26 December, 2007
category: Biometrics, Corporate
austriamicrosystems’ Full Service Foundry was selected by Fingerprint Cards conduct high volume production of Fingerprint Card AB’s advanced high quality fingerprint sensor chip FPC1011C. The new sensor chip offers high image quality, 3D image with 256 gray scale values in every pixel and highly sensitive pixel amplification (HSPA) resulting in a very high signal to noise ratio. The FPC1011C sensor chip is suited for physical access control, time and attendance, security and IT security applications.
austriamicrosystems’ Full Service Foundry unit selected by Fingerprint Cards to manufacture high quality fingerprint sensor chip for security applications
Unterpremstaetten, Austria and Gothenburg, Sweden — austriamicrosystems’ business unit Full Service Foundry today announced the high volume production of Fingerprint Card AB’s advanced high quality fingerprint sensor chip FPC1011C. Fingerprint Cards, a leading supplier to the biometric market, developed the new sensor chip as the basis for its comprehensive product portfolio ranging from fingerprint sensors and biometric processor ASICs to complete biometric sub-modules.
Based on Fingerprint Cards’ patented technology, the new sensor chip offers very high image quality, 3D image with 256 gray scale values in every pixel and extremely highly sensitive pixel amplification (HSPA) resulting in a very high signal to noise ratio. This makes the FPC1011C the best sensor available on the market today with respect to robustness and image quality. The FPC1011C sensor chip is ideally suited for physical access control, time and attendance, security and IT security applications.
“We are impressed by the professionalism shown by austriamicrosystems in the design verification and industrialization of the product, enabling fast ramp-up to support the increased volume requirements from our customers. Furthermore, austriamicrosystems’ Full Service Foundry concept is essential to ensure high quality and short lead times, which are key factors in the growing biometric market” says Peter Svensson, VP Technical Operation of Fingerprint Cards.
“austriamicrosystems is proud to support Fingerprint Cards’ high volume demand for the new FPC1011C sensor chip with its know-how and world class expertise in analog wafer manufacturing. Major challenges for the project teams were the very large chip size of the sensor as well as one of the fastest production ramp-ups ever performed at austriamicrosystems ” says Thomas Riener, General Manager Full Service Foundry at austriamicrosystems. “Through stable high yield production in our well-established 0.35µm CMOS technology, C35 Fingerprint Cards benefits from our leadership in analog foundry services for specialty technologies.”
About Fingerprint Cards
Fingerprint Cards AB (Fingerprints) has developed electronic systems that determine personal identity by analysing the unique fingertip patterns of individuals. The systems comprise microchips with algorithms that scan, store and compare fingertip patterns without the help of any PC processor. Two types of capacitive sensors have been developed, an extremely small swipe sensor and a flatbed sensor. Processor ASICs and algorithms have been developed for each type of sensor. By virtue of its smallness, low power consumption and the possibility of very low production costs, the technology can be integrated in volume products such as smart cards and mobile (cell) phones, where the requirements for such features are extremely high. Other applications for the technology include access control systems for buildings and products for log on to computers and IT networks. Fingerprint has its head office in Gothenburg, Sweden, and is listed on the OMX Nordic Exchange (FING B) in Stockholm, Sweden. http://www.fingerprints.com/
About austriamicrosystems
austriamicrosystems’ business unit Full Service Foundry has successfully positioned itself in the analog/mixed-signal foundry market offering well-established RF CMOS, High-Voltage CMOS, BiCMOS and SiGe-BiCMOS processes. With superior support during the design phase, high-end tools and experienced engineers, austriamicrosystems succeeds to be an attractive analog foundry partner especially for fabless design houses.
austriamicrosystems is a leading designer and manufacturer of high performance analog ICs, combining more than 25 years of analog design capabilities and system know-how with its own state-of-the-art manufacturing and test facilities. austriamicrosystems leverages its expertise in low power and high accuracy to provide industry-leading customized and standard analog products. Operating worldwide with more than 1,000 employees, austriamicrosystems focuses on the areas of power management, sensors & sensor interfaces, portable audio and car access in its markets Communications, Industry & Medical and Automotive, complemented by its Full Service Foundry activities. austriamicrosystems is listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange in Zurich.
