Find out how custom ASICs help in the changing IoT ecosystem and overcome challenges of lower geometry design, form factor, sensor performance, testing and time-to-market of IoT products.

1. Importance of Utilizing Custom ASICs in the IoT Era
Over the recent years, there has been a radical shift in the overall IoT ecosystem—the hardware and
software integrations, the system deployments as well as usage. This calls for utilizing custom chip design
and development approach. Let us understand the importance of utilizing custom ASICs in the IoT era.
The increasing adoption of IoT creates an opportunity to move from the off-the-shelf chip designs to
custom silicon since there has been a significant change in the overall IoT ecosystem. According to the
recent research by ARM, the IoT and related devices will increase to one trillion between 2017 and 2035,
adding $5 trillion to the global GDP. Considering this, the semiconductor and system design companies
are gearing up for IoT expansion by transforming themselves; from component suppliers to end-to-end
solution providers. Apparently, semiconductor companies can leverage this market as long as they can
make customized IoT chips in a cost-effective manner.
According to a research by #Arm, #IoT and related devices will increase to one trillion between 2017
and 2035
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2. Why Custom ASIC for IoT Edge Products
Rather than depending on using stock components in developing IoT edge products, ASIC design
companies by utilizing custom silicon design in the targeted devices on the edge of IoT network can
substantially enhance the functionality and offer greater design flexibility. Companies are now deploying
custom ASIC platforms in IoT devices and are becoming fabless system companies.
Moreover, using a custom ASIC business model approach, IoT edge products can be delivered as low cost,
mid or highly integrated solutions. This is why, ASIC designers across vertical markets like medical devices,
industrial and smart utilities, utilize custom ASIC designs to differentiate the IoT products and make them
future proof as much as possible.
How Custom ASIC Platforms Enhance IoT Products
In IoT, connected devices face challenges of lower geometry design, form factor, sensor performance,
testing and ensuring faster time-to-market with low cost. In order to overcome these challenges, ASIC
designers utilize custom ASIC platforms with several mature technologies and techniques to ensure and
maintain the performance of the IoT products. Here are the key ways custom ASIC platforms enhance the
performance of IoT products:
1. Ultra-low Power Design: In order to maintain and reduce dynamic power consumption with
different foundries, ASIC engineers follow power saving techniques which are applicable to lower
geometry designs (180nm to 7nm / 5nm)
a. Better Dynamic Power
i. Clock gating and clock tree synthesis
ii. Multibit register
iii. Low power placement
b. Power Leakage Savings
i. Biasing
ii. MCMM
iii. Multi-Vt libraries
c. Multi-Voltage
i. Lower VDD operation
ii. MV power domain
iii. DVFS / AVS
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3. 2. Form Factor and Sensors: IoT products or space-constrained designs are following multiple
component standards, where single small die size chip embed the micro-controllers, primary and
rechargeable battery management system, sensors, wireless communication, secure copy
protection in the smallest possible form factor. Here’s how ASIC engineers implement small form
factor and sensors in developing IoT products:
a. Low power and small form factor batteries: ASIC engineers choose a safe battery design
which ensures durability, quality, and safety. Battery designs are available as thin as
0.37nm which continuously operate over a wide temperature range. For example,
medical experts use new tech tools like injectable drugs which perform in effective time
duration through safe and small powered patch.
b. Sensors: ARM defined IoT as a sensor-enabled object that relates to the real world, where
wireless analog functionalities are added to IoT products like wearables, mobiles, home
and building automation application. For reliable integration and high-performance
sensor solutions, ASIC engineers utilize the smart sensor interface (MEMS sensor
element) to add to the ASIC design platform.
3. Turnkey Execution: In the era of miniaturization, ASIC turnkey execution delivers effective results
for sports, mobility, healthcare, multi-market wireless, and multi-media solutions. One of the
main objectives of turnkey services in IoT edge products is to improve quality, lifecycle, risk
management process. Silicon Turkey ownership involves covering RTL to GDSII models and deploy
the product when it is ready for operation.
4. Faster TTM at Low Cost: Due to the highly competitive situations in IoT market, ASIC companies
have to launch their products on time to capture customer base, revenue, and market
penetration. Fabless companies have evolved with faster methodologies to roll out custom ASIC
in lesser time. This enables quick deployment of IoT products, resulting in successful IoT product
launches.
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4. eInfochips has over two decades of experience in providing product engineering and ASIC design services
on different technology nodes. It has enabled multiple Fortune 500 companies to deliver high-quality
products on time. To know more, get in touch with us.
About the Author:
Komal Chauhan works in the marketing department at eInfochips, where she supports digital
and content marketing activities for semiconductor and IoT applications.