TowerJazz and Crocus collaborate on mass production of TMR magnetic sensors

According to the report of the company, the world's professional foundry leader TowerJazz and TMR (tunnel magnetoresistive) magnetic sensor technology and embedded MRAM (magnetic random access memory) leading developer Crocus, recently announced that they will use TowerJazz Cu BEOL ( In the subsequent process, the 0.13um CMOS process with a dedicated magnetic module enables mass production of Crocus' TMR sensors. By combining its magnetic sensor manufacturing process, know-how and IP, together with TowerJazz's process technology and integration experience, Crocus successfully licensed TMR technology to a Tier 1 customer, bringing business enhancements to both partners. A few months ago, Crocus announced that it has licensed its advanced TMR magnetic sensing technology-related IP to NXP Semiconductors, the global leader in automotive semiconductor solutions. TMR technology can help with next-generation applications such as power steering and electronic throttle control (ETC). Authorized collaboration will help NXP bring greater sensitivity and performance to its automotive applications, further reducing power consumption and increasing integration. According to previous reports from Mames Consulting, the global magnetic sensor market in 2015 was approximately $2.25 billion, and is expected to grow to $4.16 billion by 2022, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.87% during 2016-2022. The driving force for market growth is mainly due to the growing demand for high-quality sensor components in a number of vertical industries, especially the automotive industry's growing demand for MEMS magnetic sensors and continued growth in consumer electronics applications. Magnetic transducers that sense magnetic field strength are widely used in modern industries and electronic devices to measure current, position, motion, direction, and other physical parameters. Crocus' TMR technology is a powerful technology based on CMOS technology. It has important advantages in sensitivity, performance, power consumption and size, and can be fully integrated with CMOS technology to create a single-chip IC that can bring lower customers. Power consumption, rugged device design, and high temperature performance. Crocus' TMR solutions are ideal for applications such as IoT, consumer, medical, automotive and industrial equipment. “We chose TowerJazz because of their flexibility to integrate our TS13 platform with our TMR technology that includes magnetic materials, while magnetic materials are generally not used in CMOS processes. TowerJazz's large-scale manufacturing experience can help us successfully meet The performance needs of next-generation sensors in multiple markets. We have been working with TowerJazz for many years, and the two companies have worked together to make the technology more mature and continue to develop business and IP licensing," commented Crocus CEO Michel Desbard. “As our daily life demands for IoT applications grows, so does the demand for smart sensing, low power and sensor performance. Crocus has successfully licensed their IP, combined with TowerJazz's manufacturing capabilities and proprietary Technology will enable us to provide advanced and highly competitive embedded solutions to a wide range of customers in various markets. Through the cooperation of both parties, we have broadened our layout in the sensor market and complemented our MEMS and image sensor planning. Zmira Shternfeld-Lavie, vice president of TOPS BU and R&D Technology at TowerJazz, said. Crocus' TMR magnetic sensors are expected to replace existing sensor technologies in many applications. Crocus' TMR magnetic sensor family includes a variety of architectures based on its Magnetic Logic UnitTM (MLUTM) technology, a CMOS-based breakthrough magnetic sensing technology patented by Crocus. About Crocus Technology

Crocus Technology develops and supplies magnetic sensors and embedded storage solutions based on its patented TMR sensor technology, Magnetic Logic UnitTM (MLUTM). Crocus' magnetic sensors offer significant advantages for industrial and consumer electronics applications that require high sensitivity, stable temperature performance, low power consumption and low cost. MLU technology also delivers faster speeds, lower power consumption and longer-lasting performance for embedded storage solutions for consumer electronics. Crocus is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, with offices in Grenoble, USA.