TowerJazz and NeoFidelity announce strategic relationship to supply digital audio amplifiers to Samsung and LG

MIGDAL HAEMEK, ISRAEL & SEOUL, KOREA: TowerJazz, the global specialty foundry leader, and NeoFidelity Inc., announced mass production of a full digital audio amplifier for LCD slim TVs supplying Korean companies Samsung and LG which dominate the worldwide market.

NeoFidelity successfully began production in November 2011 and demand is steadily increasing. By shifting its production from a 0.16-micron process to TowerJazz's 0.13-micron technology, NeoFidelity was able to realize an advantage in cost competitiveness. In addition, NeoFidelity is able to leverage TowerJazz's powerful set of design kits, accurate models and comprehensive analog IP portfolio.

The new digital audio amplifier reduces heat and improves efficiency and sound quality, which was a challenge for previous analog audio amps (AB-class, D-class). Another advantage of the digital audio amp is better performance as it can process digital signal without converting into analog signal. In the case of analog amp chips, it requires devices to change the digital signal to an analog signal. In addition, due its very small chip size, NeoFidelity's full digital audio amp can be used in slimmer and smaller sized applications.

"We are excited about producing digital audio amps for Samsung and LG on TowerJazz's 0.13-micron technology CMOS platform. We have been very pleased with the dedicated support of TowerJazz, especially from their local Korean office," said Lee Ducksoo, NeoFidelity's CEO. "NeoFidelity shifted to TowerJazz to enhance the competitiveness of our full digital audio amplifier. As we expand our market to overseas and diversify our products' roadmap, we look forward to continue working with TowerJazz."

"NeoFidelity has been focused on high end audio amps for a good decade and is the true expert with a unique solution. We are very excited to be chosen as their strategic partner not only for the audio amp market, but also for many other devices that will increase our technology offerings and capabilities as well as expand our market share in various applications," said Michael Song, Korea country manager, TowerJazz.

NeoFidelity has achieved design wins for its TV amplifier product in the China market as well as with Samsung and LG and is expecting to begin supply to several giant TV customers and audio product manufacturers in China.