September 2, 2003 – In an effort to keep pace with Taiwanese rivals, Singapore’s Chartered Semiconductor says it has ramped up production for its 0.13-micron silicon manufacturing.

The company says that some of the 10,000 wafers shipped to date have yields of more than 90%, a 25% increase in yield since May 2003, although it didn’t give a number for overall yield. Cycle times currently run from <\<> one day/mask layer for protypes to <\<> 2 days/mask layer for production runs, the company says.

Chartered initiated 0.13-micron production in 4Q02; sales of wafers using this technology contributed 6% of revenues in 2Q03.