SK keyfoundry has developed a Bi-SCR-based on-chip EMC protection technology and already applied it to 0.13-micron BCD products in mass production. The company says the new approach improves automotive semiconductor reliability under harsh electrical stress and reduces the need for external protection parts.
Automotive stress problem
Vehicle electronics now pack more functions into tighter spaces, so semiconductor robustness matters more than before. SK keyfoundry says older ESD devices mainly protected chips from momentary discharge events during manufacturing or assembly. By contrast, automotive systems must survive repeated electrical stress during real driving conditions, including EMC-related disturbances under standards such as ISO 10605.
How the Bi-SCR works
The Bi-SCR structure gives designers flexible trigger-voltage control and strong high-current handling. It also offers high area efficiency, which is useful for automotive power ICs where chip space is limited. In practice, that means engineers can add stronger protection without sacrificing integration density.
On-chip protection benefits
The most important change is that the protection is built directly on the chip. That reduces the need for external TVS diodes, which were often required in earlier system designs. As a result, customers can simplify circuits, save board space, and improve overall system protection performance.
Process and production
SK keyfoundry says the technology is now in mass production on its 0.13-micron BCD platform. The company also presents this as the result of combining its automotive BCD know-how with EMC and ESD design capabilities. That matters because automotive customers usually want proven manufacturability, not just a lab result.
Target applications
The company expects the technology to support automotive PMICs, motor drivers, and power control ICs. These devices need stable operation because they influence power delivery and vehicle control functions. SK keyfoundry also plans to expand its protection-device portfolio with high-voltage LDMOS, BJT, SCR, and diode-based solutions.
CEO Derek D. Lee said EMC robustness is becoming a core competitive factor in automotive semiconductors, beyond basic component-level ESD performance. He described the new technology as a milestone that lifts reliability and system stability. He added that the company will keep strengthening high-reliability, high-voltage, and high-efficiency process platforms for automotive customers.
Why it matters
This development is important because it addresses both device protection and system integration at once. Automakers and semiconductor designers want smaller, more efficient circuits, but they also need dependable behavior under harsh conditions. SK keyfoundry’s on-chip EMC approach tries to answer both needs in one process solution.,
Key points
- The technology is already in mass production.
- It is built on SK keyfoundry’s 0.13-micron BCD process.
- It improves EMC handling inside the chip, not through external parts.
- It targets automotive power ICs and related high-reliability applications.
Company profile
SK keyfoundry is an 8-inch pure-play foundry in Korea. It provides Analog and Mixed-Signal foundry services for consumer, communications, computing, automotive, and industrial applications. The company positions this launch as part of a broader strategy to deepen its automotive semiconductor offering.
Sources: SK keyfoundry
