Proven proprietary solutions

Due to further technology downscaling, ESD design intrinsically becomes ever more difficult, and the solution space continues to narrow. Sarnoff Europe is constantly working several technology generations ahead to develop innovative ESD protection solutions, and has them silicon proven early in the process development phase for the benefit of our customers.
TakeCharge ESD solutions are implemented in > 300 volume commercial products. From the beginning of 2007, the rate of implementation reached more than 30 IC’s per quarter, or 2 IC's every week.

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TakeCharge ESD solutions are included in commercial 65nm product releases since the beginning of 2007. 45nm development is on-going. Our customers include TakeCharge solutions in a wide range of process technologies and applications such as High-Speed, Analog, RF, custom IC, High-Voltage (LCD drivers…).

Customer testimony

• Naoyuki Shigyo, Chief Specialist, System LSI Design Department of Toshiba’s Semiconductor Company
  • “We’ve had consistent success in designing more compact, higher-performance ESD protection into our ICs with TakeCharge.”   [read more]

Proven first time right methodology

Through its ESD design tools, documents, training and implementation support Sarnoff provides a first time right methodology for robust on-chip ESD protection.

Customer testimony

• Michel De Mey, Senior Director of Hearing and Audio Solutions at AMIS
  • “Sarnoff Europe provides specialized ESD design solutions within a very short turn-around time, and has truly demonstrated first-time-right delivery capabilities.”   [read more]

Continuous development

Sarnoff Europe maintains a business philosophy to invest at all times at least 25% of its engineering time resources to development of new and innovative design IP solutions. Sarnoff Europe started the development of 45nm ESD protection solutions already in 2005, in cooperation with one of our main customers. Sarnoff Europe will also develop the solutions for the 32nm process generation together with this long-term partner. Sarnoff Europe’s customer base benefits largely from the advancement sharing.

 
Customer testimony

• Naoyuki Shigyo, Chief Specialist, System LSI Design Department of Toshiba’s Semiconductor Company
  • “We will continue to collaborate with Sarnoff to develop solutions for our future processes such as 45nm and 32nm.”   [read more]

ESD solutions with added value

Sarnoff’s ESD solutions deliver financial value to the licensees, beyond the technical solutions. Such added value comes in the form of die level area reduction, first time right methodology and by enabling new advanced interfaces.

Customer testimonials

• Bradley Howe, vice president of IC Design at Altera,
  • “We chose TakeCharge® technology for our FPGA product families as part of Altera’s commitment to deliver high-performance, cost-effective programmable products to our customers. TakeCharge® has allowed us to effectively manage both ESD protection and IO area.”   [read more]
• Mr.Shiratori, Deputy General Manager, Display Driver Division of Oki’s Silicon Solution Company.
  • “We have implemented these TakeCharge devices in our various high volume products, such as LCD and OLED driver devices, where they deliver substantial added value for Oki and its customers.”   [read more]
• Shinya Kamiyama, General Manager of Epson’s Foundry Business Division
  • “Epson achieved such great results with Sarnoff’s TakeCharge that we decided to extend its use to our foundry customers. Thanks to Sarnoff’s technology, we are pleased to provide our foundry customers with further improved ESD support and this means that we are able to get our customer’s products to market cheaper and faster—a key advantage in such a fast moving and highly competitive market.”   [read more]

Robust patent portfolio

Sarnoff Europe aggressively pursues patent protection for all significant aspects of its technology. Sarnoff Europe also invests a considerable amount of time and effort to continuously track, monitor and review all industry ESD developments, including new patents issued, patent applications, conference papers, journal papers, press releases... Using this information, Sarnoff Europe maximizes its IP position on an ongoing basis and provides its customers additional value and benefit.
More information about the TakeCharge patents is available on the website.

Quality assurance & support

To maximize customer benefit from delivered design solutions, Sarnoff Europe assures quality by providing additional support for the use/implementation of the solutions in product IC’s. Examples are the delivery of specific tools, technical documents, and implementation support services.
Sarnoff has been involved in the creation of a “Hard Intellectual Property (IP) Quality Risk Assessment Tool” in cooperation with the GSA and a number of semiconductor companies.

The assessment of the different foundry TDK’s can be downloaded from the ChipEstimate website.