The convenience of a complete system-on-chip (SoC) simplifies equipment designers’ work. Yet despite comprising millions of analog and digital circuit elements, SoCs still depend on discrete logic components for innovating with extremely tight time-to-market.
SoCs are extremely capable semiconductor devices, with more and more logic functionality integrated generation after generation. However, SoCs are unable to deliver the function flexibility offered by discrete logic. Once a SoC design is finalized, its functionality cannot be changed without a costly rework. To extend or modify functionality between planned SoC redesigns is one role that Standard Logic (12 pins or more) and Mini Logic (up to 10 pins) devices from Nexperia can play. Our products solve the many little issues that bigger systems depend on.
Logic fast-tracks innovation
The majority of smart devices – smartphones, smart speakers and IoT devices – all have very short design cycles, designed to meet the extremely tight time-to-market requirements consumers now demand. New models are released every few months and features are constantly evolving (second-screen, dual-camera, dual tone flash, multiple speakers, and so on).
To effectively manage this process design enhancements are made on-the-fly to address consumer’s demands and incorporate the required technology for the latest must-have capability. While eventually these features and functions will be integrated into the main chipset, a variety of differentiating features can quickly and easily be implemented through logic and other discretes. With narrow market windows and intensifying competition, utilizing discrete logic functions is an essential solution to win market-share and users’ hearts. When it comes to consumer electronics, using the right logic solutions is a matter of make-or-break.
As basic as logic components might sound, their incredible variety and diversity of package options ensures virtually any interconnection problem can be solved regardless of the available board space. In fact, Nexperia’s logic portfolio comprises more than four thousand solutions marketed in 25 different package options, allowing customers to solve each problem optimally and in a minimal footprint.
Low-power solutions to any logic challenge
While their individual functions might be simple, logic components meet today’s advanced system needs, by taking a minimal toll on the battery and adding numerous features. For mobile phones and the next generation of wearable devices, various logic components can be combined or various functions can even be configured in a single logic package, preserving power and footprint requirements.
To meet these ever-increasing constraints, innovations in logic technology and packaging – such as Nexperia’s AXP family in leadless packages like X2SON – are vital. Nexperia markets over thirty AXP logic types designed for voltage nodes 2.5 V, 1.8 V, 1.5 V, 1.2 V as well as the ultra-low 0.8 V. We also offer more than one hundred types in our X2SON leadless packages portfolio (4-, 5-, 6- and 8-pad formats with single, double and triple-gate logic functions in package footprints as small as 0.36 mm2).
Steady in the Billions
A full understanding of the cyclical nature of application innovation helps maintain a steady demand for standard and mini logic solutions. At Nexperia, we continue to invest in both logic innovation and mature technologies. As the logic volume leader globally, shipping over six billion logic solutions every year, we also understand the need for reliable yet flexible supply. As long as manufacturers need to keep offering the latest features in their electronic devices, Nexperia’s logic solutions will be invaluable to their innovation process.
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