Company: TSEM
Filing Date: 2025-04-30
Form Type: 20-F
Source: 0001178913-25-001537
Chunk: 133

Company: TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR LTD
Filing Date: 2025-04-30
Form: 20-F
Item: Item 4
Chunk 133
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 recent years. Analog semiconductors monitor and manipulate real world signals such as sound, light, pressure, motion, temperature, electrical current and radio waves, for use in a wide variety of end products such as digital still cameras, x-ray medical applications, flat panel displays, personal computers, cellular handsets, smartphone, telecommunications equipment, consumer applications, automotive and industrial products. Analog-digital, or mixed-signal, semiconductors combine analog and digital devices which can process both analog and digital signals.
 
Integrating analog and digital components on a single, mixed-signal semiconductor enables the development of smaller, more highly integrated, power-efficient, feature-rich and cost-effective semiconductor devices but presents significant design and manufacturing challenges. For example, combining high-speed digital circuits with sensitive analog circuits on a single, mixed-signal semiconductor can increase electromagnetic interference and power consumption, both of which cause a higher amount of heat to be dissipated and decrease the overall performance of the semiconductor. Challenges associated with the design and manufacture of mixed-signal semiconductors increase as the industry moves toward more advanced process geometries. Numerous emerging applications require 3D integration, in particular, high precision wafer bonding. Challenges related to enhanced reliability, e.g., automotive products, dictate more stringent demands to the fabrication processes. As a result, analog and mixed-signal semiconductors can be complex to manufacture and typically require sophisticated design expertise, strong application specific experience and a comprehensive intellectual property portfolio. In addition, today’s analog market is driven strongly by growing sensitivity to environmental requirements, such as the conservation of energy and human well-being. Low power consumption is demonstrated in applications related to the systems enabled with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and edge computing using AI which allow for the analysis and filtering of data closer to the sensors such that only the relevant data is sent to the cloud. The AI edge devices are incorporated into products with sensors related to Internet of Things (IoT), in particular ASICs with embedded sensors, medical devices and applications focused on entertainment, infotainment and safety, which combine analog and digital technology.
 

Mixed-signal devices are an essential part of any front-end product, device and/or system. Our advanced analog CMOS process technologies have more features than standard analog CMOS process technologies and are well suited for higher performance or more highly integrated analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, such as high-speed analog-to-digital or digital-to-analog converters and mixed-signal semiconductors with integrated data converters. These process technologies generally