Altera Integrated Circuits Distributor Are Involved In Offering IC to Most Valued Customers

Altera Integrated Circuits Distributor Are Involved In Offering IC to Most Valued Customers Integrated circuits (ICs) are a collection of electronic components – such as resistors, transistors, capacitors etc. you find on just about every circuit board – all stuffed into a tiny chip and connected together to achieve a common goal.

They are the keystone and extremely compact device, constructed as a single unit on a small piece of semiconducting material. An ICs are popularly called “silicon chips” since silicon is the main raw material used in making ICs. Many Altera integrated circuits distributor are involved in offering a wide range of integrated circuits to the most valued customers. Therefore, ICs can be used across various industries, for instance, aerospace, automotive, telecom, computers, and so on. As ICs along with other components and connectors are mounted on the printed circuit board (PCB) and cater an application. A very common use of a PCB is as the motherboard of a computer.

Types of integrated circuits: ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit): ASIC designed for a specific application and performs the same function throughout its lifetime and they do not have a processor. Other features of ASIC include:    

Design cycle is time-consuming and expensive Manufactured in higher volumes High speed and low power consumption Can be digital, analog, or both

ASSP (Application Specific Standard Part): These are designed for a specific application but not customized for a system or customer as it can be used by multiple companies. Applications of ASSP include Ethernet controllers, PCI-E controllers and USB interface among others.

SOC (System on Chip): SOC incorporates a complete system; it contains a processor, memory, peripherals, and software. Microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor or graphics processor can be the processor of SOC. FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array): FPGA is suitable for designs that need frequent customization and does not have a processor. Their design cycle is inexpensive and less time-

consuming, suitable for lower volume designs. They have low speed and less power consumption.

Programmable SoC or SoC FPGA: An IC that integrates processor and FPGA architecture is called a programmable SoC or SoC FPGA. It is suitable for designs that need frequent customization with processing capabilities. Design cycle of Programmable SOC is less timeconsuming and less expensive. Because they are reprogrammable, it possesses a lower risk, speed, and lower power consumption.

Microprocessor: It does not contain memory like RAM, ROM or any other peripherals. They are very expensive and suitable for larger designs to perform complex tasks. Other characteristics include the higher speed with higher power consumption.

Microcontroller: Microcontroller IC contains a processor along with memory like RAM or ROM and other peripheral. Since all the peripherals are present in the single IC so it is compact and suitable for smaller design. As well it performs less complex tasks and cheaper than the microprocessor.

An integrated circuit can be used across various industrial products. Therefore, Altera integrated circuits distributor meets with the potential customers to identify the features they are looking for and prepare a list of functional requirements. Once the functional requirement is decided, the process of designing the architecture of the system starts. The manufacturing process of an IC is not 100% error-free and once IC is manufactured, it is checked for any manufacturing defects.