system on a chip

Different Uses of Sensor ASIC

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Application specific integrated circuits (ASIC) are designed for specific use or application. Basically, an ASIC design will be used for products having a huge portion of the required electronics on a single integrated circuit.

 

Typically, ASICs are thought of usually as only digital circuits. Logic synthesis programs and physical layout are used to design these ASICs through automated place and route programs. While no analog circuitry is included in this setup, one exists in a mixed signal ASIC.

 

Today, ASICs are used in many industries to provide a variety of solutions. Sensor ASIC is just one of the many innovations for the enhancement of human and sensor interfacing. Here are some of the different uses of sensor ASIC in the industry.

 

Sensor Interface and Bar Display Driver

 

This type of ASIC will convert analog input into 1 of 10 programmable ranges. It will then display the result on a segment bar display of 10. Input ranges from 0V to 2.55V as set by either an external or internal reference voltage.

 

Each range has a voltage level with a resolution of 8 bits and stored in EEPROM. Bar and Pointer display options can drive either LCD or LED type displays.

 

           Basic Features of Sensor Interface & Bar Display Driver

 

  • Internal clock oscillator
  • Internal 5V regulator
  • Input range of 0V to 2.55V
  • 10 programmable ranges
  • Resolution of 8bits
  • Temperature ranges from -40 degrees Celsius to +85 degrees Celsius
  • External and internal voltage reference
  • Linearity is ±1LSB

 

Magneto-Resistive Position Sensor

 

This sensor ASIC will be able to determine the angular position of a disk that is magnetically encoded. An adaptive 5 channel IDAC will set an initial operating condition of 5 MR elements.

 

The optimum bias and sense levels can be determined by averaging the signals from 4 quadrature sensors. The circuit will compensate for the variations by way of processing, temperature, and voltage supply.

 

Basic Features of MR Position Sensors

 

  • 5V supply voltage
  • 5 channel IDAC
  • Channel to channel mismatch is lesser than 0.5%
  • Adaptive bias and sense levels
  • Temperature is -40 degrees Celsius to +125 degrees Celsius
  • 1 index and 2 quadrature outputs
  • Range = 0.2mA – 3mA, 64 steps

 

Piezoelectric Accelerometer Sensor

 

This sensor ASIC device will be able to detect the linear and angular acceleration with interface up to 3 piezoelectric sensing elements. For each sensor, there is a dedicated amplifier and window comparator.

 

An onboard EEPROM will be used to tailor the gain and trip levels of each application. Moreover, in order to minimize the power in battery applications, a sleep mode is provided.

 

           Basic Features of Piezoelectric Accelerometer Sensor

 

  • Wide supply range of 2.7V to 5.5V
  • Measures the angular and linear acceleration
  • Adjustable gain of 8 settings per channel
  • 3 piezoelectric sensor channels
  • Wide frequency range of 15Hz to 2KHz
  • Temperature is -40 degrees Celsius to +85 degrees Celsius
  • Fast response time with less than 10 microseconds

 

Modern intelligent technologies require action or notification whenever the environment changes. With the advancement of sensor ASIC technology, it will be possible to detect the changes along with the intelligent interface between the user and the sensor daily.

 

Linear MicroSystems, Inc. is proud to offer its services worldwide as well as the surrounding areas and cities around our Headquarters in Irvine, CA: Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, Fountain Valley, Anaheim, Orange County, Fullerton, and Los Angeles.

microsystems

Challenges in Different Mixed Signal SOC Applications

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Mixed-signal design is a combination of digital and analog circuitry. Analog design is composed of capacitors, inductors, resistors, and transistors while digital circuits are designed using gates for designers to work on extensive ICs.

Today, traditional electromechanical systems are replaced by state-of-the-art and advanced electronic systems with the use of magnetic and light sensors.

These applications are designed to promote higher accuracy, intelligent performance, communication, and monitoring. More and more industries are reaping the benefits of SOC or System-on-a-Chip technologies: medical, consumers, automotive, and wireless technology.

Smart sensors, wireless technology, and medical devices are the most common applications of mixed-signal SOC technologies. Through mixed-signal designs, homeowners can now leave their homes without fear due to sophisticated security systems and monitoring.

