Generic functions that are typically integrated include:

• High Precision Analogue Front Ends
• Transimpedance AmplifiersComparators
• Band Gap References
• Charge Pumps
• Voltage Doublers
• Voltage Triplers
• Drivers
• Level Shifters
• Filters
• VCOs
• Multiplexers, Demultiplexers
• ADC/DAC, Sigma Delta, Dual Slope, Flash, SAR
• Voltage References
• Voltage Regulators
• Watchdog
• Oscillators
• Current-Mode Circuits
• Switched Capacitors
• Amplifiers, Differential Amplifiers
• Receivers
• Transceivers
• Video Mixers
• Crosspoint Switch
• Synthesisers
• Dividers, Multi-Modulus Dividers
• Prescalers
• Mixers

Analogue Design Complexity

Analogue design finds analogies between the physical behaviour of groups of electronic components and the operations needed to construct the desired system. To allow this exploitation of the natural behaviours of groups of components, internal signals are mostly of continuous-value, in contrast to digital design. Although not unprincipled, analogue design is often thought of as more of an `art' compared to digital design. Even many predominantly digital systems require some analogue circuitry at least to deal with the interface to the world.

Analogue design can extract more functionality from the components than can digital, because more of the components' behaviour is put to use. Especially potent is the use of real time, rather than representing time as a computational variable like any other, as in digital systems. For some tasks (where `task' includes nonbehavioural requirements) analogue design is clearly superior. In other cases, the choice of analogue or digital design is also strongly influenced by the ease of the design process itself, which often favours digital.

The disadvantages of analogue design are the obverse of the advantages of digital design identified above. Although system-level design can be at an abstract level, analogue circuit design must necessarily consider properties of the physical components, and their interactions, in greater depth than for digital design. The second disadvantage is that stability and large noise margins are more difficult to guarantee.

This is why, over the last 26 years, Swindon Silicon Systems have built up a highly experienced analogue design team that are able to offer over 250 years of experience. Creative and inspired solutions backed by methodical analysis and simulation give our customers the ASICs they need to succeed.