A Commercial Foundry Perspective of SiGe BiCMOS Process Technologies

Abstract

For the past two decades SiGe BiCMOS process technologies have filled in several gaps in commercial semiconductor product requirements not satisfied by standard CMOS processes. While this roster of applications has evolved and shifted during this time, SiGe BiCMOS continues to prove itself as an attractive solution for both newly emerging circuit requirements and also as a cost-effective replacement for applications previously addressed by discrete III-V device technologies. In this paper the 21st century history of SiGe BiCMOS technology and applications will be discussed, followed by an overview of the current technology, markets and application spaces where SiGe BiCMOS plays a major role, and finally a discussion of future technology and application trends will be presented.