One can leave home with confidence knowing that access is still possible through the keyless entry.

Smart sensors are prevalent in the automotive industry. These are integrated into their designs for smoke and alarm detection, traffic collision, detect pedestrians, detect traffic lights, read road signs, temperature sensing, gas analysis, detect pressure, flow, and so much more.

Incorporating analog and digital designs enable applications to achieve higher levels of performance. However, such approaches face significant difficulties and challenges that must be taken into account.

However, mixed-signal SOC presents several challenges:

  • Gate and memory size, these two need careful consideration as these generally drive cost. The digital device may have many IOs that the quantity of pads on the device is a determining factor of the perimeter therefore the area.

The sensitivity of the analog, mixed-signal designs, timing, and routing must be taken into consideration to avoid difficulties during the actual implementation.

  • Parasitic capacitance per gate of interconnect is decreased as geometry decreases which translates to high bandwidth and data rates. However, this is less predictable, so analog modeling must be well understood.
  • In a mixed-signal SOC, digital and analog circuits are on the same silicon surface which causes noise when simultaneously switching digital circuits.

The injected noise due to simultaneous switching will propagate through the silicon substrate which can affect the performance of the analog circuit which can lead to failure.

Designers must do something about the substrate noise challenge to lessen its impact. As a solution, designers have added the use of guard rings, triple wells, and additional spacing to separate sensitive analog circuits.

  • IC design. Modeling of analog circuits in small geometries is another challenge that needs to be understood. Careful planning and consideration of the integration are necessary to avoid undesired results and failure.

The increased demand for analog and digital circuits’ integration requires careful planning when it comes to design, area allocation, power budgets, verification strategy, electrical and noise constraints.

Designers must explore different options and be able to come up with alternatives to achieving an effective design approach.

All of the above-mentioned challenges present in a mixed-signal SOC must be considered to avoid or at least lessen the issues when during physical implementation.

A competent data and design management team enforcing all guidelines will be able to come up with cost-effective yet higher levels of performance applications.

 

Linear MicroSystems, Inc. is proud to offer its services worldwide as well as the surrounding areas and cities around our Headquarters in Irvine, CA: Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, Fountain Valley, Anaheim, Orange County, Fullerton, and Los Angeles.

rf asics

ASIC Chips for Glucose Monitoring

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Diabetes is a metabolic disease in which your blood glucose level is too high. The condition impairs the body’s ability to process blood sugar. In the United States alone, there are about 30 million people diagnosed and undiagnosed of diabetes. It is a widespread disease affecting millions of people worldwide. Patients with diabetes rely on medication, diet, lifestyle, and blood glucose monitoring for better diabetes management.

The use of needle pricks and glucose strips is the usual approach to monitor blood sugar. Although popularly used among diabetic patients, the approach is painful and requires devotion to continuously monitoring sugar levels.

Researchers are constantly looking for more of a convenient approach such as the use of an ASIC chip for blood sugar monitoring.

 

A Bit About How it Works

Medical and health researchers are developing an ASIC chip controlled blood glucose monitor that is implantable for continuous blood sugar measurement. Senseonics, Inc., of Germantown, Maryland, has developed a Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) system that will constantly monitor glucose levels of diabetic persons up to 90 days.

The specifications for this ASIC design for control and analysis have to meet the measurement and analysis of reflected light, memory, wireless interface, low voltage requirements, and medical certification. This ASIC controlled blood sugar monitor can be implanted at the upper arm or the wrist of the patient.

 

Technologies

For the wrist application, a special watch is designed to power the sensor every 3 minutes. The sensor then starts to measure the blood glucose level and sends back the data to the wristwatch or smartwatch, displaying the data on the monitor.

A specified bandage with Bluetooth interface is created for the upper arm use. Real-time glucose measurements are then sent to the patient’s mobile phone. The data can also be sent from the smartphone to the patient’s physician for review.

The sensor must be implanted by a professional health care provider. The use of ASIC chip technology for blood sugar monitoring replaces the painful and inconvenient pricking. With the use of this tiny fluorescent sensor implanted in your skin, diabetic patients can now get accurate and painless blood sugar monitoring.

