AMBA Parameter Configurable Multi-Channel DMA Controller (typically 1 to 256)
Does the analog foundry model hold water?
EE Times (11/17/2008 12:01 AM EST)
In theory, digital chips can be moved around from one manufacturing facility to another. For example, a chipset can be built at IBM, TSMC or even SMIC.
Because you can clone a "mask set'' from the chip, the industry made that practice illegal via the Semiconductor Protection Act (SPA) in 1984. So, even though someone can steal your design, selling it in quantity on the open market is a dead end.
But analog and mixed-signal parts are specific to individual production lines. Generally, they cannot be moved from one line to another without recalibrating the process from scratch.
The reason is simple. Analog devices do not come off the line in a "binary'' state. Analog parts are discrete, and come off the line in a range of values. The manufacturer then bins and sorts them for different markets.
![]() |
E-mail This Article | ![]() |
![]() |
Printer-Friendly Page |
Related News
- Will analog foundry model work?
- Blue Cheetah Tapes Out Its High-Performance Chiplet Interconnect IP on Samsung Foundry SF4X
- Siemens collaborates with GlobalFoundries to certify Analog FastSPICE for the foundry's high-performance processes
- What does Renesas' acquisition of PCB toolmaker Altium mean?
- Analog Bits to Join Intel Foundry Services Chip Design Ecosystem Expanding 3nm IP Offerings
Breaking News
- JEDEC® and Industry Leaders Collaborate to Release JESD270-4 HBM4 Standard: Advancing Bandwidth, Efficiency, and Capacity for AI and HPC
- BrainChip Gives the Edge to Search and Rescue Operations
- ASML targeted in latest round of US tariffs
- Andes Technology Celebrates 20 Years with New Logo and Headquarters Expansion
- Creonic Unveils Bold Rebrand to Drive Innovation in Communication Technologies
Most Popular
- Cadence to Acquire Arm Artisan Foundation IP Business
- AMD Achieves First TSMC N2 Product Silicon Milestone
- Why Do Hyperscalers Design Their Own CPUs?
- Siemens to accelerate customer time to market with advanced silicon IP through new Alphawave Semi partnership
- New TSN-MACsec IP core for secure data transmission in 5G/6G communication networks