Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (NYSE:SMI), the leading and the most advanced fab in China, and Dolphin Integration, a developer of virtual components for high resolution audio applications, entered into a partnership for the release of the latest generation of digital-to-analog audio converters that, utilizing Dolphin's expertise, feature ultra-low power consumption.

Through this strategic alliance, the two companies affirm their willingness to ally their abilities in both design and fabrication in order to offer state-of-the-art solutions to their common customers in mature processes.

The new shDAC95-Helium digital-to-analog converter from Dolphin, in SMIC's 0.11um and 0.13um technological processes, is now available under this agreement, and offers power consumption as low as 6.9mW in playback mode and a SNR as high as 95 dB, marking it particularly useful for portable media player applications requiring high sound quality and long playback capability. Further products are in development.

Helium is a family of audio virtual components which was launched in February 2009.

Headquartered in Shanghai, China, SMIC has a 300mm wafer fabrication facility (fab) and three 200mm wafer fabs in its Shanghai mega-fab, two 300mm wafer fabs in its Beijing mega-fab, a 200mm wafer fab in Tianjin, a 200mm fab under construction in Shenzhen, and an in-house assembly and testing facility in Chengdu. SMIC also has customer service and marketing offices in the U.S., Europe, and Japan, and a representative office in Hong Kong. In addition, SMIC manages and operates a 200mm wafer fab in Chengdu owned by CensionSemiconductor Manufacturing Corporation and a 300mm wafer fab in Wuhan owned by Wuhan Xinxin Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation.

Dolphin Integration, based in France, offers silicon IP, EDA tools, and custom fabless services including fabless supply.

Contact:
Henry Liu, senior director of Design Services, SMIC, www.smics.com
Christophe Gaillard, development manager, Dolphin Integration, www.dolphin.fr
Hélène Colin, audio product line manager, Dolphin Integration