Introduction
Silizium Circuits, an Analog Radio Frequency Intellectual Property (IP) focused R&D venture, is reshaping the semiconductor landscape in India.
With a crystal-clear vision, Silizium Circuits aims to replace the country’s reliance on imported Analog RF IPs by 2025. Their relentless commitment to IP development, chip design, and system innovation empowers them to lead the charge in meeting the evolving needs of the global semiconductor industry. As pioneers in this space, Silizium Circuits envisions a future where homegrown IPs drive India’s semiconductor prowess, establishing their legacy in the thriving Indian tech ecosystem.
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Startup story
The story of how Silzium Circuits was founded is quite inspiring. Two friends, Dr Arun Ashok and Rijin John, with an impressive academic background and a common vision for advancing analogue radio frequency IP development in India, came up with an interesting semiconductor startup, Silzium Circuits.
Dr Arun Ashok is a Senior Researcher with Juelich Research centre, Germany and his master’s from TU Munich in Communication engineering. He has been a former research scientist at ISRO and has a PhD in RFIC design. He possesses more than 10 years of expertise in RFIC design through experiences in companies like Huawei, Infineon technologies and as a RF IC designer in RWTH Achen university.
Rijin John has been a research partner with Bell Labs India, with 8 years of experience in telecommunication and 6 years of entrepreneurial experience and protagonist in Harvard and Ivey Business Case Studies. He has is a graduate in ECE from Rajgiri school of engineering and holds a Post graduate diploma in VLSI design from NIT Calicut. It worked as a software engineer, product manager, and business analyst. He has also filed multiple patents and received strategic investments for his ventures in semiconductors.
The two friends met through their mutual interest in RF technology and decided to collaborate on creating a new IP company that would cater to the evolving requirements of the semiconductor industry globally. They named their company Silzium Circuits, which is derived from the word “silicon” and “circuit”.
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Services provided by Silzium circuits
Silzium circuits provides services related to analog radio frequency intellectual property (IP) for the semiconductor industry. According to their website, they offer the following services:
IP Development: They design and develop custom analog, RF, mixed signal and digital IP solutions for various applications such as wireless communication, radar, satellite, IoT, etc.
Chip Design: They design and fabricate high-performance analog and RF chips using advanced technologies such as CMOS, GaN, BiCMOS, etc.
System Design: They design and integrate analog and RF systems for various domains such as aerospace, defense, automotive, medical, etc.
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Products offered by Silzium circuits.
Silizium Circuits creates advanced technology that improves how devices like GPS receivers, cell phones, and satellites work. They enhance GPS accuracy and reduce costs with their Front-End Modules (FEM). The GNSS Baseband SoC ensures precise tracking with low power usage.
Their compact RF GNSS Receivers offer high performance with minimal components. Silizium also provides Mixed Signal IP solutions, including low-power PLLs and high-resolution Sigma Delta converters.
Front End Module (FEM): Their FEM solutions are aimed at GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receivers, 4G/5G communication systems, Satellite systems, and SDR Front ends.
Silizium Circuits creates advanced technology that improves how devices like GPS receivers, cell phones, and satellites work.Additionally,their specialty is in making the front part of these devices more efficient and powerful. For example, their solutions make GPS more accurate and cheaper, and they also enhance communication and satellite systems by reducing costs and improving flexibility.
GNSS Baseband SoC:
The company offers a smart GNSS Baseband SoC (System on Chip), powered by a digital IP consisting of 34 correlators for accurate detection and tracking in low-noise scenarios. Their technology, adaptable to different customer needs, ensures efficient GPS/NAVIC signal processing, enabling quick fixes while keeping power consumption in check.
Its programmable IF (Intermediate Frequency) allows smooth communication with various constellations, supporting multiple formats for seamless compatibility. Additionally, available in both FPGA and ASIC versions, this design incorporates the indigenous RISC-V Shakthi microprocessor, offering support for GPS and NAVIC bands.
RF GNSS Receivers: Silizium Circuits crafts compact and high-performance multi-band GNSS receivers, requiring minimal external components. Furthermore,supporting L1, L5/L2, and S bands for simultaneous reception of multiple constellations, their receivers boast a high dynamic range to combat jammers.
Silizium GNSS RF Receivers are available as Silicon IP, integrating seamlessly with RFIC front ends or as complete discrete solutions supporting GPS, NAVIC, and GLONASS bands.
Mixed Signal IP solutions:
Low power low noise PLLs: Silizium offerings of PLLs are in two categories.
The All-Digital Phase Locked Loop (ADPLL) IP from Silizium Circuits features 1-2GHz fully synthesizable PLLs for consumer electronics applications.Additionaly, Our IP provides full customization to the foundry node of choice and offers low power low noise performance.
High performance fractional PLLs from Silizium features Analog PLL ensuring high performance-cost ratio featuring low noise for communication and navigation applications and low power.
Analog Digital Converters
Their Sigma Delta converter IP provides high resolution with low power and cost.Additionally, oversampled single channel 13-bit ADC features programmability to trade performance with power and suits applications as intended.
Silzium Circuits in News
Silizium Circuits has achieved several remarkable milestones in recent times. They were selected as one of the top eight qualifiers for the NXP FabCI 2021 Cohort, which offers a two-year Incubation & Acceleration Program. Silizium Circuits also secured incubation at Maker Village, the largest electronic hardware incubator and ESDM in Kochi. Moreover, they received the Kerala Startup Mission Idea Grant, recognizing their innovative potential.
The joining of Mr. Antarpreet Singh & Dr. Priyadarsan Patra as a board advisor further strengthens their expertise. Finally, they were shortlisted among the top 100 semi-finalists for the prestigious Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge.
Conclusion
Thus, Silzium circuits emerges as a trailblazer in India’s analog RF IP sector. Additionally,their commitment to indigenous chip design and system innovation aims to break the reliance on imported technology. With cutting-edge solutions like FEM, GNSS Baseband SoC, RF GNSS Receivers, and Mixed Signal IP, Silizium sets a new standard. Their recent achievements underscore their potential, positioning them as key players in India’s semiconductor revolution.
