CSEM, the Swiss non-profit R&D body, is developing ultra-low power Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), CMOS radar mmWave IP and embedded machine-learning accelerators on GLOBALFOUNDRIES’ 22nm FD-SOI process.

The combination of GF’s 22nm FD-SOI and CSEM’s “IcyTRX” dual mode Bluetooth Low Energy and Bluetooth classic RF is expected to achieve 50% lower power and 50% lower area than their existing GF 55 nm BLE RF IP core. 

CSEM’s patented machine learning accelerator, called Visage, is expected to achieve more than 60% power savings and 80% area savings with 22FD-SOI compared to 55nm, allowing for true AI edge-processing with a dedicated RISC-V processor.
 
“The availability of these IPs will enable GF’ clients to design always-on smart sensors and streaming audio devices with ground-breaking battery life,” says CSEM’s Alain-Serge Porret.

The CSEM RF and mmWave IPs using GF’s 22FDX will be available for licensing to qualified clients starting 2Q 2020.