and digital PPA benefits, according to TSMC's official website.