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ANALYSIS
Analogue products can be split into two separate
groups, standard linear products and application
specific products. In each product application they
can be either high performance or standard
analogue. Currently standard products represent
around 65% of the total number of products, but
with the increased demand for better performance,
high performance analogue are expected to
increase over the next five years. Among these
products are operational amplifiers, which
interconnect circuits by amplifying voltage and are
vital blocks in any signal chain. The worldwide
market for these products is estimated around $3
billion and is growing annually 8% per year. High
performance products in this area include high
speed amplifiers, broadband applications, and
precision products used in industrial and consumer
applications. Comparators are another general
purpose analogue block used in signal chains. The
market for comparators is quite small compared to
other analogue categories coming in at only $232
million in 2008 with the market reaching $263
million by 2013. Data converters are another in the Asia Pacific region. In automotive
essential analogue technology for the industrial and applications, the use of sensors continues to drive
wireless communication markets. They convert signal chain analogue demand. The market for
signals from digital to analogue and back again. computer specific analogue components is also
The global market for data converters is the second noticing increased growth, with the majority of
fastest growing market for analogue behind power revenue coming from storage specific products.
and is estimated at over $3 billion for 2008 and is Other computer specific products, such as motor
growing at over 12% per year. High performance control devices and analogue front end (AFE) ICs
data converters are now in great demand with an used in computer peripherals and printers
annual growth rate of more than 15%. This is constituted the remainder.
driven by the performance necessary for wireless
base stations, medical imaging, and high end data Consumer specific analogue components which
acquisition systems. ADC, or analogue to digital primarily serve the burgeoning digital audio and
converters sales make up around 60% of the total visual segments are noticing growth rates of
analogue data converter market, with DACs roughly 10% annually. This section includes class
(digital to analogue) coming in at 29 %. AB and D audio amplifiers, audio DACs, video
amplifiers, and buffers. This also includes products
Interface devices represent another portion of the that integrate an AFE signal chain such as white
market that connects electronics to other goods, personal electronics, and small appliances.
electronics. The computer market is a large
consumption segment for interface technologies Along with power, both wired and wireless
such as USB, PCI, and PCI Express. New products communications ASSPs are the largest analogue
in PCI Express are rapidly growing in the market category in terms of revenue share. Such devices
because of their performance and ‘green’ nature included in this segment are wireless transceivers
which consumes less energy overall. Power and power and low noise amplifiers which are used
integrated circuits represent one of the fastest in all mobile handsets, GPS receivers, consumer
growing segments in analogue due to multifunction applications, and more. The communications
portable devices such as the iPhone which requires section is naturally leading this growth but more
separate power management for each function. and more devices are being utilised in computers
There is a great variety of different power ICs but and other sections where wireless LAN use has
the majority of the market belongs to low dropout grown. The fastest growth category for
regulators (LDOs) and switching regulators which communications ASSPs continues to be power
combined account for more than 75% of the power amplification, where prices have increased due to
IC market. the need for support of multiple air standards.
The Automotive ASSP market is another large The last analogue product category belongs to
market for analogue ICs with a great array of those in the industrial ASSP section, these are
products that have been optimised for use in the products that have been designed specifically for
automotive industry. These include special purpose use for industry, such as ATE, medical, and motor
converters, transceivers, receivers (for sensor controls used in manufacturing. These products,
inputs), and motor control products used alongside which require long life cycles, make power
microcontrollers. Increased growth in this market consumption a critical requirement, much like the
stems heavily from new manufacturing and demand other market segments discussed.
www.euroasiasemiconductor.com October 2008
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