Even when you are doing physical activities or the sensor gets compressed; it remains to deliver precise data. Also, its transmitter is water-resistant, rechargeable, and removable which means you can take it off to recharge while doing activities like taking a shower.

For a maximum of 6 months, the sensor must be replaced afterward. In addition to these features, the sensor sends data every 5 minutes which you can check from your smart device.

 

Future for ASIC Chips

As technology progresses, advancement in medical and healthcare is also expected. Studies on wireless wear glucose levels for diabetic patients have been conducted.

The use of an ASIC chip to monitor blood sugar levels can help diabetic patients manage their illness with ease and confidence. It gives diabetic patients the freedom to carry on with their daily activities without the need to do the usual prick and strips twice or more in a day.

 

Linear MicroSystems, Inc. is proud to offer its services worldwide as well as the surrounding areas and cities around our Headquarters in Irvine, CA: Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, Fountain Valley, Anaheim, Orange County, Fullerton, and Los Angeles.

Optical Control ASIC

All about Flash and Scan Sensor ASIC Technology

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Light and Detection Ranging or LIDAR is a sensor technology for remote object detection. The technology works by using a light source and a receiver that operates like a camera using a high-power laser emitter and a solid-state sensor with many pixels.

Today, the scan sensor ASIC technology is used in drones, autonomous vehicles, robots for smart homes, and many more.

Light Detection and Ranging Sensor technology will be a major facilitator in the automotive industry. This technology will provide better safety for drivers, passengers, and road users in general.

It will be the future of highly automated vehicles that can withstand robust environment and weather conditions.

 

What is a Flash System?

Flash system is a LiDAR system that can observe the complete field of view (FOV) at one. This method was originally used for spacecraft in autonomous landing and docking with satellites.

This works by capturing the scene at once from short to mid-range (0-100m). Flash LiDAR sensors are commonly used in emergency braking and blind-spot detection. The Flash system also detects objects with high relative speed.

 

What is a Scan Sensor?

Scan sensor works by focusing on the subset of the field of view (FOV) and subsequently looking at the next subsets until full FOV is covered. Instead of the full FOV, scanning can focus the light on the subset which means it can detect an object at a longer range.

Currently, there are 2 steering principles used in scan sensor technology to move the light beam from one subset to another. The first method is by completely rotating the sensor head or called the spinning LiDAR. Another approach used is by using the mechanical components inside the sensor ASIC.

Autonomous vehicles rely mainly on flash or scan sensor ASIC to obtain information about their surroundings such as the presence of other vehicles, pedestrians, and other relevant details. State of the art LiDAR systems along with radar-based perception systems and cameras are used to capture data description of the environment for more accurate estimations.

 

Manufacturers

Today, several manufacturing experts provide solid-state LiDAR sensors and solutions. These technologically advanced providers have continuously developed and improved their sensors and solutions for high accuracy and efficiency. Experts are still working on realizing a long-range and low-cost solution.

But despite the development of LiDAR systems and products available in the market today, experts and manufacturers are still faced with several constraints.

  • First, is the cost as current solutions available are quite expensive.
  • Second, meeting safety and reliability standards set by the automotive industry.
  • Third, the flash and scan sensor ASIC’s ability to capture and measure the environment at a long-distance or range.
  • Fourth, the adverse weather conditions like snow, storm, fog, rain, and others.
  • The fifth is the image level resolution, and lastly, is the size.

Even if this technology is now readily accessible, experts and manufacturers are still working on improving their flash and sensor ASIC systems, technology, and solutions to overcome all of these issues.

 

Linear MicroSystems, Inc. is proud to offer its services worldwide as well as the surrounding areas and cities around our Headquarters in Irvine, CA: Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, Fountain Valley, Anaheim, Orange County, Fullerton, and Los Angeles.

soc

The Development of System-on-a-Chip over the Years

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System-on-a-chip continues to be an integral part of modern-day technology and products. The functionality of mobile devices, computers, automobiles, and others mainly rely on SOCs.

 

A Quick History

Back in the 1970s, SOCs were first developed for miniaturization; when the first LED wristwatch was announced. Back then, it took 44 Integrated Circuits (ICs) to be fused into one single chip.

The technology continued to grow when personal computing and cellular phone technology flourished in the 1990s. Later on, smaller chips were developed for other related functions such as LCD displays, audio, keyboard, and battery charging.

