SENSORS & SENSING SYSTEMS u SWINDON SILICON SYSTEMS Choosing a custom IC partner
Manufacturers ready to make the most out of a custom IC can be keen to jump into development. But before putting any pen to paper, Ross Turnbull, director of business development and product engineering at Swindon Silicon Systems, says it’s vital to ensure you choose the right partner for your design project
F
or manufacturers looking to gain both a technical and commercial edge over their competition, an Application Specific IC (ASIC) could be the ideal solution. An ASIC is a chip that has been designed specifically for its designated application. As a result of the bespoke design approach, an ASIC can offer superior performance and functionality over off-the-shelf solutions. But while the benefits of an ASIC may be
well understood, less so is the process of choosing the right ASIC partner. So, what should businesses consider when searching for a custom IC partner?
ENGINEERING EXPERTISE The first step is to identify whether the IC designer can deliver a product that meets application requirements. The strength of an ASIC comes from its bespoke design approach, with the chip built to fit customer expectations. If the designer doesn’t have the expertise to fine-tune performance at such a high level, the resultant chip likely won’t be as successful. For example, if you need an ASIC solution that combines both analogue and digital functionalities – typically ICs are used for analogue to digital signal conversions – you’ll need to look for a mixed-signal designer. A mixed-signal specialist can combine analogue and digital technologies on a single
device without corrupting the signal integrity of either domain. The result is a high-performance chip in a small, low-cost package. It’s also worth finding out if the IC designer has experience working in your application sector. An IC designer familiar with your particular industry will make achieving regulatory compliance a much easier process. Sensitive markets where safety and precision are critical will often require the product to undergo strict certification procedures. In the automotive industry for example, relevant safety methodologies include AEC Q100
and ISO 26262. As part of the ISO 26262 certification, it’s also necessary to determine the Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL), essentially a hazard and risk assessment for each individual component in the vehicle. Certification criteria should be considered as
early as possible in the design stage to ensure the final product meets demands; choosing an ASIC supplier that understands these helps to ensure that the delivered product is 100 per cent compliant, avoiding the need for costly redesigns.
IN-HOUSE CAPABILITIES Another element to consider is how much of the IC design workflow can be done in-house. Choosing a supplier that offers a full turnkey ASIC service, including initial specification,
20 February 2024 Irish Manufacturing 14
www.irish-manufacturing.com
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