FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
For the month of November 2006 No. 3
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 2, 2006, Tower Semiconductor announces it Begins Production of
UXGA (Two-Mega-Pixel) and VGA Image Sensors for SuperPix of China, 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.
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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 2, 2006 By: /s/ Nati Somekh Gilboa
--------------------------
Nati Somekh Gilboa
Corporate Secretary
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TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR BEGINS PRODUCTION OF UXGA (TWO-MEGA-PIXEL) AND
VGA IMAGE SENSORS FOR SUPERPIX OF CHINA
NEW PARTNERSHIP IS A SIGNIFICANT VENTURE INTO THE CHINESE MARKET
MIGDAL HAEMEK, Israel - November 2, 2006. Tower Semiconductor, Ltd., a pure-play
independent specialty wafer foundry (NASDAQ: TSEM; TASE: TSEM), today announced
a new partnership with SuperPix, a leading Chinese products company, to begin
production of two image sensor products.
Initially, the products will be used in cellular phone and smart phone cameras
to be retailed within the Chinese market, with projections to eventually expand
sales internationally. The Chinese market is the fastest growing retail customer
base for cellular products. The annual market for cellular and smart phone image
sensors in China, alone, is projected to exceed 200M units in 2008 and 300M in
2010, with business volume of the image sensors projected to exceed $500M.
"We have been very fortunate to have started working with Tower at such an early
stage and we are grateful that Tower went along with SuperPix through the thick
and thin," said Dr. Jie Chen, SuperPix chairman of the board. "We needed the
foundry support every step of the way, including Tower's superior CIS
technology, strong customer support and always on-time delivery. Tower has
proven itself as our true partner."
Tower's Advanced Photo Diode (APD) technology used in these CMOS image sensors
enables improved optical and electrical performance of ultra-small pixels
utilizing deep sub-micron process technologies, thus enabling the manufacturing
of small, cost-effective camera module solutions. Manufactured at Tower's Fab2
in 0.18-micron technology, the products utilize 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 microlens.
"We are proud that our image sensor technology was selected by SuperPix to
implement their advanced products - used for mobile applications in mass
production," said Dr. Avi Strum, general manager of CIS and NVM product lines at
Tower. "We are further excited about the opportunities in China and other
markets that these new products open up for us."
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/.
ABOUT SUPERPIX
SuperPix Micro Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., is a professional provider of
CMOS image sensors (CIS) and related SOC chips. SPMT's employees include
experienced technologists in CMOS image sensor, mixed-signal VLSI design, signal
processing. Superpix's core technology includes high-performance pixel and
low-power analog circuit technology--SuperPixTM high-performance image signal
processing technology--SuperImageTM and low-power wireless communication
technology--SuperWirelessTM. Based on Superpix's core technologies, the
developed CIS and related CIS-SOC chips are with the features such as low
consumption power, large dynamic range, and high picture quality. To learn more
about SuperPix please visit the company's web site at: www.superpix.com.cn.
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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
Form 20-F, Forms 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.
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
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