Semiconductors are the fundamental building blocks of modern electronic devices such as computers, smartphones, and solar panels. They regulate the flow of electricity in many products and facilitate amplification, switching, and energy conversion. The importance of semiconductors lies in their ubiquitous role in technology; they are essential for the information and communications technology industry and are increasingly important in the automotive, industrial, and medical sectors. With the advent of smart devices, IoT, and increasing reliance on technology, semiconductors are evolving. Explore the top four evolving semiconductor trends in 2024 below.
1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are increasingly reshaping the semiconductor industry across many aspects. They drive the need for more computing power and energy-efficient designs, improve manufacturing processes, and create a demand for specialized semiconductors to support unique applications.
AI and ML are not just end-users of semiconductors but also enablers of their evolution, driving the semiconductor industry toward a future of faster, more efficient, and more specialized chips. These advanced semiconductor chips will become more prevalent and integral for data-intensive applications such as autonomous driving, intelligent automation, and predictive analytics.
2. Internet of Things (IoT)
The proliferation of Internet of Things devices is leading to increased demand for semiconductors. Each IoT device, from SMART thermostats to wearable technology, needs a semiconductor to process and transmit the data it collects. As IoT devices enhance their capabilities and become more prevalent in people’s lives, the demand for semiconductors and their evolution variations prevail.
3. More-than-Moore (MtM)
More-than-Moore is a technology approach that catalyzes the growth and diversity of functionalities incorporated in semiconductor technology. While Moore’s Law—the prediction that transistors on a chip will roughly double every two years—has driven the semiconductor industry for decades, it primarily focuses on miniaturization and the increased processing power that comes with it.
MtM goes beyond mere miniaturization and digital functionalities, integrating diverse non-digital functionalities like sensors, actuators, power, RF, and biochips into the systems. This integration expands the applicability of semiconductor devices far beyond classical computation tasks, opening opportunities for innovative applications in areas such as healthcare, automotive, telecommunications, and energy.
4. Time-to-Digital Converters (TDCs)
Technology of old, analog-to-digital time converters is old school in the semiconductor industry. As precision timing becomes increasingly critical in numerous applications, including LiDAR systems for autonomous vehicles, high-energy physics experiments, and optical telecommunications, the demand for TDCs is rising with designer engineers. TDCs can convert time intervals to digital outputs with remarkable accuracy, improving the performance of these applications. Many expect these advancements in TDC technology to enhance resolution and reduce power consumption, making them a prominent trend to watch in 2024 and beyond.
Many industries and technologies will see several exciting developments in the future because of these top four evolving semiconductor trends in 2024. Semiconductors are at the helm of modern technological advancements. Innovation is accelerating, driven by the increasing demand for faster, more efficient, and specialized semiconductors.