Tower Semiconductor, Ltd., a global specialty foundry leader, Tuesday announced co-development of a 700V power platform to address next-generation industrial LED lighting requirements. The collaboration will combine GrandTek's 700V technology capability with Tower's advanced power management process and leading design kits to deliver the industry's most complete 700V foundry solution. An ultra low mask layer count will be achieved to provide the most cost-effective solution in a voltage regime with very few foundry providers. As an indication of strong market demand for 700V, SemiHow, a Korean-based fabless company has already signed on as an early adopter to use Tower's 700V power platform for AC to DC conversion targeting the industrial LED market. Tower expects to realize product revenue from SemiHow in the second quarter of 2010.

The 700V high voltage market consists of AC to DC conversion for next generation industrial LED lighting and the emerging large panel consumer LCDs, thereby greatly expanding the served market for Tower's power management platform. The market for industrial LED lighting is estimated to grow from $700 million to $2 Billion in 2013, a CAGR of 45%, according to industry researchers. This high-voltage platform is ideal for large-sized blue LEDs for large panel LCDs which is a booming market, and is expected to grow from $41 million in 2007 to $7 Billion in 2013, a CAGR of 135%.

As a design services company for 700V ICs, GrandTek already has an established and well respected expertise which Tower will be building upon, adding the advanced process features from its differentiated 0.18-micron power management platform. The first step in the 700V platform will be a power process consisting of 20+ transistor types covering from 6.5V to 700V operating ranges. This base technology will be achieved with very low layers. Further development will include 5V CMOS, 1.8 CMOS, SOI, and Deep Trench.