中文
Introduction
Since 1984 iC-Haus has specialized in producing customized, project-orientated integrated circuits. The company offers the entire spectrum of semiconductor services, from design to the fully tested, mass-produced product. Application-specific, customized ICs drive the iC-Haus capability, as well as the structure and services of its technical and production units.
Flexible product design and project implementation carried out by motivated and qualified engineers are the major factors which determine a project's success. Access to industrial process lines for the basic material, silicon, guarantees the necessary continuity, delivery assurance and quality, and also a share in technological progress. iC-Haus assembly, functions testing and quality assurance services conclude the production process of an innovative series product - the customized IC.
Integration
Realising a circuit - or even an entire system - on a chip is the highest level of integration in microelectronics. Monolithic integration represents miniaturization and reliability and gives an innovative push to a new generation of devices.
The combination of analog and digital circuitry components - with additional sensors and drivers for actuators, if required - has proved itself in various systems and devices, such as those for signal processing or in automotive, control and automation engineering.
Design stages
The development of the IC can be divided mainly into three stages:
- Defining phase
The performance specifications and customer discussions establish the features of the product and the milestones in its development. These preliminary tasks embody both parties' responsibility to find a solution which optimises all appropriate technological possibilities. - Schematic, simulation, breadboard test
The engineer's initial ideas on how to realise the circuit are schematically entered into the computer, then verified in a network evaluation process and tested on a breadboard. The latter two processes complement each other; breadboards can be tested in the system environment, and logic and analog simulation confirms design results with regard to possible parameter spreads in the intended temperature range. - Layout
The chip's geometry is established interactively on the screen, requiring exceptional process- and semiconductor-specific knowledge of its designer. The prepared cells are inserted into a stylized diagram of the layout which can be broken down for project-specific modifications.
Production
Each incoming batch of wafers is checked and parametrically qualified, and an automated functions test is carried out by wafer probers for each chip.
The test program is drawn up in accordance with the specifications for the chip and marks a decisive step in its development. In order to cover all eventualities where the chip could fail, all function blocks are tested under normal and extreme operating conditions.
All iC-Haus components are thoroughly tested several times, both as a chip on a wafer and as a packaged IC in a handler at high and low temperatures according to requirements. Microsystems with optical sensors as Chip-On-Board units are tested using special automatic handling equipment. Only after they have successfully passed the final test are chips released for delivery, marked with the letters "iC" for quality.
Applications
iC-Haus targets applications in industrial technology, among others, with its ASICs and standard products (ASSPs). The following features illustrate the technical scope of iC-Haus customized integration:
- Line drivers
Short circuit-proof drivers in the mid current and voltage range are required for data transfer with 24V signals in robust industrial equipment. - Protective functions
Integrated circuits should protect themselves and external system components against damage through overloading, overheating or electrical interference. Examples of integrated protective circuits are clipping diodes, current limiters, the shutdown of functions with excessive temperatures, protection against ESD and EMI, latch-up immunity features and tolerance of branch-specific noise spikes. - Analog/Digital
The combination of analog and digital circuit units enables interfacing between different technologies circuits, like microcontrollers, memory, 24V peripherals, as well as A/D and D/A conversion, as the sine-to-digital conversion necessary for angular positioning encoders. - Integrated opto and hall sensors
Sensors can be integrated in the IC in the form of photodiodes and hall sensors, enabling a fully-integrated solution with sensor, signal processing and digital interface in the same package. In the case of photodiode integration, the so-called OPTO-ASICs offer microsystem technology on a single chip and combine optical sensors with analog and digital signal processing. Here, the shape, position and number of sensors can be designated as required, and assembly is also project-specific.
iC-Haus as your design/production partner
For more detail on how iC-Haus can help you realise the full potential of your projects, on time, on budget and with every assurance of maximum quality, reliability and performance, feel free to contact us, or visit the iC-Haus website.
iC-Haus China Representative Office - Phone: +86 755 8233-3310 - E-mail: contact@ichauschina.com - Wechat: iC-Haus