SOC technology has been used by fabless manufacturers. Its ability to integrate functionality into one chip-enabled SOC technology evolved from being the heart computers and smartphones to enabling full function and feature of portable ultrabooks.

Since then, major players in the industry have utilized System-on-a-chip technology to meet the diverse needs of each industry. SOCs are built to perform specific tasks and are power, cost, and performance-optimized. It is known to have the best performance to power ratio.

Recently, manufacturers developed programmable SOCs which integrate processor and FPGA architectures into one device. The processors in programmable SOCs can be “hard” or “soft”.

A programmable SOC with a hard processor is an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) with connections for a microprocessor for embedded on a chip, surrounded by programmable logic that you can use for custom applications.

 

Processors

A hard processor is optimized for power consumption and uses less space on the chip. Above all, a hard processor offers high CPU performance.

Soft processors in programmable SOCs are carried out through the use of on-chip resources and programmable logic routed onto FPGA. This type of programmable SOC can be reconfigured and offers flexibility when it comes to removing unnecessary functions in the future.

Both have their advantages and disadvantages when it comes to configurability, predictability, software tools, and speed. The soft processor’s configurability is high compared to the hard processor. For predictability, software tools, and speed, hard processor wins.

Programmable system-on-a-chip offers key advantages. First, FPGA runs at a lower frequency, thus lowers power consumption. Second, FPGA SOCs show better performance compared to best-in-class SOCs. Third, programmable SOCs can is embedded with FPGA fabric that can be programmed to address evolving specifications.

With this, changes can be made without costing too much. Lastly, it can be customized. FPSOCs offer OEM to customize the software and hardware. Whatever the user or the customer requires can be customized in the FPGA without affecting performance.

 

Options

A variety of options are now available for programmable SOCs, the hard processor, and soft processor. Each of these options has unique architecture and tools to optimize the device.

Embedding FPGA fabric on SOCs offers advantages and application performance benefits. Traditional SOCs may be replaced with programmable SOC devices that show better cost, power, and performance ratio.

With these benefits, more and more companies might start to embrace the full disruptive potential of programmable system-on-a-chip. Eventually, standalone SOCs will be replaced by programmable SOCs.

 

Linear MicroSystems, Inc. is proud to offer its services worldwide as well as the surrounding areas and cities around our Headquarters in Irvine, CA: Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, Fountain Valley, Anaheim, Orange County, Fullerton, and Los Angeles.

microsystems

What Are MicroSystems Technology?

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Microsystems technology can be found all over the world, from suppliers of car parts, information and communication, and medical technology sectors.

In fact, it is unknowingly taking over more sensitive tasks nowadays. Innovative microsystems technology work as invisible helpers in various areas of everyday lives.

 

How does It work?

Basically, microsystems technology develops whole systems on a micro-scale level which is in constant communication with the environment. Particularly, microsystems must be able to do important things such as feel, evaluate, and act.

 

Technology to Ensure Intelligence

Microsystems are a group of various materials, components, and technologies combined together in a particularly tiny area. Modern microsystems are defined to be more than the sum of their parts.

The integration of the individual components intelligently forms more and more complex systems to enable completely new functions. This leads to intelligent products that would make lives safer, simpler, and more comfortable.

Car microsystems technology is able to assist drivers to avoid obstacles independently. It can also make automatic emergency stops in situations that are critical. One example is the modern air-conditioning system that can register when people leave their homes and adjust accordingly.

 

Microsystems In The Future

In the future, microsystems will not only feel, evaluate, or act because they will also make decisions from foresight and be able to communicate with their surroundings. That said, they will have an auto diagnosis function and will operate autonomously, a characteristic that is similar to cognitive abilities.

This means that while classical microsystems only function to pre-programmed patterns, smart systems will show signs of being able to think, understand, and learn. One of the most important motivators of innovation in technology, making intelligent products possible. Thus, microsystems technology is progress with a system.

 

Research Collaborations in Europe

In order to face future challenges in microelectronics and nanoelectronics, research collaborations across the national borders are necessary. These are key factors to ensure international competitiveness by setting international standards.

These enable participants to become leaders in the relevant market segments. Thus, the semiconductor industry in Europe has been reinforced and expanded by the Federal Research Ministry.

