What kind of work is bieng done in analog IC design these days?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion highlights the current trends in analog IC design, emphasizing the growing importance of delta-sigma data converters as a key area of interest in the industry. There is a concern that power supply design is shifting towards digital signal processing (DSP), which may limit opportunities for traditional analog control in power regulators. The conversation also raises the question of whether analog designers should broaden their knowledge across various domains, such as memory circuits, operational amplifiers, charge pumps, and data converters, to remain competitive. Additionally, the need for a solid understanding of analog principles and transmission line theory is underscored, especially as chip designs operate at high frequencies, where the distinction between analog and digital becomes less clear. Overall, the focus is on identifying enduring areas of research and development in analog IC design that will remain relevant in the future.
phoenixosu
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I'm starting my masters in analog IC design and am trying to get a feel for what is big in the industry for analog IC design. I have been told that delta-sigma data converters are the biggest area of interest right now. I was hoping that IC power supply design would be an option for me though it sounds as though much of the control of power regulators is being given over to DSP and less to analog control. I know that any instructor/professor I ask will tell me that their area is the biggest area there is.

Would it still be advisable for an analog designer to have more of a breadth of understanding for industry (memory circuits, opamps, charge pumps, data converters, etc)?

The thrust of my question is really "what are the big areas of R&D for analog IC design right now that will persist for a while".
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Anything high speed is analogue even if it's digital
It's a big problem getting designers who have any idea of analogue principles or transmission line theory - when you are trying to run a chip at several GHz nothing is digital anymore
 

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