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IQE: the epiwafer foundry

When Motorola sought With manufacturing sites and customer support IQE is by far the global leader for wafer outsourc- strong support for the offices worldwide, IQE is well established as the ing services offering an unparalleled range of leading pure-play compound materials and services including exclusive supply further development materials foundry, offering the widest range of of the revolutionary III-V on silicon wafer tech- and commercialization materials capabilities and products from a choice nology using multi-wafer production platforms of their breakthrough of MBE and MOCVD platforms. for wafers up to 6” in diameter. Partnering with GaAs-on-silicon tech- IQE creates a wealth of opportunities to add From small-scale development projects through nology, they chose to value and improve the business efficiency of its to large-scale manufacturing, IQE has the dedicat- customers’ operations. partner with IQE. This ed resources to support businesses at many lev- article explains why. els. From emerging design houses and “fabless” Dedicated materials operations to large-scale device fabrication facili- expertise ties, IQE provides its customers with access to the latest III-V materials processing technologies. IQE boasts a high level of expertise in com- pound semiconductor materials technology, with over 400 people dedicated to epiwafer develop ment and manufacturing. Expert Account Managers work with customers to set and agree structure specifications and tolerances to ensure manufacturability and competitive pricing, and to perfect the epiwafer structures and troubleshoot problems through appropriately designed DOES.

On completion of the epiwafer growth process a full range of characterization techniques are used to verify compliance with specitications.

This process is complimented by the fabrication of test structures so that electrical and optical characteristics may also be determined.

Figure 7. One of IQE’s 72” Product life Support: from C&As-on-silicon epiwafers with a Motoro/a ceil phone. dev@opment to volume

In over 12 years of supplying epiwafer foundry services to compound semiconductor business- es, IQE has demonstrated a proven track record Device IQE activities in supporting customers of all sizes through all InP HBTs Be and C base doping up to 8x10’s cm-3 Graded base emitter junctions phases of new product introductions, from initial InGaAs or GaAsSb base development through to volume manufacturing. InCaAlAs or InP wide-bandgap layers IQE’s unparalleled expertise has enabled multi- Long-wavelength VCSELs MBE and MOVPE platforms World leading InGaAsN active regions level customer support across a diverse range of Multiple approaches including: products, from complex structures such as InP - AIGaAs/lnGaAsN HBTs, metamorphic HEMTs and HBTs, QWIPs and - InP with AlGaAsSb mirrors VCSELs through to high-volume manufacturing of - InP bottom with metamorphic top , lasers, HBTs, PINS, LEDs and PHEMTs. mirror Metamorphic FETs and HBTs InGaAlAs and AlGaAsSb buffers IQE continues to lead the industry in developing World leading device results new products, as evidenced by the III-V-on-sili- - MHEMT DC & RF performance con activities with Motorola. In addition, IQE has - MHEMTs transitioned to production ongoing development efforts in many materials - MHBT DC performance and devices (seeTable).

.ADVANCED ~~~ICO~D~CT~K~ BUYERS GUILX 2001/2002 q Multiple platforms Figure 2. A production m&i- wafer 5x6” M6.E system at IQE inc in Bethlehem, PA, USA. IQE group has a full portfolio of small-, medium-, and large-scale MBE and MOVF’E reactorsThe small reactors are configured and staffed to enable rapid development of new products and for spe- ciality low-volume productsAs a new product nears commercial acceptance, the already opti- mized epitaxial process is transferred to the appropriate reactor platform. Many years of suc- cessful experience provides for highly effective and efficient transitioning to commercial volumes.

Since significant differences exist between diifer- on-site facilities at customer premises, converting Figure 3. A multi-wafer 5x6” ent reactor platforms, IQB’s approach in develop- MOCVD system IQE Ltd in fmed costs to variable costs in response to market at ing new products pays critical attention to down- , , UK. conditions, while allowing the customers access stream tmumfacturability issueswith core compe- to IQE’s core expertise. tencies in both MBE and MOVPE, IQE is optimally positioned to choose the most appropriate Strength and stability growth technique (and even to pursue both approaches when market conditions dictate). By partnering with IQE, customers can be secure in the knowledge that the group has a leading As well as epi growth platforms, the group also market position, a strong cash position and bal- supplies high-quality compound semiconductor ance sheet, coupled with a strategic directions substrates &rough its WaferTechnoIogy subsidiary. including a corporate pure-play philosophy and a Choice of support services diversification strategy that includes all impor- tant new epitaxial processes and products in the Employing the services of IQE’s dedicated epi- silicon and compound semiconductor field. ‘Fable& wafer foundry can assist businesses in many ways. The IQE Group of Companies includes IQE Similarly, the way in which such foundry support operations can Europe (UK), IQE Inc (USA), IQE Silicon Comp- is supplied can take a number of forms to best ounds (UK), and Wafer Technology (UK). IQE has use IQE’s R&D suit the needs of the customer. the experience, the manufacturing infrastructure, expertise and Most epiwafer foundry services are supplied as the resources, the relationships, the market posi- the primary materials source, allowing customers tion, and the drive to continue to grow and lead facilities, an to concentrate on their core business which the wafer outsource market on a global basis. option enhanced increasingly involves research, design and devel- opment and the subsequent maintenance and Partner in growth through the link licensing of intellectual propertyAlternatively, Partnering with IQE offers customers many ben- with QintetiQ “fabless” operations can use IQE’s R&D expertise efits including: and facilities, an option enhanced through the l Total confidentiality link with QinetiQ (formerly part of UK’s Defence l Direct access to leading-edge materials tech- Evaluation and Research Agency).In many cases, nology for both R&D and volume production the outsource foundry acts as a reliable second l Dramatic reduction of real and hidden costs. source to existing in-house production facilities. Immediate cut in fixed assets and staffmg costs

As businesses seek ways in which to avoid the l Rapid new product development and route to boom-and-bust cycles that have dogged the sili- diversify into new materials

con industry for the last two decades, further l Significantly reduced time-to-market outsourcing options are becoming increasingty * Reduced business risk from cyclical nature of attractive. IQE is again ieading the way by offer- semiconductor markets David Thomas ing customers a unique range of options, includ- l Dedicated account management Business Development ing customers siting their own equipment at As Motorola found when they chose to partner Manager IQE’s premises, with full control allowing the with IQE on GaAs-on-silicon technology, the Tei: +44 (0129 2083 9400 benefits of cost-effective overheads while main- result was rapid acceleration of development Fax: +44 (0) 29 2083 9411 taining maximum flexibilityAnother option is for progress and successful transition to a large- Email: [email protected] IQE to take on the management or ownership of volume manufacturing platform. Website: www.iqep.com

ADVANCED BUYERS GUIDE 2oot/2002

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