 

Funding Targets

Since microelectronics and nanoelectronics are main enabling technologies for the whole manufacturing industry, research a program has been launched by the Federal Research Ministry to encourage innovations and consolidate the technological leadership of Germany.

This is also intended to ensure the competitiveness of the country and make it a more attractive industrial option. The funding program for electronics research is intended for the following.

  • Expansion of enabling technologies for chip manufacturing, including chip design, 3D integration and process technologies, lithography and research novel materials
  • Facilitate the development of innovative mobility solutions by fortifying research on electronic components and systems for cars of the future
  • The use of cutting-edge electronic components to develop new applications
  • Promote new approaches to electronic systems, such as in the form of magnetic microsystems or organic electronics

The funding has been focused on the following fields of application, namely automotive engineering, energy, logistics, medicine, mechanical, and plant engineering.

 

Linear MicroSystems, Inc. is proud to offer its services worldwide as well as the surrounding areas and cities around our Headquarters in Irvine, CA: Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, Fountain Valley, Anaheim, Orange County, Fullerton, and Los Angeles.

system on a chip

3D Machine Vision and Time of Flight

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One of the image sensors intended for 3D vision called Time of Flight (ToF) has already been increasingly available in recent years.

Its job is to illuminate the scene using a modulated light source and observe the reflected light. The phase shift between reflection and illumination can be measured and translated into the distance.

 

3D Imaging ASIC

3D imaging application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is designed for 3D vision applications, as well as other consumer devices, such as laptops, personal computers, smartphones, and tablets.

This means that a chip is created for a specific purpose or application. Through the years, various types of Time of Flight ASICs have been made to meet the demands of a wide array of industries, from photography to telecommunications.

 

Technology Inspired By the Human Eye

The 3D imaging ASIC technology is said to have been inspired by how the human eyes see the world from different angles. However, the eyes perceive these images into a single image through the brain which combines these images into a whole.

This process is called parallax, which is close to 2D imaging concepts. But in 3D imaging, 2 lenses are used in each shot with each one capturing an image different from the other. So the 3D images will contain double the amount of information provided by 2D images.

 

Used In Different Applications

A 3D imaging device with a 3D imaging ASIC can be used for an array of applications. Such will include the measurement, analysis, and positioning of the parts for various industrial purposes.

Every 3D imaging ASIC has been designed to fit a specific environment or industry in which the 3D imaging systems will use either passive or active methods.

That said, active systems use methods such as structured light or Time of Flight, while passive systems use light field and depth from focus methods.

 

3D Shape Data Via Active Snapshot And Laser Triangulation

Snapshot and laser triangulation are used to make 3D shape data. The active snapshot process measures the distance to objects by calculating the difference between 2 snapshots taken at once called passive stereo imaging. A single-camera can be used to capture these images, but a couple of cameras can make the process even more efficient.

However, laser triangulation uses a single camera to make height variations from laser patterns projected onto the surface of an object. It will then observe how patterns moved when viewed from an angle with the use of a camera.

 

Challenges in 3D Imaging

The creation of 3D images is known as an intensive and time-consuming process. So it is necessary to use devices such as 3D imaging ASICs in the product lines.

This is intended because the 3D imaging ASIC is able to handle the complexity of calculations needed in the product lines since it will make the imaging process faster and more efficient.

Either 2D or 3D imaging ASIC is proven beneficial to a huge array of industrial applications. So it is all about how technology has been used for a specific purpose.

 

Linear MicroSystems, Inc. is proud to offer its services worldwide as well as the surrounding areas and cities around our Headquarters in Irvine, CA: Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, Fountain Valley, Anaheim, Orange County, Fullerton, and Los Angeles.

embedded computing systems

What is Embedded Computing?

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Embedded computing is part of our day-to-day lives through consumer electronics, mobile and industrial devices, automobiles, and many more. Embedded computing is essential to the appropriate functioning of products and applications: communication, medical, aerospace, and more.

These systems are programmed to perform specific tasks. Computing systems can be made up of hardware and software with some which are programmable while others are not. They rely on microprocessors, digital signal processors, and other purposely designed processors to work. In fact, 98% of the microprocessors manufactured today are used in embedded systems.

