Analog chip hotspots concentrated in China, market layout is busy

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Analog chip hotspots concentrated in China, market layout is busy [Copy link]

[CCIDnet News] Analog chips and digital chips are like twins. Unlike the high speed and quickness of digital chips, the analog chip family that came into being earlier seems so peaceful and stable. The product life cycle of analog chips is much longer than that of digital chips. The life cycle of a successful analog chip product is very long.The cycle can even be as long as 10 years. Today, thanks to the rapid development of the 3C product market, the analog chip market is growing as fast as the digital chip market.

Simulation market growth is steady

The development of semiconductor chip products emphasizes focus, deepening the market for a certain product and continuously developing more applications for this type of product. This is the way to success for semiconductor manufacturers. However, with the emergence of more and more personalized applications, the development of the leading industry is no longer dominated by cold and hard technology, and application needs have become the basis for decision-making in product development. As a result, chip manufacturers have to turn to solutions that provide multi-field chip combinations. The combination of digital chips and analog chips has become a must for chip manufacturers.

In the current top ten ranking of the analog chip market, Texas Instruments (TI) ranks first. TI has maintained its position as the analog overlord for more than three years. The following order is STMicroelectronics (ST), Infineon Technologies (Infineon Technologies), Philips Semiconductors (Philips Semiconductors) and Analog Devices (Analog Devices).

Databeans data show that the global analog chip market was worth $31.92 billion in 2005. According to World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS), of the total analog chip market of about $31.9 billion in 2005, the market size of dedicated chips was $20.2 billion and the market size of standard applications was $11.7 billion. Of the $11.7 billion, power management, data converters and interface devices accounted for $5.9 billion, $1.8 billion and $1.7 billion respectively, while the rest was the amplifier market with a total of $2.3 billion.

The development paths of analog chips and digital chips are increasingly intersecting, and improving chip integration has become a focus. Wang Ruixing, vice president of Fairchild Semiconductor's Asia-Pacific Technology Marketing Department, pointed out that the current development trend of analog chips seems to be similar to the trend of portable digital circuits, with higher and higher integration and smaller size. In addition, portable products require more "communication" between analog chips. At the same time, more digital functions will be added to traditional analog chips, including multiple functions in a single device. These highly integrated chips must be able to cover advanced process technologies and CMOS technologies for various power analog requirements.

Patrick Boulaud, director of the Power and Analog Devices Division of STMicroelectronics in Greater China, also pointed out that analog chips, like digital chips, are showing a trend of higher integration and smaller size, with more power management functions integrated into the chip. However, increasing integration is limited by problems such as leakage.

Class D amplifiers are popular in the audio market

Experts point out that digital audio interface and Class D power amplifier will be the most popular audio chips in mobile phones, and multimedia mobile phones must separate the digital-to-analog converter from the main digital signal processor. The reason is that the digital circuit and the analog circuit are not compatible in terms of technology and the signal-to-noise ratio is not ideal.

As the new generation of systems require more advanced functions, power consumption and battery life become key factors affecting system design. Class D power amplifier is another important component that helps extend battery life.

Wang Jian, sales director of analog products for TI China, analyzed that the technology of Class D power amplifiers was developed relatively early, and such products were available in the market around 2000. TI is in a leading position in this field.The world's leading level. With the increasing shortage of energy, the requirements for energy efficiency are gradually increasing. Therefore, the application demand of Class D power amplifiers will gradually increase in the future, because this type of product has the highest efficiency in audio conversion. However, Class D power amplifiers will not completely replace linear amplifiers. In high-end professional audio, due to the high fidelity characteristics of linear amplifiers, linear amplifier products will still be used in the top audio field.

At present, Class D power amplifiers cannot achieve the same effect as linear amplifiers in the field of high-end audio. However, for the large-volume mid- and low-end markets, the market prospects of Class D power amplifiers are very optimistic.

He Xianbin, general manager of NS South China business, said that the biggest challenge currently faced by audio system design engineers is how to provide an ideal interface for analog and digital signal channels. In addition, the number of external components and the area of the circuit board should be reduced as much as possible, while also considering the sound effect, heat dissipation and power consumption. Therefore, National Semiconductor has launched a series of high-efficiency Class D amplifiers that do not require additional filters and audio subsystems with built-in audio amplifiers of this type.

Wolfson, which specializes in the development of audio analog chips, has also taken a fancy to the Class D power amplifier market. John Crawfords, Wolfson's product marketing manager, said that in order to enjoy higher audio quality while saving power consumption to help products have longer battery life, Wolfson developed a Class A/B to Class D convertible stereo codec in January 2006. This chip, numbered WM8985, integrates a dual-mode headphone driver that can dynamically switch between Class A/B and Class D drivers. Class D technology can provide a conversion rate of up to 70%, while the Class A/B mode can provide designers with additional flexibility.

International manufacturers strengthen their presence in China

As China's analog chip market accounts for a growing share of the Asian and even global markets, international manufacturers are also stepping up their layout in China.

Wang Jian, sales director of analog products for TI China, pointed out that TI's planning in China is market-oriented and deploys resources and products based on needs.

In China, the most prominent products are in the following areas: communications, mobile phones, consumer products, and industrial control products are developing very rapidly. TI's promotion and resource allocation in China will also be configured according to the needs of these markets.

Wang Ruixing, Vice President of Fairchild Semiconductor Technology Marketing in Asia Pacific, said that Fairchild Semiconductor is committed to the development of analog chips and discrete power solutions, and is actively looking for development opportunities in China. In 2003, Fairchild Semiconductor established an assembly and testing plant and automated warehouse in Suzhou. The plant is an important part of Fairchild Semiconductor's global strategy. In addition to manufacturing products for the local Chinese market, it also exports to other parts of Asia, Europe and America. As early as a few years ago, Fairchild Semiconductor has realized that China is the growth engine of the global semiconductor market, chip procurement, electronic product design and manufacturing, and quickly adjusted the company's business positioning.

Wang Ruixing further pointed out that Fairchild's main measures in China are to expand alliances with key design companies to jointly develop system reference designs; enhance penetration in key high-growth market areas; reorganize production line resources and focus on China; launch the most advanced products in target areas; Fairchild has established 8 offices in China to consolidate local sales and market results. In addition, 3 of Fairchild Semiconductor's 9 global power resource design centers are established in Greater China. The key factor to Fairchild's success is to assist local design teams in producing products specifically for the Chinese market.

John Crawford, Wolfson's product marketing manager, said that in order to help Chinese companies develop mobile phones and other portable products, Wolfson has increased its investment in China, introducing the latest analog and mixed signal technologies to China by adding new offices and the number of highly trained senior application engineers. For example, there are many successful companies developing mobile phones and other portable products in Shanghai. Wolfson's new office in Shanghai will be positioned to more closely support the fast-growing local design companies and manufacturers in the region. As the Chinese market develops, we will also add new offices in China. (n101)