Design Article
Power controller gets Cortex makeover
Junko Yoshida
10/24/2012 11:00 AM EDT
Tile technology
Active-Semi's PAC platform has leveraged experience in analog power management and conversion technology along with its patented tile-based analog array methodology.
The power conversion device, most notably designed into Apple’s iPad, iPhone and iPod car chargers, comes with built-in high voltage field-effect transistor and offers a complete high efficiency solution featuring accurate current limit, low standby power and fast dynamic response.
Designed in the PAC platform are Active-Semi’s integrated high voltage power drivers, patented all-in-one power conversion solution, and easily configurable front-end.
Another key element in the PAC platform is the company’s patented tile technology.
Wang said the complex design process required for designing a conversion IC. “For analog/mixed signal ICs, one needs to rely on EDA tools, creating a unique layout for every design. Naturally, once the design is done, you can’t reuse the unique layout for another application.”
To allow quick silicon spins, Active-Semi came up with a Lego-like system that includes pre-defined registers, bus structures, drivers, signal conditioning and other building blocks. The chip is sandwiched between “a system tile” and “a power tile,” which allows “a Tetris-like tight fit,” for the power application controller, explained XuCheng Wang.
The tile technology was originally developed by Active-Semi’s CTO Huynh, a part of the company’s extensive IP portfolio. “When I saw this tile technology, I got quite excited,” said XuCheng Wang. When he joined the company, XuCheng Wang studied the IP portfolio and realized this could quickly turn into the company’s new product.
Active-Semi kicked off the PAC project in June, 2011. True to the nimble and aggressive sense of speed typical of the Chinese fabless industry, the company was able to test samples in the first quarter of 2012.
At a time when big corporations like TI are mired in acquisitions and focused on tactical shifts in their business, innovation sits on the back burner. XuCheng Wang remembers struggling at TI to get resources and kick off projects that eventually ended up in R&D limbo.
Active-Semi, which owns 89 U.S. patents and has 25 pending. “At a time when innovations are slowing at large U.S. companies, it’s time for small startups to [start] re-inventing technology and destroying the old model,” he said.
The company is offering a limited supply of PAC platform samples now along with hardware and software design kits. The company will start volume production in early 2013 with volume unit pricing ranging from 80 cents to $2.80.
Related stories:
Active-Semi's PAC platform has leveraged experience in analog power management and conversion technology along with its patented tile-based analog array methodology.
The power conversion device, most notably designed into Apple’s iPad, iPhone and iPod car chargers, comes with built-in high voltage field-effect transistor and offers a complete high efficiency solution featuring accurate current limit, low standby power and fast dynamic response.
Designed in the PAC platform are Active-Semi’s integrated high voltage power drivers, patented all-in-one power conversion solution, and easily configurable front-end.
Another key element in the PAC platform is the company’s patented tile technology.
Wang said the complex design process required for designing a conversion IC. “For analog/mixed signal ICs, one needs to rely on EDA tools, creating a unique layout for every design. Naturally, once the design is done, you can’t reuse the unique layout for another application.”
To allow quick silicon spins, Active-Semi came up with a Lego-like system that includes pre-defined registers, bus structures, drivers, signal conditioning and other building blocks. The chip is sandwiched between “a system tile” and “a power tile,” which allows “a Tetris-like tight fit,” for the power application controller, explained XuCheng Wang.
Active-Semi's Power Application Controller (PAC) Platform
The tile technology was originally developed by Active-Semi’s CTO Huynh, a part of the company’s extensive IP portfolio. “When I saw this tile technology, I got quite excited,” said XuCheng Wang. When he joined the company, XuCheng Wang studied the IP portfolio and realized this could quickly turn into the company’s new product.
Active-Semi kicked off the PAC project in June, 2011. True to the nimble and aggressive sense of speed typical of the Chinese fabless industry, the company was able to test samples in the first quarter of 2012.
At a time when big corporations like TI are mired in acquisitions and focused on tactical shifts in their business, innovation sits on the back burner. XuCheng Wang remembers struggling at TI to get resources and kick off projects that eventually ended up in R&D limbo.
Active-Semi, which owns 89 U.S. patents and has 25 pending. “At a time when innovations are slowing at large U.S. companies, it’s time for small startups to [start] re-inventing technology and destroying the old model,” he said.
The company is offering a limited supply of PAC platform samples now along with hardware and software design kits. The company will start volume production in early 2013 with volume unit pricing ranging from 80 cents to $2.80.
Related stories:
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GREAT-Terry
10/25/2012 2:37 AM EDT
What is this different from MCU crowded with analog functions? I think nowadays many MCU has included most of the analog components described in this article.
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mdsousa
10/25/2012 3:14 PM EDT
Hi Terry -
The family of PAC devices from Active-Semi have a set of custom-designed Analog peripherals that are meaningful for specific consumer electronics and industrial control applications.
For example, for high-voltage drive and control applications there are the industry's first integrated 600V gate drivers for 3-phase half-bridges, dual automated ADC sequencers and integrated amplifiers for analog signal conditioning used for control sampling.
In addition to the analog capabilities, there are a rich set of digital peripherals for use with the industry-standard ARM Cortex-M0 MCU.
The level of integration in the family allows systems designers a much easier platform to design with so that they can focus on the truly value-added features of their product.
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