This section provides an overview for adcs as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 13 adc manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked adc companies as of November, 2024: 1.Spectrum Control, 2.STMicroelectronics, 3.Renesas Electronics Corporation..
Table of Contents
An ADC is a device that converts analog data into digital data.
Most information in the real world is continuous analog data, which must be converted into digital data expressed in terms of 0s and 1s to be processed by a computer. The opposite is called an ADC, which converts digital data to analog data.
ADC is available in various architectures (conversion methods) with different sampling rates and resolutions. Therefore, it is necessary to select the appropriate one according to the purpose.
ADCs are used in numerous applications in our daily lives. Specifically, they are used in digital cameras and audio equipment. They convert analog data such as video and sound into digital data for output.
Various electronic devices need to use analog signals as input information, but the internal processing is done with digital signals. Therefore, ADCs are required. ADCs are installed in devices that handle light, temperature, etc.
High-speed ADCs with high sampling rates are being developed for digital cameras and audio equipment, which require high-speed transmission.
The conversion of analog data into digital data by ADCs is divided into three major stages.
Sampling rate and resolution are indicators of ADC performance. The sampling rate represents the speed of conversion; the higher the value, the faster the conversion.
Resolution is an indicator of how finely the data can be expressed and is expressed in bits (the number of binary digits in the encoding). The higher the value, the smoother and more accurate the representation.
There is a trade-off between sampling rate and resolution, whereby resolution is sacrificed for high-speed sampling, while a slower sampling rate is required to achieve high resolution.
The resolution of ADCs are concept of how finely the input analog signal can be quantified. The unit is expressed in bits, where 8-bit data is broken down to the eighth power of 2 and expressed as a number from 0 to 255. In general, the number of bits is often a multiple of 8.
If the analog input is a number from 0 to 2 and the ADCs have an 8-bit resolution, then 2/(2^8-1) = 2/255 = 0.007843. From the above, the minimum resolving power of an 8-bit-ADCs that can input from 0 to 2 is 0.007843. As high-precision ADCs, 32-bit, and 64-bit products are in practical use.
In ADCs, the sampling rate is an important index as well as resolution; the sampling rate of ADCs is how often it samples an analog quantity. This is the speed at which the Analog-to-Digital converters operate.
By the Nyquist Theorem, we know that ADCs require a frequency that is at least twice the frequency of the input analog signal. Therefore, the sampling rate of the ADCs is set to 2.2 times or more than the input analog signal frequency.
ADCs are subject to errors. For example, a 16-bit ADCs with an analog input of 0 to 2 has an error of 2/(2^16-1)=0.0000030518. The degree of accuracy at which sampling is required is determined by the above calculation.
It is important to note that the performance of the ADCs does not always directly translate into the performance of the device; input protection circuits, amplifiers, attenuators, etc. are provided before the input terminals of the ADCs, where minute signals are handled.
If the peripheral circuits of the ADCs are not carefully selected, the performance of high-precision ADCs may not be fully demonstrated.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Spectrum Control serves several markets including the wireless communication, military communication, aerospace, and high temperature industrial markets. Among the individual components Spectrum Control manufactures and develops are EMI filters; subsystems for signal conditioning and RF distribution; components including power dividers, limiters, filters, amplifiers, diode drivers, and rotary joints; as well secure communications solutions and rugged devices.
Microchip Technology Incorporated was incorporated in 1989 and is headquartered in Chandler, Arizona. The company is a developer and manufacturer of control solutions for global markets including the automotive, industrial, communications, human-machine interface, and connectivity industries. The company’s products include microcontrollers, field-programmable gate array products, MOSFET and radio frequency products, and both wired and wireless communications products. The company’s services include wafer foundry and assembly services, test subcontracting manufacturing services, development tools for enabling system designers to program microcontrollers and processors, and timing system products.
Incorporated in 1965, Analog Devices, Inc. designs, manufactures, tests, and markets integrated circuits (ICs), software, and subsystems that leverage analog, mixed-signal, and digital signal processing technologies. The company provides data converter products, power management and reference products for power conversion, driver monitoring, sequencing, and energy management applications in the automotive, communications, industrial, and high-end consumer markets. In addition, the company provides digital signal processing and system products for high-speed numeric calculations. It serves clients in the industrial, automotive, consumer, instrumentation, aerospace, and communications markets.
Cissoid, founded in 2000 and headquartered in Mont-Saint-Guibert, Walloon Region, is a manufacturer of high temperature semiconductors. They deliver standard products and custom solutions for power management, power conversion and signal conditioning in extreme temperature and harsh environments. Their solutions range from system-on-chip to complete SiC and GaN based inverter platforms to support an ever-growing range of e-mobility and high-power applications. The company has been supplying products to leaders in the Oil & Gas, aeronautic, Industrial and automotive markets.
