Is it Better to Design Your Own Semiconductors, Apple Might Thinks So

Is it Better to Design Your Own Semiconductors, Apple Might Thinks So

Last year, Apple surprised some in the industry when it developed its own custom CPU, namely the package-on-package, system-on-chip A4, rather than use similar devices available off of the proverbial shelf.

The A4, which Apple engineers designed using an ARM Cortex-A8 CPU and a PowerVR GPU, emphasized power conservation. The CPU, which Samsung is said to have fabricated for Apple, appeared in the iPad, iPhone 4, and Apple TV. More recently, Apple has announced the A5, which is included in the iPad 2 and may be on board the much expected iPhone 5. The A5 is supposed to be a significant improvement over its predecessor, and reportedly adds something like 512 MB of low-power DDR2 to the silicon stack while doubling performance.

Will Apple Develop CMOS Image Sensors Too

Now, Apple is, perhaps, expanding its penchant for designing semiconductors to image sensors. Recently, the company has hired several engineers and managers with significant CMOS image sensor development experience. Most notably is Apple's new Senior Director of Sensor Technology, Terry Gilton.

Gilton — whom I knew professionally when we both worked at Micron Technology, but have not spoken to in more than three years — was the linchpin of Micron's successful, mobile-focused CMOS imaging program a few years ago. In fact, Micron's sensor business was arguably the clear industry leader when Gilton served as the division's vice president of technology.

Apple has also hired several other CMOS image sensor veterans, including Senior Technologist Rick Baer, who had been a key member of the image sensor research and development team at Micron and at Aptina Imaging, and Camera Design Engineer, Kenta Williams, who is known to have extensive experience working with cameras for mobile devices.

Whatever Apple has planned for image sensors, it is interesting that the company may be choosing to do its own semiconductor design again, and to some extent begs the question of when design and development engineers should consider custom or semi-custom solutions verses “standard” chips.

Armando Roggio