Altera and Intel extend partnership to develop multi-die devices
The unison is aimed to optimise the integration of 14 nm Tri-Gate Stratix 10 FPGAs with heterogeneous technologies into a single system-in-a-package
Altera and Intel have announced their collaboration on the development of multi-die devices that leverage Intel's package and assembly capabilities and Altera's programmable logic technology.
The collaboration is an extension of the foundry relationship between Altera and Intel, in which Intel is manufacturing Altera's Stratix 10 FPGAs and SoCs using the 14 nm Tri-Gate process.
Altera's work with Intel hopes to enable the development of multi-die devices that efficiently integrates monolithic 14 nm Stratix 10 FPGAs and SoCs with other advanced components, which may include DRAM, SRAM, ASICs, processors and analogue components, in a single package.
The integration will be enabled through the use of high-performance heterogeneous multi-die interconnect technology. Altera's heterogeneous multi-die devices provide the benefit of traditional 2.5 and 3D approaches with more favourable economic metrics.
The devices will address the performance, memory bandwidth and thermal challenges impacting high-end applications in the communications, high-performance computing, broadcast and military segments.
Intel's 14 nm Tri-Gate process density advantage and Altera's patented FPGA redundancy technology enable Altera to deliver high density monolithic FPGA dies, offering greater integration of system components on a single die. Altera is developing one of the largest monolithic FPGA dies and Intel's packaging technology to integrate even more capabilities into a single system-in-a-package solution.
Intel's manufacturing process is co-optimised to offer manufacturing simplicity consisting of turnkey foundry services that include the manufacturing, assembly and testing of heterogeneous multi-die devices. Intel and Altera are currently developing test vehicles aimed at streamlining manufacturing and integration flows.
"Our partnership with Altera to manufacture next-generation FPGAs and SoCs using our 14 nm Tri-Gate process is going exceptionally well," says Sunit Rikhi, vice president and general manager, Intel Custom Foundry. "Our close collaboration enables us to work together in many areas related to semiconductor manufacturing and packaging. Together, both companies are building off one another's expertise with the primary focus on building industry-disrupting products."
"Our collaboration with Intel on heterogeneous multi-die device development reflects a shared commitment by both companies to improve the bandwidth and performance of next-generation systems," concludes Brad Howe, senior vice president of research and development at Altera Corporation. He finishes, "Leveraging Intel's advanced manufacturing and chip packaging capabilities will allow Altera to deliver system-in-a-package solutions that have been identified as critical to meeting overall performance requirements."
