Silicon Integration Initiative (Si2) has announced that five new members have joined the Si2 ranks to strengthen the coalition’s aim to ensure the adherence of the IC manufacturing process to the original intended design of the IC. 

The new members are Intel, Infineon, Mentor Graphics, UMC and STARC.  They join existing members Freescale Semiconductor, Texas Instruments, Cadence, Samsung, STMicroelectronics, IBM, Ponte Solutions and Sagantec.  As well as the industry’s main purpose of ensuring universality of standards and adherence to design, Si2 has compiled a “DFM Dictionary,” which contains almost 200 parameter definitions for use within the industry. Voting on the Dictionary’s release date will take place by the end of the year.

Si2 has also announced that Texas Instruments will take the role of Chair for 2008, taking over from Freescale Semiconductor, which now assumes the title of Past-Chair.

Mark Mason, director for Design Data Integration at Texas Instruments, and the new Chair of the DFMC said, "I'm excited to contribute to the DFMC as chair for 2008. Given the importance of DFM to the semiconductor industry, TI believes that the DFMC's momentum will only grow. As the industry addresses the challenges that new technology nodes present, close partnership with foundries and facilitation by organizations like the DFMC will be critical for industry success."

By Síle Mc Mahon