FORM 6-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

For the month August 2016 No. 4

TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR LTD.

(Translation of registrant's name into English)

Ramat Gavriel Industrial Park

P.O. Box 619, Migdal Haemek, Israel 2310502

(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 ☒     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 ☒

 

 

On August 23, 2016, the Registrant and TPSCo Announce a New State of the Art

CMOS Image Sensor Technology based on Stacked Deep Photodiode

 

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: August 23, 2016	By:	/s/ Nati Somekh
		Name: Nati Somekh
		Title: Corporate Secretary

 

 

NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

TowerJazz and TPSCo Announce a New State of the Art CMOS Image Sensor Technology based on Stacked Deep Photodiode

Targets rising demand for 3D gesture recognition and gesture control solutions in the consumer, security, automotive and industrial

sensors growing markets

Near Infrared (NIR) is becoming more and more popular in 3D gesture recognition applications and in automotive active vision applications for better visibility in harsh weather conditions. These applications are using a Near IR laser as a non-visible, coherent light source. Each pixel can accurately measure the time it took for the light to exit the laser, reach the object and reflect back to the sensor, thus allowing calculation of the distance of any object in the scene, creating a 3D image. In general, it is extremely difficult to achieve both high sensitivity (high quantum efficiency) and high resolution (low “cross-talk” between pixels) using Near IR, both of which are the most important requirements for imaging.

Current solutions generally use a thick epi on p-type substrate to achieve high sensitivity, but this creates high cross talk (low resolution) and high dark current values. The novel pixel structure developed by TowerJazz and TPSCo has a stacked deep photodiode, providing both high sensitivity and low cross talk at NIR. This allows very low dark current values, especially at elevated temperatures, required in the automotive market.

“The tremendously fast growth of 3D gesture application in the consumer market such as PC and mobile as well as in the automotive area will allow us to attract many customers with this technology that is the best the market has to offer,” said Dr. Avi Strum, Senior Vice President and General Manager, CMOS Image Sensor Business Unit, TowerJazz.

The process was developed on TPSCo’s 65nm CIS technology on 300mm wafers in its Uozu, Japan fab and is already in production for leading edge automotive and security sensors. It will also be available for new designs in TPSCo’s 110nm fab in Arai, Japan and in TowerJazz’s 180nm fab in Migdal Haemek, Israel.

TowerJazz will present this advanced technology offering at its upcoming Technical Global Symposium (TGS) China event on August 24, 2016. For more information on this offering, please contact Dr. Assaf Lahav, Senior Principal Engineer, at assaf.lahav@towerjazz.com or info@towerjazz.com.

About TowerJazz

Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (NASDAQ: TSEM, TASE: TSEM) and its fully owned U.S. subsidiaries Jazz Semiconductor, Inc. and TowerJazz Texas Inc., operate collectively under the brand name TowerJazz, the global specialty foundry leader. TowerJazz manufactures integrated circuits, offering a broad range of customizable process technologies including: SiGe, BiCMOS, mixed-signal/CMOS, RF CMOS, CMOS image sensor, integrated power management (BCD and 700V), and MEMS. TowerJazz also provides a world-class design enablement platform for a quick and accurate design cycle as well as Transfer Optimization and development Process Services (TOPS) to IDMs and fabless companies that need to expand capacity.

About TowerJazz Panasonic Semiconductor Co.

Safe Harbor Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

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 TowerJazz’s business is included under the heading "Risk Factors" in Tower’s most recent filings on Forms 20-F, F-3, F-4 and 6-K, as were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the Israel Securities Authority and Jazz’s most recent filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, as were filed with the SEC, respectively. Tower and Jazz do not intend to update, and expressly disclaim any obligation to update, the information contained in this release.

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TowerJazz Asia-Pacific Company Contact: Shoko Saimiya | Shoko.saimiya@towerjazz.com

TPSCo Company Contact: Tomoko Aiyama l +81-765-22-9945 l aiyama.tomoko@tpsemico.com

 

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