IoT Analog IPs
SilTerra and Chipus have been working together for more than 7 years serving SilTerra customers with key analog and mixed-signal Ultra-Low-Power (ULP) IPs. In 2016, the Malaysian foundry recognized the effort of the Brazilian analog IC design services provider and announced it as an official Design Partner.
Along with this path, Chipus has been committed to keep improving its list of ultra-low-power IPs, accelerating the plethora of battery-powered IoT devices.
The next step in this cooperation brought Chipus into the development of IPs aiming IoT applications using the recently launched 180nm Ultra-low-leakage CMOS technology (I18L) from SilTerra. Chipus validated a list of IPs that will be available throughout 2018 based on silicon proven circuits. The development will be divided in two tape-outs.
As the circuits are still under development, some specifications may be altered to target leading customers’ requirements. Chipus invites you to request the specifications needed by your product.
In order to generate clock signals in an efficient fashion for IoT devices, Chipus is developing oscillators in kHz and MHz range.
· True ULP applications can be addressed using 32768Hz Real Time Clocks (RTCs). These circuits are intended to run on unregulated supplies with minimal power consumption when the IoT device is sleeping.
· Once the IoT device is awake, low power oscillators in the MHz range are needed to generate clock signals for the digital circuitry in active mode.
In general, IoT applications employ some kind of analog sensing. Hence, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is an essential building block for an IoT device. A capacitive, 12-bit, 5MSPS (Successive Approximation Register) SAR ADC is under development to address this requirement.
Temperature sensing is also a very common feature in IoT devices, useful in many applications such as smart housing, wearables and smart cities. Using semiconductor devices that are available in I18L CMOS, a high resolution temperature sensor IP is already under development into Chipus portfolio.
Managing power at chip level is essential to obtain a low power consumption IoT end-product. Chipus is currently porting True ULP IPs arranged in a fully integrated ULP power management unit (PMU), ensuring proper startup and signaling. For applications that require higher currents, a high-efficiency DC-DC converter capable of delivering a load current of up to 500mA is being ported to I18L.
The IPs that Chipus will make available at SilTerra IoT platform are based on consolidated architectures that are silicon proven and that were successfully delivered to customers. As the development/porting process is still on-going, some specifications can be adjusted to address customers’ requests.
The IP list is still preliminary and other IP blocks may be included according to requests from leading customers.
“Chipus has a significant amount of IP expertise serving SilTerra’s customers, particularly in CMOS and BCD technologies. They have proven a great customer support with their Analog IC design expertise. Hence, by working with Chipus, with specific focus on ultra low power analog IP solutions, this would enable our mutual customers to experience reduced design risk and shorten time-to-market advantage to accelerate their business in the IoT market”, said Yit Loong Lai, Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing of SilTerra.
