Samsung Electronics, a world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, today announced the availability of its latest application processor (AP), the Exynos 7 Series 9610. The Exynos 9610, built on Samsung’s 10-nanometer (nm) FinFET process, elevates the multimedia experience in high-end smartphones with premium-level features such as deep learning-based image processing for ultimate picture-taking experiences and stunning slow motion video recording at 480 frames per second (fps).

“The Exynos 7 Series 9610 is our latest mobile processor that delivers on added power and speed,” said Ben Hur, vice president of System LSI marketing at Samsung Electronics. “But more importantly, it sets a new performance standard for high-end devices with its deep learning vision-image processing solution and slow motion video capabilities that change the way we engage with our mobile devices.”

For more enriched photo-taking and filming experiences, the Exynos 9610 delivers a major boost in multimedia performance. Vision and image processing is now coupled with a neural network engine for more intelligently enhanced face detection, as well as single camera out-focusing and augmented low-light images. The advanced face detection feature enables the camera to recognize faces that are either not facing forward or partially covered with objects like hair or a hat. With smart depth sensing, bokeh or out-focused portraits can be taken with a single camera. Through cleverly merging multiple frames, vision and image processing enhances the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and brightness that can improve pictures taken in low-light environments.

The Exynos 9610 also allows for 480fps slow-motion support in full HD. Even while using a conventional two-stack image sensor, the Exynos 9610 is able to encode slow-motion video, thanks to its image signal processor (ISP) with improved performance by 1.6 times and more-than-doubled mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) speed. In addition, the processor uses a premium multi-format codec (MFC) that allows encoding and decoding up to 4K 120fps.

With its powerful CPU and GPU, the Exynos 9610 provides smooth mobile computing and gaming performances that meet the needs of today’s high-end smartphones .The CPU is comprised of four Cortex-A73 cores running at 2.3 gigahertz (GHz), and four 1.6GHz Cortex-A53 cores to load apps quickly and run multiple tasks simultaneously. The GPU is a second-generation Bifrost-based ARM Mali-G72 that can bring more realistic and immersive graphics on mobile devices.

Always-on sensing applications that require instant feedback, such as gesture recognition or context awareness, are enabled by an embedded Cortex-M4F-based low-power sensor hub, which efficiently manages the sensors in real-time without waking the main processor.

For always connected and seamless mobile broadband connection, the embedded all-network LTE modem supports Cat.12 3CA (carrier aggregation) at 600 megabits per second (Mbps) for downlink and Cat.13 2CA at 150Mbps for uplink. The processor is also packed with wireless communication technologies such as high-throughput 802.11ac 2×2 MIMO Wi-Fi, faster and longer range Bluetooth 5.0, and FM for radio. In addition, for global location positioning coverage, it embeds a 4-mode Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver that includes GPS (Global Positioning System), GLONASS, BeiDou and Galileo.

The Exynos 7 Series 9610 is expected to be mass produced in the second half of this year.

For more information about Samsung’s Exynos products, please visit http://www.samsung.com/exynos.

Currently, customers are working closely with Samsung to utilize the company’s cutting-edge 8-inch technology offerings in various applications. All 8-inch offerings, ranging from 180nm to 65nm, are processed at Line 6, a highly automated facility in Giheung, Korea.

“Customers’ interests are very high given the industry’s needs for alternative 8-inch solutions.” said Ryan Lee, Vice President of Foundry Marketing at Samsung Electronics. “By expanding our technology offerings into the RF/IoT and fingerprint segments, we will enable our customers to take advantage of Samsung’s state-of-the-art 8-inch solutions in a broader range of applications”.

Samsung’s 8-inch process technology offerings now include the following solutions;

• eFlash : 130nm, 65nm
• Power: 130nm, 90nm (BCD+eFlash)
• Display Driver IC : 180nm, 130nm, 90nm, 70nm
• CMOS Image Sensor: 90nm
• RF/IoT : 90nm (Ultra low leakage device)
• Fingerprint Sensor: 180nm

The 8-inch foundry market has been one of the focal points since Samsung Foundry became a separate business last May. In this regard, Samsung has firmly established customer centric 8-inch service capabilities with great multi project wafer (MPW) programs as well as intellectual property (IP), and launched the Samsung Advanced Foundry Ecosystem (SAFE^TM) program this year.

For more information about Samsung Foundry, please visit https://www.samsungfoundry.com

With this new EUV line, Samsung will be able to strengthen its leadership in single nanometer process technology by responding to market demand from various applications, including mobile, server, network, and HPC (high performance computing), for which high performance and power efficiency are critical.

The new facility is expected to be completed within the second half of 2019 and start production ramp-up in 2020. The initial investment in the new EUV line is projected to reach USD 6 billion by 2020 and additional investment will be determined depending on market circumstances.

Kinam Kim, President & CEO of Device Solutions at Samsung Electronics, gives a speech at the groundbreaking ceremony for Samsung’s new EUV (extreme ultraviolet) line in Hwaseong, Korea.

“With the addition of the new EUV line, Hwaseong will become the center of the company’s semiconductor cluster spanning Giheung, Hwaseong and Pyeongtaek in Korea,” said Kinam Kim, President & CEO of Device Solutions at Samsung Electronics. “The line will play a pivotal role as Samsung seeks to maintain a competitive edge as an industry leader in the coming age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”

Samsung has decided to utilize cutting-edge EUV technology starting with its 7-nanometer (nm) LPP (Low Power Plus) process. This new line will be set up with EUV lithography equipment to overcome nano-level technology limitations. Samsung has continued to invest in EUV R&D to support its global customers for developing next-generation chips based on this leading-edge technology.

Samsung Electronics Hwaseong Campus EUV line bird’s eye view

10LPP process technology allows up to 10-percent higher performance or 15-percent lower power consumption compared to its first generation 10nm process technology, 10LPE (Low Power Early). As this process is derived from the already proven 10LPE technology, it offers competitive advantages by greatly reducing turn-around time from development to mass production and by providing significantly higher initial manufacturing yield.

SoCs designed with 10LPP process technology will be used in digital devices scheduled to launch early next year and are expected to become more widely available throughout the year.

“We will be able to better serve our customers through the migration from 10LPE to 10LPP with improved performance and higher initial yield,” said Ryan Lee, vice president of Foundry Marketing at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung with its long-living 10nm process strategy will continue to work on the evolution of 10nm technology down to 8LPP to offer customers distinct competitive advantages for a wide range of applications.”

Samsung also announced that its newest manufacturing line, S3, located in Hwaseong, Korea, is ready to ramp up production of process technologies including 10nm and below. S3 is the third fab of Samsung’s Foundry Business, following S1 in Giheung, Korea and S2 in Austin, USA. Samsung’s 7nm FinFET process technology with EUV (Extreme Ultra Violet) will also be mass produced at S3.

Samsung Electronics’ S3 manufacturing line located in Hwaseong, Korea