FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
For the month of November 2005
TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR LTD.
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
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 1, 2005, the Registrant announced that it begins production of
Biomorphic's 2.0 and 1.3-Megapixel CMOS image sensors for cell phones. 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 1, 2005 By: /S/ Nati Somekh Gilboa
--------------------------
Nati Somekh Gilboa
Corporate Secretary
TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR BEGINS PRODUCTION OF BIOMORPHIC'S
2.0 AND 1.3-MEGAPIXEL CMOS IMAGE SENSORS FOR CELL PHONES
Tower Technologies Result in Superior Sensor Capabilities for
Camera-Enabled Devices
HSINCHU, Taiwan and MIGDAL HAEMEK, Israel -- November 1, 2005 -- Tower
Semiconductor, Ltd., a pure-play independent specialty wafer foundry (NASDAQ:
TSEM; TASE: TSEM), and Biomorphic Microsystems Corporation, a supplier of
innovative imaging solutions for the cell phone and PDA markets, today announced
that Tower has begun manufacturing of Biomorphic 2.0 and 1.3-megapixel CMOS
image sensors.
Biomorphic has already won one of the five leading global cell phone
manufacturers for one of these new products, which responds to the increasing
demand for higher image quality on small mobile handsets. Japanese market
research firm Techno Systems Research (TSR) estimates the 2006 total market for
2.0-megapixel CMOS modules to be 65 million units, while the 1.3-megapixel
market is estimated at 190 million units.
The Bi8910T 1.3-megapixel and Bi8921T 2.0-megapixel SoC image sensors are
produced in 0.18-micron process at Tower's Fab2, utilizing Tower's pixel IP and
the company's optically-optimized multilayer metallization (OptiMuM(TM)), which
achieves dramatically better optical sensitivity by reducing stack height from
silicon to micro-lens.
Compared with other leading foundry IP, Tower's pixel IP provides:
- 70 percent higher sensitivity
- 50 percent less pixel defect density
- 70 percent lower dark current level
"With Tower's 0.18-micron process and pixel IP, we achieved excellent sensor
performance," said Bimal Mathur, Senior Vice President and Chief Technical
Officer of Biomorphic Microsystems. "Pixel performance was key in our ability to
win a leading customer design. We were also very pleased with Tower's intimate
customer support through design and ramp to production, contributing to our fast
time-to-market."
"We are glad to complement Biomorphic's expertise in image solutions with our
advanced pixel IP and process offering to bring superior yet low-cost image
sensors to market that handset manufacturers need today," said Dr. Avi Strum,
General Manager of CIS and NVM product line at Tower. "Biomorphic's swift
penetration to a tier one cell phone maker with these new products is the best
testimony for the success of our joint work."
Product Features
Biomorphic's Bi8921T is a highly affordable CMOS color image sensor that debuts
new technologies with an advanced 2 megapixel sensor. These include a color
processing pipeline and JPEG compression in a single compact component. The
Bi8921T offers UXGA resolution and is designed for cellular phone applications.
It provides single-chip integration of a full suite of image processing
functions to directly support viewfinder, still image, and video capture
capabilities in today's latest mobile imaging platforms. Plus, with the addition
of on-chip JPEG compression, full-size images can be captured with high readout
speeds, yet low data transfer rates. With an embedded thumbnail image in the
JPEG stream, the host processor need not decompress the full image for review.
The Bi8921T provides superb image quality, ease of integration, compact size,
and low power consumption for outstanding overall performance.
The Bi8910T offers SXGA resolution and is designed for cellular phone
applications. Our highly advanced sensor design provides single-chip integration
of a full suite of image processing functions to directly support viewfinder,
still image, and video capture capabilities in today's latest mobile imaging
platforms. The Bi8910T provides superb image quality, ease of integration,
compact size, and low power consumption for outstanding overall performance.
Price and Availability
Both products are now in mass production. Bi8921T and Bi8910T are priced $6 and
$3.5 per unit for large volumes, respectively.
ABOUT BIOMORPHIC MICROSYSTEMS CORPORATION.
Biomorphic Microsystems Corporation-a subsidiary of Macronix International Co.,
Ltd - Nasdaq: MXICY-is a fabless CMOS image sensor design house. The company is
a leader in innovative imaging solutions for the demanding cell phone and PDA
market. Biomorphic is committed to being the leader in cellphone imaging,
providing exceptional technical performance, small package size, and world-class
support for our partners. Biomorphic's Web site is located at
http://www.biomorphic.com/.
ABOUT TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR LTD.
Tower Semiconductor Ltd. is a pure-play independent 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 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-micron and
below 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 ANNUAL REPORT ON
FORMS 20-F AND 6-K, AS WERE FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
AND THE ISRAEL SECURITIES AUTHORITY.
CONTACTS:
TOWER
Pacifico Inc.
PR Agency Contact
Mary Curtis, +1 408 293 8600
mcurtis@pacifico.com
Tower Semiconductor USA, Inc.:
Michael Axelrod, +1 408 330 6871
pr@towersemi.com
BIOMORPHIC MICROSYSTEMS CORPORATION
P. C. Song, +886 (3) 563-0729 ext.336
pcsong@biomorphic.com