SMIC and M31 Introduce Differentiated IP Solutions for Various Storage Controller Applications

SHANGHAI, Dec. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation ("SMIC", NYSE: SMI; SEHK: 981), the largest and most advanced pure-play foundry provider in China, and M31 Technology Corporation, a professional silicon intellectual property (IP) provider jointly announced today that SMIC will expand its IP portfolio with M31's differentiated high speed interface IP solutions. The technology will target solid-state drive (SSD), Universal Flash Storage (UFS), and USB applications markets, and roll out a variety of IP solutions for storage controller applications. Based on SMIC's logic processes from 110nm to 28nm, the storage controller application platform is capable of providing products with low power consumption, high performance, and compact die size to customers; while at the same time bring more differentiated applications to SMIC's technology platforms.

SMIC has used M31 Technology's new generation PCIe 3.0 physical layer silicon IP on its 40nm low leakage process to provide leading edge products for the SSD market, and it has been tested with various controllers to demonstrate compliance with PCI-SIG specifications. In order to cope with the demand of various bandwidths, this IP provides 1 lane, 2 lane, and 4 lane options so that customers can develop chips for supporting PCIe 3.0 SSD. Furthermore, SMIC has decided to implement M31's PCIe 3.0 physical layer silicon IP on its 28nm advanced process. This IP solution will provide customers with higher-speed and more power-saving options for their products.

Since Universal Flash Storage (UFS 2.0) will become the mainstream specification for embedded memory devices, SMIC is using M31's MIPI M-PHY physical layer IP on its 55LL process to fulfill the market needs. This IP is designed for high bandwidth and low power consumption, with silicon verified on controller blocks from various partners, in compliance with UFS 2.0 systems. In addition, M31 plans to develop MIPI M-PHY physical layer IP on 28nm HK and 40nm LL process technologies as a next step. This IP will not only support dual channel technology but also has an exceptional power-saving sleep mode, a feature suitable for the new generation of mobile devices.

As for USB applications, M31's BCK (Built-in-Clock) technology provides a crystal-less solution for mobile applications. This solution, developed on 55nm/110nm processes, can help customers shorten the time to mass production. The new generation of BCK technology not only supports the traditional USB 1.1 / 2.0 / 3.0 devices, but also supports the input frequency 32.768KHz. It expands BCK technology to USB host applications and also meets the needs of IoT applications with its low power consumption.

With the popularity of Type-C interface, M31 Technology has developed USB3.1 / USB3.0 PHY IP on SMIC's 28nm and 40nm process. This solution also builds the external high-speed switch into the PHY IP based on customers' needs. This built-in technology supports non-directional plug-and-play and the detection of different configurations of VBUS, and has been successfully implemented in customers' SoC design.

"By focusing on the development of advanced technologies, SMIC is also committed to developing specialty technologies and differentiated products," said Dr. Tianshen Tang, Senior Vice President of SMIC's Design Service Center: "In the field of storage controller products, SMIC's logic process technologies and years of accumulated IPs have matured and gone into mass production. We can provide customers with differentiated solutions to meet the needs of big data storage for controller products with high performance and low power consumption. M31 is one of SMIC's important IP suppliers with outstanding capabilities of providing diversified high speed interface IP solutions to customers. We are looking forward to working closely and having a win-win situation in the future".

H.P. Lin, M31 Technology's Chairman said: "SMIC has collaborated with M31 to deliver various silicon IP solutions, like PCIe 3.0, MIPI M-PHY 3.0, and USB 3.0 on its advanced process technology. Such IP can solve the needs of inter-operability in various types of mainstream memory devices. The M31's IP enables SoC designers to focus on its own design block, without worrying about IP interfering with the design. Through the collaboration with SMIC, we believe that we can better support global customers together with excellent differentiated high speed interface IPs and professional services."

About SMIC
Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation ("SMIC") (NYSE: SMI; SEHK: 981) is one of the leading semiconductor foundries in the world and the largest and most advanced foundry in mainland China. SMIC provides integrated circuit (IC) foundry and technology services at 0.35-micron to 28-nanometer. Headquartered in Shanghai, China, SMIC has a 300mm wafer fabrication facility (fab) and a 200mm mega-fab in Shanghai; a 300mm mega-fab and a second majority owned 300mm fab under development for advance nodes in Beijing; and 200mm fabs in Tianjin and Shenzhen. SMIC also has marketing and customer service offices in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and Taiwan, and a representative office in Hong Kong. For more information, please visit www.smics.com.

Safe Harbor Statements

(Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995)

This document contains, in addition to historical information, "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on SMIC's current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. SMIC uses words like "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "project" and similar expressions to identify forward looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of SMIC's senior management and involve significant risks, both known and unknown, uncertainties and other factors that may cause SMIC's actual performance, financial condition or results of operations to be materially different from those suggested by the forward-looking statements including, among others, risks associated with cyclicality and market conditions in the semiconductor industry, intense competition, timely wafer acceptance by SMIC's customers, timely introduction of new technologies, SMIC's ability to ramp new products into volume, supply and demand for semiconductor foundry services, industry overcapacity, shortages in equipment, components and raw materials, availability of manufacturing capacity, financial stability in end markets and intensive intellectual property litigation in high tech industry.

In addition to the information contained in this document, you should also consider the information contained in our other filings with the SEC, including our annual report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on April 28, 2015, especially in the "Risk Factors" section and such other documents that we may file with the SEC or SEHK from time to time, including on Form 6-K. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on our future results, performance or achievements. In light of these risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors, the forward-looking events discussed in this document may not occur. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date stated or, if no date is stated, as of the date of this document.

ABOUT M31 TECHNOLOGY

M31 Technology is a professional silicon intellectual property (IP) provider. The company was founded July 2011 with headquarters in Hsinchu, Taiwan. Our strength is R&D and customer service. With substantial experience in IP development, IC design and electronic design automation, we focus on providing high-speed interface IP, memory compilers and standard- cell library solutions. For more information please visit www.m31tech.com

SMIC Contact Information:

English Media
Michael Cheung
Tel: +86-21-3861-0000 x16812
Email: [email protected]

Chinese Media
Jane Tang
Tel: +86-21-3861-0000 x10088
Email: [email protected]

M31 Media contact 
Shirley Hsu
[email protected]

SOURCE Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation

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