From IP to fabless
The IP approach refers to circuit designers that develop subsystems that are sold to fabless and fabbed suppliers for integration into IC designs. The market was initially spurred by the success of processor core designers such as ARM and MIPS. In many cases, this optimism has not borne fruit.
Jennic's single-silicon-chip integrates radio, microcontroller and peripherals. The device provides robust, secure wireless transmission with long battery life for wireless enabled sensor and control applications including residential and industrial control, personal health care, computer/gaming peripherals and consumer electronics. The company sees the shift as being driven by customers who want to reduce time-to-market by eliminating the need to develop and prove their own ICs.
Jim Lindop, CEO and founder of Jennic, reports: "We have demonstrated functional first silicon to strategic customers - we are working with world-class manufacturing partners and will be delivering quantities approaching cellular phone numbers by the end of the decade."
