Intellectual Property
Thunderbirds'
IP generation has been focused in two areas: SRAM-related design
innovations and FET transistor architecture. A number of circuit design
patents were issued to Thunderbird in the early years. These design
patents were focused on SRAM design, but have found wide applicability
in digital CMOS products. In 2007, these patents were purchased by The TPL Group. A subsidiary of the TPL Group, Alliacense, is actively licensing the design-related patent collection as the FastLogic portfolio, with a significant degree of success.
The
core innovation of the transistor architecture portfolio is the
Fermi-FET transistor, a low-field bulk FET design which can provide a
number of performance advantages previously attainable only in SOI
technologies. The Fermi-FET transistor architecture has been patented
in over 14 countries including the US.
In the US, Thunderbird has been awarded seventeen (17) issued patents and
have several more disclosures pending. Overall, Thunderbird has
95 patents issued worldwide and more are continuing to be granted. The core Fermi-FET patents which have been issued provide both theoretical as well as structural innovations based upon the Fermi-FET concepts. The fundamental Fermi-FET concepts have been proven in silicon, beginning with the original proof of concept work performed at MCNC, through more recent work at ATDF, a former subsidiary of Sematech, as well as through commercial silicon vendors.
Fermi-FETs have been designed for a number of
applications, in a wide range of technologies for diverse products such
as RF power amplifier modules, ultra-low power CMOS, high-speed digital
and analog/mixed-signal CMOS applications.. Silicon foundries and IDMs have been the primary focus of Thunderbird's licensing efforts, although fabless design companies have also expressed interest in the technology.
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