RE: Silicon as the New PCB?

DAB — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 20:15:31 GMT

Hi Dave,

I must point out that Analog design will never die! Digital is a subset of Analog.

As for putting more functions on silicon, a lot of us designers have pushed for that development for decades. One reason was the time it took to layout the boards, sending them off to be made, correcting manufacturing or design errors and then finally getting down to debugging the device we designed.

Granted, the new CAD tools have made the board development process easier, but for a long time it was just too cost prohibitive to do.

I think a lot of designers would like to design a circuit and have a silicon chip pop out of a machine ready to hook up and test. I see this capability evolving from the technology, but until then, we must still work with SOC, IC's and all of the other bits to make a working product.

That said, I am also eager to hear from others on their experience with the SOC chips you mentioned. It would be interesting to see someone do a comparison of the chips to see if they are indeed solving the same problem or if they just have similar specs.

Good post.

DAB