The NARL’s National Chip Implementation Center (CIC) recently unveils its leading edge research achievement in the design of a sensing system-on-chip (SSoC) by successfully integrating CMOS (complementary me
At present, most sensor modules in Taiwan are supplied by international brands. These pre-packaged chip modules can only be integrated at a system level. Taiwan-ba
As the interface between sensor and ASIC in a single substrate is complex and technologically challenging, the NARL-CIC has developed four key components in the CMOS-MEMS technology prior to the integration of sensor and ASIC in one functional package. These four discrete parts to improve signal processing are: 1) protection of circuit regime; 2) structure/control design; 3) safe dicing of the substrate; and 4) IP (intellectual property) authentication. Under the current framework, the NARL-CIC has been awarded two related patents in the United States and three in Taiwan. And 12 more are in the pipeline.
Sensors are used to gather a wealth of information from the process that can improve intelligent living, operational efficiency and product quality. Smart sensors are now being employed in almost every aspect of human life. They are used to assist an aging population’s living, control processes in manufacturing factories, manage intelligent buildings, monitor traffic, detect diseases, etc. The global market for sensors in consumer electronics is expected to grow from the current value of USD 10 billion to USD 20 billion in 2016. And this burgeoning market always calls for smaller, lighter and more efficient products. Unfortunately, however, Taiwan's share in this immense sensor market sector has been negligible. Yet to capitalize on golden opportunities of marketing smart-living products and services, Taiwan needs to leverage its comparative strength in the vertical division of semiconductor industry. And the NARL-CIC’s recent achievement in the CMOS-MEMS technology is a step forward to reach this goal.
For further endeavor in this direction, the NARL-CIC is to serve as a platform to work with the academia, industry, and research institutes in Taiwan and beyond for the development of various innovative sensing IPs and sensor chip components that improve sensing and other value-added capabilities across the family of products, be they computers, communications, consumer electronics, medical diagnostic equipment and tools or green energy systems, while still improving the size, power consumption, and end-user costs. This is bound to gain new momentum for Taiwan's IC industry.
