SMART TECH & IoT
while handling the vibrations of intensive machinery, resulting in a complex engineering challenge.
To optimise ASICs and ensure they are effective, reliable and long-lasting, material selection plays a crucial role. As an example, industrial robots on a factory floor require ASICs that are resistant to dust and chemicals. At the packaging level, hermetic seals can provide a leak-proof barrier from harsh industrial environments. This is particularly important to prevent exposure of sensitive circuitry to potentially corrosive or damaging particulates and chemicals. The high vibration environment should be considered when choosing an over-moulding compound and silicon passivation layers to reduce mechanical stress. Similarly to TPMS, they may also require a substrate with high operating temperature capability. By considering every element of the design, material considerations can ensure the application specifications are met within a durable and long-lasting product.
Medical
For ASIC material choices in medical applications, biocompatibility is a major consideration. This is especially true for
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A key challenge for engineers is identifying materials that can handle the conditions of an application without sacrificing reliability, durability or performance.
packaging. This helps to ensure the chip is safe, protected and reliable.
What happens if sub-optimal materials are used in chips?
devices that are designed to be implanted or in contact with skin. It is non-negotiable that they are completely safe, without being toxic, causing inflammation or degrading within the body.
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ASICs used in medical devices need to comply with health standards, such as ISO 10993, which provides guidance for determining the biological response to medical devices.
Implantable devices generally require ASICs that are airtight, miniaturised, soft and biomimetic. While silicon is often used as the semiconductor material, it is common for biocompatible polymers to be used for
If integrated circuits use inappropriate materials, the impacts can be far reaching. In some cases, such as IIoT devices, it could lead to insufficient performance and an increased risk of obsolescence, impacting manufacturers’ productivity and return on investment.
This in itself is reason enough for careful material considerations, but it is even more pertinent in applications where health and safety are at risk, including TPMS and medical devices.
ASICs allow engineers to address challenges and requirements specific to the task at hand with a level of specificity that is impossible with commercial-off-the-shelf products. To ensure they operate at the highest level of performance and accuracy possible, with minimal risk of premature failure, tailored and well-researched material considerations make all the difference. To find out more about Swindon Silicon’s processes for material considerations and discuss their ASIC solutions, get in touch with their specialist team.
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2026 | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS 21
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