Nisshinbo Micro Devices Inc., established in 1959, and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer of semiconductors and electronic components. The company specializes in producing integrated circuits, discrete semiconductors, optoelectronic devices, which caters to industries such as telecommunications, automotive, and consumer electronics. The company holds ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 certifications, ensuring quality in their products which are used for various applications, including wireless communication, automotive systems, and industrial automation, providing crucial electronic components for advanced technologies in various industrial and commercial sectors.
Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation, founded in 1980, is a Japanese manufacturer headquartered in Chiyoda City, Tokyo, specializing in sensing devices and integrated circuit (IC) products. The company’s product offerings include magnetic sensors, current and gas sensors, audio devices, and specialty devices. These products have diverse applications, such as in personal electronics, where AKM provides compact and low-consumption features for sound and magnetic sensing. They offer CO2 sensors and transceiver IC for millimeter-wave radar with high spatial recognition for smart homes. Additionally, AKM provides rotation angle sensors in industrial equipment like robots and motors to achieve accuracy and off-axis alignment simultaneously.
Teledyne e2v Semiconductors, founded in Chelmsford, England in 1947 is a manufacturer of semiconductor devices and power radio frequency solutions. The company's product portfolio includes RF Power solutions, Hi-rel semiconductor solutions, image sensors, cmos image sensors, and CCD image sensors. They serve markets such as medical, mining, food processing, vehicle manufacturing, and aerospace avionics. The company has offices in, Grenoble (France), Seville (Spain) and Beijing (China) and provide services including product selection, installation, preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair.
Renesas Electronics Corporation was established in 2002 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Renesas is a global research, design, and manufacturer of semiconductors used in industries spanning automotive, consumer electronics, the internet of things, power & energy, and industrial sectors. Renesas manufactures both analog and digital products. Analog products include amplifiers, audio & video devices, data converters, PLC, and switches & multiplexers. Digital products include microcontrollers, memory components, sensors, wireless connectivity products, and others. Renesas also offers design resources such as kits, development tools, partner programs, and design tools.
tenx Technology Inc., established in 1997 and based in New Taipei City, Taiwan, is a manufacturer of integrated circuits (IC). The company's products are utilized in peripheral controls, personal computers, and communication and consumer applications. As a silicon solution provider that invests on research and development, tenx has offices located in China and Hong Kong. They also provide technical support for their customers as their solutions are also customizable according to client needs.
A10 Networks, Inc., established in 2004 and headquartered in San Jose, California, is a manufacturer of security and infrastructure solutions for on-premises, hybrid cloud, and edge-cloud environments. The company specializes in application delivery controllers, threat protection systems, and carrier-grade networking. Its products include convergent firewalls, TLS/SSL visibility, and DDoS protection. Its convergent firewall ensures network security and protects against cyber threats and unauthorized access. Its TLS/SSL visibility facilitates encrypted traffic inspection, ensuring threat detection and mitigation. The company has received Best Anti-DDoS Vendor of the Year awards.
Teledyne e2v, established in 1947 and headquartered in Chelmsford, England, is a manufacturer of components and subsystems. The company possess various core capabilities, including semiconductor design and processing, covering various components like data converters, microprocessors, imaging devices, and more. It also specializes in high-power Radio Frequency (RF) solutions, including magnetrons, thyratrons, and microwave power modules. It specializes in engineered systems and integration, offering non-contact deactivation and security systems, making the company a qualified provider for applications in medical, science, aerospace, defense, and industrial applications.
ST Micro Electronics is a global semiconductor company serving customers with innovations to have a positive impact on people's lives. Their product line is micro electronic systems, such as switches, controllers, sensors and drivers. The main selling point of ST Micro Electronics is its provision of sustainable products, and introducing their electronics to create a more sustainable world. The company, as well as providing the electronic devices, also provides software and support, ensuring that all fields are covered to provide a fully provide a supported and strong relationship with their customer base. ST Micro Electronics believe that technology plays a key role in helping to solve environmental and social challenges, which is why their semiconductor technologies start with their employees, their customers and partners.
Agile Analog is an analog IP manufacturer founded in 2017 in Cambridgeshire, The United Kingdom. The company created Composa™, its own methodology. Its core strength is customization, where each item manufactured aims to satisfy each of its client's needs in an optimized manner. In addition, its IP products offer various functions, from sensing and security to power management and data conversion. The venture's team is composed by analog engineers, semiconductor executives and chip designers with experience in the semiconductor IP industry.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Spectrum Control |
19.0%
|
2 | Renesas Electronics Corporation. |
11.9%
|
3 | STMicroelectronics |
11.5%
|
4 | Agile Analog |
10.3%
|
5 | Microchip Technology Inc. |
10.3%
|
6 | Teledyne e2v Semiconductors |
8.3%
|
7 | Nisshinbo Micro Devices Inc. |
7.1%
|
8 | Cissoid |
7.1%
|
9 | Analog Devices, Inc. |
5.6%
|
10 | Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation |
4.4%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the adc page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 3 | 37.5% |
Japan | 3 | 37.5% |
Belgium | 1 | 12.5% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 12.5% |