TowerJazz
and Cavendish Kinetics today announced their collaboration to bring MEMS
tunable RF solutions to the consumer mobile wireless market. The process
technology combines the Cavendish NanoMech? MEMS technology with the
TowerJazz power CMOS process and custom RF interconnect in a single chip
solution. Designed specifically for radio frequency (RF) applications,
the Cavendish NanoMech? MEMS technology has passed rigorous reliability
testing and enables products boasting advantages in size and performance
compared to other technologies. NanoMech? MEMS technology can be
combined with other TowerJazz technologies such as SOI CMOS, SiGe BiCMOS
and Through-Silicon Vias (TSVs) to service a wide variety of emerging
applications.
Cavendish is shipping antenna frequency tuning products to strategic
partners for sampling to end customers. These products address
challenges with 4G/LTE in achieving its theoretical data throughput.
Historically, performance has been limited for several reasons. The
increasing number of features in phones and increasing number of
frequencies supported require more components and antennas. The
increasing size of displays creates a ground plane that blocks the
antenna signal and limits performance. To address these trends which
lead to further RF performance degradation, the Cavendish components are
used to dynamically tune antennas. Because the Cavendish components have
an Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR) comparable to a passive component
without needing a lossy RF switch, designers can incorporate the
components to perform Antenna Frequency Tuning (AFT) in mobile devices.
AFT changes the resonant frequency of the antenna and enables much
higher antenna efficiency. RF switches, both discrete and solid state,
can reduce efficiency by up to 50% when used for AFT. Eliminating the
switch, and instead implementing the tunable solutions, dramatically
improves overall RF system performance.
Higher demands on LTE mobile devices for better reception of wireless
broadband signals is driving the need for this next generation solution.
The Cavendish device improves the quality of RF signal by using a large
array of bi-state MEMS capacitors on a CMOS chip to provide a variable
capacitance to the RF circuit. This class of components addresses needs
for: antenna frequency tuning, antenna impedance matching, tunable power
amplifiers, and tunable filters.
Fabrication of these tunable solutions, as done at TowerJazz, includes
standard CMOS processing steps, but uses a novel and differentiating
technique that encapsulates the MEMS elements inside tiny
micro-cavities to isolate the moving parts from the outside world. The
encapsulation is performed within the semiconductor wafer fab process,
not at packaging assembly facilities.
"We have aligned with a strong manufacturing partner with an established
track record and known capabilities to deliver robust and reliable
products in a high volume manufacturing environment," said Dennis Yost,
President and CEO of Cavendish Kinetics. "TowerJazz has proven its
ability to quickly transfer process technologies and we are now in a
position to supply tens of millions of devices per month to support the
large and rapidly growing 4G/LTE mobile device market," Yost added.
"We are excited to bring the Cavendish Kinetics NanoMech? MEMS devices
into volume manufacturing," said Russell Ellwanger, CEO of TowerJazz.
"The integrated RF MEMS process is strategic for TowerJazz and broadens
our specialty fab leadership position. TowerJazz is a large supplier to
the consumer RF market and the Cavendish relationship expands our market
participation. By combining the TowerJazz high volume manufacturing
capability with the innovative NanoMech? MEMS process from Cavendish, a
highly reliable CMOS-MEMS solution is helping to solve some very
difficult 4G/LTE issues."
About Cavendish Kinetics
Cavendish Kinetics (www.cavendish-kinetics.com)
provides compelling, high-performance RF tuning solutions for mobile
device manufacturers in the global wireless industry. These solutions
improve device connectivity, delivering performance benefits to mobile
devices and networks and reducing manufacturing costs. As the world's
leading expert on RF microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) design and
manufacturing, Cavendish has achieved a breakthrough--applying its
patented MEMS technology and manufacturing processes to solving tough
radio-frequency (RF) connectivity problems, particularly for 4G and LTE.
Privately held, Cavendish is based in San Jose, CA, USA, and has offices
in Korea, Taiwan, China and The Netherlands.
About TowerJazz
Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (NASDAQ: TSEM) (TASE: TSEM), its fully owned
U.S. subsidiary Jazz Semiconductor Ltd., and its fully owned
Japanese subsidiary TowerJazz Japan, Ltd., operate collectively under
the brand name TowerJazz, the global specialty foundry leader. TowerJazz
manufactures integrated circuits, offering a broad range of customizable
process technologies including: SiGe, BiCMOS, Mixed-Signal/CMOS, RFCMOS,
CMOS Image Sensor, Power Management (BCD), and MEMS capabilities.
TowerJazz also provides a world-class design enablement platform that
enables a quick and accurate design cycle. In addition, TowerJazz
provides (TOPS) Technology Optimization and development Process Services
to IDMs and fabless companies that need to expand capacity. TowerJazz
offers multi-fab sourcing with two manufacturing facilities in Israel,
one in the U.S., and one in Japan. For more information, please visit www.towerjazz.com.
Safe Harbor Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements, which are
subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may vary from those
projected or implied by such forward-looking statements. A complete
discussion of risks and uncertainties that may affect the accuracy of
forward-looking statements included in this press release or which may
otherwise affect TowerJazz's business is included under the heading
"Risk Factors" in Tower's most recent filings on Forms 20-F, F-3, F-4
and 6-K, as were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC") and the Israel Securities Authority and Jazz's most recent
filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, as were filed with the SEC,
respectively. Tower and Jazz do not intend to update, and expressly
disclaim any obligation to update, the information contained in this
release.

TowerJazz US Company/Media Contact:
Lauri Julian,
+1-949-715-3049
lauri.julian@towerjazz.com
or
TowerJazz
Investor Relations Contact:
Noit Levi, +972-4-604-7066
noit.levi@towerjazz.com
or
Cavendish
Kinetics Media Contact:
Coracle
Group LLC
Lisa Eppert, +1-619-838-9337
leppert@coraclegroup.com
or
Cavendish
Kinetics Company Contact:
Larry Morrell, +1-408-457-1938
Larry.Morrell@cavkin.com