Mitigating the Menace of Obsolescence
Richard Mount from Swindon Silicon Systems shares how custom Integrated Circuits (ICs) can address the risk of obsolescence in long-lasting applications like automotive and industrial sensing.
Since the demand for semiconductor chips jumped 17% between 2019 and 2021, and supply chains are still recovering from the pandemic, sourcing IC components has become a headache for manufacturers. Obsolescence only adds to this challenge.
Modern vehicles are packed with technology designed to enhance safety, intelligence, and driving enjoyment, with sensors playing a crucial role. These sensors monitor everything from climate control temperatures to radar for measuring the distance between cars. For instance, incorrect tire pressure is a major hazard, leading to one in five motorway breakdowns. Direct Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) address this by using sensors in each tire to inform the driver about low pressure or imbalances via the dashboard. A key element of many TPMS setups is a custom IC.
Custom ASICs
Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) looking to stand out, both technically and commercially, often turn to Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). An ASIC is a custom chip tailored for a specific application, resulting in optimized performance uniquely suited to the user’s needs. Opting for an ASIC can improve performance, reduce size and power consumption, and save a considerable amount of board space.
Using ASICs also protects a company’s intellectual property (IP) since it’s difficult to reverse-engineer or repurpose the chip for other designs. Time-to-market is crucial in the fast-paced automotive industry, and custom ICs don’t have to start from scratch. Established ASIC companies possess extensive IP libraries to lay the groundwork for custom chips, thus significantly cutting down development time.
Obsolescence
Automotive manufacturers often use standard IC components. However, relying on these components means considering longevity and having alternatives at the ready. Standard IC manufacturers may upgrade their products, potentially causing compatibility issues if the new versions don’t meet existing performance standards. If an IC’s sales drop or it’s no longer profitable, production may cease, leading to last-time buys (LTBs).
Lifetime
Choosing a custom IC ensures components are exclusive to the user and not available on the mass market, thus providing supply consistency throughout the product’s life. The main risks of obsolescence in custom ICs are related to the silicon process and packaging. However, ASICs are designed to avoid obsolescence. For instance, a 15-year lifespan product will use a mature and long-lasting silicon process.
If obsolescence does occur, it can be managed effectively. Finding alternative packaging solutions is usually straightforward. If the silicon process becomes obsolete, suppliers typically give around two years’ notice, allowing ample time to switch to a suitable alternative. The approach to managing this depends on where the product is in its lifecycle.
