ROHM, a world-renowned semiconductor manufacturer, has entered into a cooperation agreement with the InsTItute of Microelectronics (IME), a global research institute of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). The two companies will jointly research artificial intelligence (AI) chips that detect device anomalies on sensor nodes for a new generation of factories.

In the past, device abnormality detection generally sent a large amount of information from a plurality of sensors to a computer or a server in the device for processing. The purpose of this study is to mount an anomaly detection algorithm that has been processed by a server on a semiconductor chip and process sensor information in a sensor node, thereby greatly reducing the overall power consumption of the system, and providing a highly versatile anomaly detection function that can be used for all devices. .

In recent years, in manufacturing plants, "predictive" of the abnormality of the device is detected in advance based on data acquired from logs and sensors of the device, so as to take "predictive maintenance" of measures such as repair and replacement preparation before the failure occurs ( The concept of "PredicTIve Maintenance) is becoming more and more popular. This predictive maintenance is widely used in IoT technologies such as various sensors and sensor nodes for sensing device states, wireless modules for transmitting data acquired by sensors to servers, and software for processing data. Especially in the field of software, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) derivative technology has been increasing on the basis of previous statistical processing.

However, in order to make full use of the results of such software, it is necessary to continuously transmit a large amount of data from the sensor. The current problem is that the wireless communication technology for WSN (Wireless Sensor Network)*1) has insufficient communication speed when continuously transmitting a large amount of data. It may not be able to cope with the number of sensors that are growing rapidly in the future. (figure 1)

In this context, ROHM teamed up with A*STAR's IME to begin researching data that can be processed from sensors in real time and sending the results to the server's artificial intelligence chip only when an anomaly is detected. ROHM's unique analytical algorithm (incorporating the artificial intelligence technology that is accumulated through the large amount of data accumulated by ROHM's factories) is integrated into the chip in combination with semiconductor circuit technology (using the analog circuit technology that IME and ROHM are good at). (Fig. 2) In this way, advanced processing at the sensor nodes that cannot be realized by existing processing systems such as microcontrollers and FPGAs can be performed, making the construction of the wireless communication network easier and greatly reducing the load on the server. In addition, by combining it with ROHM-owned sensors, wireless modules and battery-free communication technology EnOcean*2), wireless sensor nodes can be easily set up in all locations. ROHM and IME aim to contribute to the renewal of future global plants through this research.

Minister of Basic Research and Development, ROHM Co., Ltd.

“I am very pleased to have a first collaborative study with A*STAR's IME. We will combine ROHM's sensor technology, analog low-power technology and AI architecture technology, and IME's low-power integrated circuit technology to provide the most edge nodes. Good solution."

Microelectronics Institute (IME) ExecuTIve Director Tan Yong Tsong

“IME has accumulated rich research and design, process technology and expertise and capabilities of integrated circuits and systems for many years. In recent years, in the manufacturing plant, the entire industry chain has been connected through a seamless network, in order to make the operation of each link Achieving integration requires a very high-end intelligent solution. For the data transmission and analysis that is indispensable for predictive maintenance of the next generation of foundries, this joint research on artificial intelligence chips and ROHM has taken an important step. step."

Figure 1: Representative of server-to-server communication using Wi-SUN technology, representative of vibration sensor and WSN communication

Figure 2 Overview of the chip with artificial intelligence algorithm

*1) WSN (Wireless Sensor Network):

A wireless network with multiple sensor-equipped wireless terminals can collaborate to collect environmental and physical conditions.

*2) EnOcean:

A battery-free wireless communication standard that uses "energy collection technology (environmental power generation technology)" that collects weak energy such as light, temperature, and vibration and converts it into electric energy. ROHM is a key member of the EnOcean Alliance and one of the initiators.

<Company Profile>

â– About the Singapore Science and Technology Research Agency (A*STAR)

The Singapore Institute of Science and Technology Research (A*STAR), as a public agency representing Singapore, is committed to promoting discovery in science and promoting economically oriented research that is closely related to the development of innovative technologies. Through open innovation, we will cooperate with partners from all walks of life to carry out activities that are conducive to social development.

As a science and technology organization, A*STAR plays the role of a bridge between industry and academia. Its research activities aim to promote Singapore's economic growth and create employment opportunities, achieve outstanding results in the fields of health care, urban life and sustainable development, contribute to society and improve life.

In addition, A*STAR's in-house and subordinate research institutes also have an important responsibility to train a wide range of people and leaders for a wider research community and all industries. A*STAR mainly manages 18 biomedical, physical science, and engineering research organizations located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis.

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â– About A*STAR Institute of Microelectronics (IME)

The Institute of Microelectronics (IME) is a research institute of the Singapore Science and Technology Research Agency (A*STAR). As a bridge between industry and academia research and development, with the mission of enhancing the added value of Singapore's semiconductor industry, it promotes the strategic capabilities of the industry, the development of innovative technologies and intellectual property, the enhancement of corporate technology competitiveness, and the introduction of new knowledge and new discoveries for the industry. Creative technical talent cultivation, etc. His main research areas include IC design, cutting-edge packaging technology, bioelectronics, medical devices, MEMS, nanoelectronics, optoelectronics and more.

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â– About ROHM Co., Ltd.

ROHM Co., Ltd. (Chairman Zemura) was founded in 1958. We provide system solutions for a wide range of markets, including consumer electronics, mobile phones, communications equipment, and automotive-related equipment. We provide customers with LSI and discrete semiconductors with superior quality and reliability through a global development and business network.

In addition, LAPIS Semiconductor, which has excellent technology in sensing processing, was included in 2008. In 2009, Kionix, a global leader in MEMS sensors, was incorporated into the company to integrate various sensor components and wireless modules. With all the technical advantages, we provide the best comprehensive solution to meet the needs of our customers' products.

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October 11, 2022