The most common examples of embedded computing systems are smartwatches and traffic lights. Recently, these computing systems started using system-on-chip as SOCs offer more advanced functionality and computing power compared to microprocessors.

 

Characteristics of embedded systems

Embedded computing performs a single task in a large system. It is a programmable system for a specific purpose. Below are the elements of these systems:

  • Made up of hardware, software, and firmware
  • Embedded on a larger system to perform a definite function
  • The embedded computing system can be microprocessor-based or microcontroller-based
  • Embedded systems are often used in real-time computing in the Internet of things devices
  • Vary in complexity and function
  • Oftentimes required to perform their function under a specific time frame for the larger system to function properly

 

The elements of embedded computing

  • Hardware – the hardware components of embedded systems include microprocessors and microcontrollers. These two are very similar to each other which act as CPU which is then integrated to the memory chip and digitals signal processors.
  • Software – industrial-grade microcontrollers run through a software system that requires little memory to run or control machines or devices.
  • Firmware – embedded firmware is usually used in more complex systems to connect the software to the hardware. Embedded firmware applies to more complex applications and operating systems.

Embedded systems must be reliable and efficient. These are crucial characteristics as these systems cannot be programmed and accessed by users. They are time-sensitive, so the system-on-chip must work efficiently within the given time frame.

 

Different systems categories

There are multiple embedded computing categories depending on their function and use. One type of design is the standalone system. This only requires input and output lines to work. Music players are examples of a standalone system.

Then, there are real-time embedded computing systems and network embedded systems. A common example of a network embedded design is your home security system.

The last and the most popular systems are mobile embedded systems that are used in mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.

These systems are expected to rapidly grow in the coming years due to the increasing demands of applications in smart transportation, communication, drones, smart cars, smart homes, smartphones, medical equipment, video surveillance, and many more.

With embedded computing systems and integration of system-on-chip, different fields and industries can come up with new and innovative features and capabilities beyond manual work can provide.

 

Linear MicroSystems, Inc. is proud to offer its services worldwide as well as the surrounding areas and cities around our Headquarters in Irvine, CA: Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, Fountain Valley, Anaheim, Orange County, Fullerton, and Los Angeles.

Microsystems

Sensor ASICs in the Automotive Industry

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The automotive industry has been a major consumer of electronics technology since the late 1960s. And as technology progresses, the demand for hybrid automobiles and electric cars is also growing.

To address these demands, the automotive industry must work hand-in-hand with electronics technology.

Over the years, car manufacturers have relied on electronics for entertainment. But with the advent of technology, car manufacturers are gearing towards building electric cars and the use of electronic systems for better efficiency and safety.

Electronic contents of vehicles and automobiles may increase in the coming years.

Automobiles in the coming years are expected to be more sophisticated. Eventually, every function of the automobile will be through sensor ASICs. Smart cars and driverless cars will rely on sensor ASIC for position control, timing control, speed control, and others.

Battery monitoring, pressure sensor, gas sensor, engine monitoring, and more require specialized sensor ASIC.

Automobile companies across the world are investing in electronics and specific applications in the vehicle system. Leading automobile manufacturers are gearing towards producing cars that are smarter and safer with the help of automobile ASIC applications.

Today, hybrid cars are now able to park themselves, brake when they sense danger, stay in a lane, free themselves from a tight parking area, and provide a 360-degree view of its surrounding.

With these developments, sensor ASIC is expected to be in demand in the automotive industry. And with the combination of these smart sensors, GPS, and radar, it is not possible that drivers in the future will just have to hit the start button, steer it, and switch if off once in their destinations.

 

Sensor ASIC for automobiles should have these three (3) major components:

  • Safety – it is one of the utmost important aspects of the development of advanced driver assistance systems. ASICs must adhere to ISO 26262 requirements, safety verification, safety goals, and safety SOC architecture.
  • Reliability – pertains to the lifecycle of the SOC, wear outs, mortality, life span, and aging.
  • Quality – relates to the condition of the foundry process, defect density, and thermal fatigue.

