FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
For the month of November 2006 No. 4
TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR LTD.
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
RAMAT GAVRIEL INDUSTRIAL PARK
P.O. BOX 619, MIGDAL HAEMEK, ISRAEL 23105
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F [X] Form 40-F [_]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes [_] No [X]
On November 6, 2006, Tower Semiconductor announces it launches 0.18-micron
high-voltage technology, attached hereto is a copy of the press release.
This Form 6-K is being incorporated by reference into all effective
registration statements filed by us under the Securities Act of 1933.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR LTD.
Date: November 6, 2006 By: /s/ Nati Somekh Gilboa
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Nati Somekh Gilboa
Corporate Secretary
TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR LAUNCHES 0.18-MICRON
HIGH-VOLTAGE TECHNOLOGY
HIGH-VOLTAGE LDMOS TECHNOLOGY WIDELY USED IN CELL PHONE AND HAND-HELD DISPLAYS
MIGDAL HAEMEK, Israel, November 6, 2006 - Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (NASDAQ:
TSEM; TASE: TSEM), a pure-play independent specialty foundry, today announced
the availability of a Laterally Diffused Metal Oxide Semiconductor (LDMOS)
process, its latest addition to the 0.18-micron technology platform. The
technology is produced in Tower's advanced Fab2.
High-voltage technology enables designers to integrate high-density logic and
mixed-signal circuits together with high-voltage drivers on a single chip.
High-voltage LDMOS technology is widely used in LCD drivers for cell phone and
other hand-held displays, enabling smaller board area and lower power
consumption, while providing the capability to handle high image rates.
Analysts forecasts that cell phone display shipments will amount to 1.3 billion
units in 2007, up 4 percent from 1.2 billion cell phone displays in 2006.
Operating at 12V gate and up to 25V source/drain, the new devices can be easily
used with Tower's off-the-shelf 0.18-micron devices, such as one-time
programmable (OTP) and multi-time programmable (MTP) memory solutions, as well
as Tower's rich portfolio of libraries and intellectual property (IP) circuits.
Utilizing a highly effective trench isolation scheme, such products exhibit low
noise and high immunity to latch-up.
Further development also is being done in order to enhance this offering with
40V source/drain and lower power-on resistance, while reducing mask count. Such
offering also addresses the specifications of a wide variety of power-management
products.
"The addition of this high-voltage technology offering enables us to provide
additional solutions to consumer markets of high demand," said Yossi Netzer,
general manager of mixed signal and RF-CMOS product line at Tower Semiconductor.
"The process was tuned to meet the unique specifications of portable displays."
The high-voltage technology is also available on Tower's shuttle program for
fast and inexpensive design verification and engineering samples.
ABOUT TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR LTD.
Tower Semiconductor Ltd. is a pure-play independent specialty wafer foundry
established in 1993. The company manufactures integrated circuits with
geometries ranging from 1.0 to 0.13-micron; it also provides complementary
technical services and design support. In addition to digital CMOS process
technology, Tower offers advanced non-volatile memory solutions, mixed-signal &
RF-CMOS, and CMOS image-sensor technologies. To provide world-class customer
service, the company maintains two manufacturing facilities: Fab 1 has process
technologies from 1.0 to 0.35 micron and can produce up to 16,000 150mm wafers
per month. Fab 2 features 0.18 and 0.13-micron, standard and specialized process
technologies, and has the current capacity of up to 15,000 200mm wafers per
month. Tower's Web site is located at http://www.towersemi.com.
SAFE HARBOR
This press release includes forward-looking statements, which are subject to
risks and uncertainties. Actual results may vary from those projected or implied
by such forward-looking statements. A complete discussion of risks and
uncertainties that may affect the accuracy of forward-looking statements
included in this press release or which may otherwise affect our business is
included under the heading "Risk Factors" in our most recent filings on Form
20-F, F-1, F-3 and 6-K, as were filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and the Israel Securities Authority. We do not intend to update, and
expressly disclaim any obligation to update, the information contained in this
release.
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CONTACTS:
Tower Semiconductor USA
Michael Axelrod, +1 408 330 6871
pr@towersemi.com
or
Shelton Group
Melissa Conger, (972) 239-5119 ext. 137
mconger@sheltongroup.com