ORION: Optimized ROIC IP On advanced Nodes

In this Army Applied SBIR Phase I proposal, Alphacore Inc. proposes to build an intellectual property (IP) library of designed, fabricated, and verified circuit blocks that can be licensed for use in future ROIC designs and de-bug the process design kit (PDK) to vastly reduce program risk for future DoD and commercial designs.  Alphacore’s IP library is entitled ORION: Optimized ROIC IP On advanced Nodes and it contains a variety of mixed-signal blocks critically needed in ROIC designs. This includes ADCs (slope ADC and SAR ADC), DACs (bias DAC and high-resolution DAC), PLLs, Serializers, I/O circuits (CML, LVDS, SLVS, ESD, pad frame, 8b/10b encoder), voltage references, CTIAs, gain amplifiers, buffers, temperature sensors, high-DR digital pixel circuits, among other blocks. Digital Standard Cell library development is another task Alphacore has excelled in.This program is an excellent match to Alphacore’s current focus, the company already being an accomplished mixed signal IP provider in advanced CMOS nodes, as well as a ROIC and image sensor design services contractor. Alphacore will work with stakeholders (e.g. ARMY engineers and ROIC designers from Prime contractors) in Phase I to identify priority circuit blocks (those with most demand/ most universally useful, highest risk), and to complete high-level design of selected circuit blocks.