 

Samples of automotive ASIC applications:

  • Electronic Odometer with LCD Driver – a custom ASIC for automotive and electric automobile applications. Some of the features include a record of miles or hours which is stored in nonvolatile memory (EEPROM). The data is retained even if the power is lost. It also has 7 digit LCD driver and ratiometric sensors.
  • Engine Monitor and Warning light controller – the device is designed to monitor engine perimeters like pressure, voltage, and temperature. The monitor also activates the warning light is the parameters are out of range. The sensor ASIC is intended for the automotive instrument cluster.
  • Digital Pulse Width Modulator

 

Some of the types of sensors used in an automobile:

  • Oxygen sensor
  • Coolant sensor
  • Voltage sensor
  • Fuel temperature sensor
  • Mass airflow sensor
  • Engine speed sensor
  • Spark knock sensor
  • MAF or Manifold Absolute Pressure sensor

 

With all these automobile sensors, driving in the future is safer and convenient. In the coming years, it will simply involve turning the engine on/off and steering it to your destination.

 

Linear MicroSystems, Inc. is proud to offer its services worldwide as well as the surrounding areas and cities around our Headquarters in Irvine, CA: Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, Fountain Valley, Anaheim, Orange County, Fullerton, and Los Angeles.

RF ASIC

Standard Integrated Circuits and ASIC chips

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The introduction of electronics technology greatly impacted our lives from consumer electronics, portable computers, and mobile devices. It is now part of our everyday personal and business lives due to its convenience and functionality.

Every day we see or use products that utilize electronics technology. And without these, life will never be the same. More so, transportation, wireless communication, medical equipment, mobile phones, and so much more will not exist if not because of IC (Integrated Circuit) or ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

 

What’s the difference between the standard Integrated Circuit and ASIC chips?

Integrated Circuit is designed for general use or purpose. It is a small chip that can function as an amplifier, microprocessor, timer, or computer memory.  An Integrated Circuit is made of silicon that can store data using analog or digital technology. Standard Integrated Circuit is ideal for small series.

On the other hand, ASIC or Application Specific Integrated Circuit is a chip customized for a specific use. A modern ASIC chip contains microprocessors, RAM, ROM, memory blocks, and flash memory.

ASIC is ideally designed for a product that is intended for mass production. ASIC design can also be tailored to meet the specific requirements for a product. ASICs are immensely useful in the production of consumer electronics and products that are widely used.

 

Price structure of standard Integrated Circuit (IC) and Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC)

The development cost for an ASIC chip is expensive compared to standard IC. Regular or standard Integrated Circuit price is significantly lower as many users break the Non-Recurring Engineering or NRE (which is the development cost).

 

The cost structure of standard Integrated Circuit

Phase                                               Content

Die                                                     die size

Packaging                                        type of package

Testing                                              test time

Handling                                          Quality Assurance/Control, logistics, shipment

 

Comparison between standard Integrated Circuit (IC) vs. Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC)

  • Time to market – ICs are ideal for fast prototyping
  • NRE or Non-Recurring Expenses – introduction cost for standard Integrated Circuit applications is low
  • Unit Cost – ASIC cost is low due to no redundant function
  • Power Consumption – the optimal power consumption clearly goes to ASIC as it has a dedicated technology and no redundant function
  • Form factor – ASIC is the winner for this component due to its power consumption and small form factor
  • Production – production of standard IC is faster compared to an ASIC chip, however, when the standard component becomes obsolete, it requires a to redesign your product

 

What are the benefits of Application Specific Integrated Circuit?

  • Lower power consumption
  • Higher integration
  • Intellectual property protection
  • Higher functionality
  • Smaller footprint

 

Choosing between Standard Integrated Circuit (IC) over the Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC)

Choosing between the two really depends on your needs. Before you can decide which is essential to your business or product, you need to evaluate the following factors:

  • Unit cost
  • Time to market
  • Power consumption
  • Solution cost
  • Scalability
  • Protection
  • Non-recurring expenses
  • Form factor
  • Control of supply chain

Finding the right solution depends on your specific project requirements. Choosing the right solution can be taken effectively by determining functionality, production time scale, and cost.

 

Linear MicroSystems, Inc. is proud to offer its services worldwide as well as the surrounding areas and cities around our Headquarters in Irvine, CA: Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, Fountain Valley, Anaheim, Orange County, Fullerton, and Los Angeles.