European Eco-SoC

In times of growing euro-scepticism the engineering community demonstrates the benefits of cooperation in the union. The recently completed EU FP7 project »ATHENIS« (Automotive Tested High Voltage Embedded Non Volatile Memory Integrated System On Chip) is a successful example of collaborative European Research contributing to the EU 2020 CO₂ reduction objectives with IC products manufactured in Europe.

Currently more than 20% of the value of each conventional (internal combustion engine, ICE) car already comes from embedded electronics. This will further increase for hybrid (HEV) and fully electrical vehicles (FEV). Keeping costs and space for additional functionality low requires integration of low voltage and high voltage devices and embedded memory on a single System-on-Chip. Increasing energy efficiency of vehicles also requires placing ICs in harsh environments, e.g. near batteries, motors, or alternators while keeping costs low in order to ensure broad market adoption.

ATHENIS has demonstrated a manufacturing technology platform for IC operation for the combination of harshest environmental conditions known in the automotive industry. This includes full reverse polarity capability at the low cost of CMOS, application voltages up to 120 V, currents up to 10 A, temperatures up to 200 °C, embedded non-volatile memory, chip-level ESD up to >8 kV HBM, and high logic gate densities. The capabilities of the technology platform were demonstrated by a novel »flexible« alternator regulator IC enabling a new type of alternators with 1-2% reduction in fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions for ICEs and HEVs.

The consortium led by austriamicrosystems (Austria) included Valeo Powertrain and Electrical Systems (France), Cavendish Kinetics (The Netherlands, UK), Fraunhofer IISB (Germany), TU Wien (Austria), University of Ferrara (Italy), MASER Engineering  (The Netherlands) and Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Italy) as partners, all of them leaders in their respective areas of expertise.

The ATHENIS technology platform was established by combining HVCMOS technology from austriamicrosystems with MEMS-based »Nanomech« embedded non-volatile memory technology from Cavendish Kinetics. System specifications and verification including validation of operation up to 200 °C in a retrofitted commercial car was contributed by Valeo. Development of novel reliability, simulation, characterization and testing methods as well as new ESD and device concepts were performed by the other partners. The resulting technological advances of ATHENIS led to 14 patent filings and 35 publications. Academic highlights that have received international recognition include a novel, predictive NBTI reliability model (invited paper at IEDM  2010) and the first report of a 0.18µm HVCMOS technology with operating voltages up to 120 V and 8 kV HBM ESD (ISPSD 2010).

»The mastering of IC reliability for harshest environments in the ATHENIS project has not only enabled a new generation of flexible alternators for reducing CO₂ emissions, but also provides the basis for further integrated electronics to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs in cars even for Fully Electrical Vehicles of the future« states Mr. Jean Claude Matt, Advanced and Generic R&D Director from Valeo Powertrain and Electrical Systems, who has chaired the ATHENIS Steering Committee.

»As result of ATHENIS we have been able to introduce low cost HVCMOS technology and reliable embedded non-volatile memory to applications in harshest automotive environments and gained substantial scientific insights into reliability phenomena. The project results hold the promise of significant commercial success for the industrial partners as well as contributing to CO₂ emission reduction as outlined in the EU 2020 initiative.« adds Martin Schrems, Director Process Development & Implementation at austriamicrosystems, who has led the coordination team of ATHENIS.