Imagination and GLOBALFOUNDRIES announce collaboration

Imagination Technologies and GLOBALFOUNDRIES (GF) have announced a joint collaboration to provide ultra-low-power baseband and radio frequency (RF) solutions for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and IEEE 802.15.4 technology.

The collaboration will involve using Imagination’s Ensigma connectivity IP on GF’s 22nm FD-SOI platform. In addition, Imagination has joined GF’s FDXcelerator Partner Program.

The combination of 22FDX technology and Imagination’s Ensigma IP will provide a power and cost efficient solution that customers will be able to integrate into their System on Chip (SoC) designs. The collaboration will enable mutual customers to create differentiated connected devices for the Internet of Things (IoT) using Imagination’s ultra-low-power Ensigma connectivity engines in GF’s 22FDX process.

Commenting David McBrien, executive vice president of sales and marketing, Imagination, said, “22FDX is an appealing option for customers designing cost-sensitive devices. The collaboration has made our Ensigma connectivity IP even more power and area efficient. The availability of silicon-proven baseband and RF enables customers to rapidly introduce single-chip wireless devices requiring only a single external antenna.”

“Imagination’s IP and BLE solutions complement GF’s 22FDX FD-SOI capabilities, enabling clients to leverage low-power, low-cost designs for IoT and connected applications,” said Mark Ireland, vice president of ecosystem partnerships at GF. “We are pleased to welcome Imagination as a partner in our FDXcelerator program to further broaden IP and design service choices and flexibility that will best match client requirements.”

Ensigma IP for 22FDX provides a complete IP solution comprising analogue RF/AFE as a hard macro complete with a fully synthesizable baseband IP for applications such as wearable computing, health care, and home control. The solution for ultra-low power Bluetooth Low Energy and IEEE 802.15.4 is currently in development with lead customers, with silicon available in early Q4 2018.

As a part of GF’s FDXcelerator Program, Imagination will join a rapidly-growing number of industry leaders committed to provide a broad set of resources, including EDA tools, IP, silicon platforms, reference designs, design services and packaging and test solutions specific to 22FDX technology. The program’s open framework enables members to minimize development time and cost while leveraging the advantages associated with FDX technology.