Maxim Reaches Milestone with Shipment of One Billionth Automotive IC

Vehicles become increasingly energy efficient as time goes by. However, they also have more intricate electronic demands placed on them as customers seek enhanced safety, efficiency and convenience.

Leveraging its expertise in integration benefitting drivers and customers alike, Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. has recently shipped its one billionth integrated circuit (IC) to the automotive market. These ICs improve keyless access, safety, infotainment, and powertrain applications.

The company’s automotive electronic products continue to be in high demand and signify the fastest-growing segment of Maxim’s revenues. Automotive, which presently represents 16 percent of the company’s sales, was approximately five percent of revenues in 2012. This enabled the company to grow revenues above the company average.

Thanks to the MAX9286 gigabit multimedia serial link (GMSL) deserializer, it enables the design of surround-view systems for ADAS with fewer components and faster time to market. It also receives and automatically synchronizes video from up to four cameras.

Meanwhile, the MAX16984 automotive DC-DC converter with USB charge emulator rapidly and reliably charges any portable device over USB in a car with a single IC.

The MAX2173 DAB RF to Bits® tuner for digital audio broadcast (DAB) applications enables software-defined radio (SDR) through its RF to Bits architecture. The beauty of this is that it considerably increases system flexibility, saves space and lowers the bill of materials.

Randall Wollschlager, Vice President of Automotive at Maxim Integrated, said that the shipment of their one billionth automotive IC is a crucial milestone for Maxim. He revealed that automotive electronics system designers are increasingly looking to them for leading edge solutions for vehicle access, power control, infotainment and safety.

IHS claims that the automotive semiconductor market is one of the quickest growing semiconductor markets with a CAGR (14-19) of 5.6 percent compared to 2.3 percent for the overall semiconductor market in the last three years with solid double-digit growth.

Maxim’s advanced automotive solutions meet the Automotive Safety Integrity Levels defined by ISO 26262, and are designed for a tough operating environment while offering higher integration, a wide operating temperature range and low/high voltage protection.

Maxim is slated to display some of its automotive solutions at next year’s CES.