in the news Archives

EnSilica evaluation platform for EN62020 sensor interface ASIC speeds up development of wearable fitness and healthcare sensor devices

13th April 2023

EnSilica evaluation platform for EN62020 sensor interface ASIC speeds up development of wearable fitness and healthcare sensor devices

Evaluation platform supports wide range of sensors for battery powered medical and fitness devices including ECG, PPG, temperature and optical signals, including for NIR spectroscopy

Oxford, UK – 12 April 2023 – EnSilica (LON:ENSI), a leading ASIC and mixed signal chip maker, has released an evaluation platform to speed up the development of wearable fitness and healthcare vital-sign monitoring systems.

EnSilica’s EN62020 ultra low power healthcare sensor interface ASIC, supports a variety of vital sign measurements. These include ECG, PPG (Heart rate, Oxygen Saturation SpO2), temperature. The optical interface to LEDs and photodiodes can also be used for near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), and the monitoring of chemical substances in the blood, such as glucose.

Specifications

The size and power-optimised design of the EN62020 makes the device well-suited to compact healthcare devices, patches, and sports / fitness devices. The highly sensitive capacitive sensor interface also makes the device well suited for novel MEMS sensors.

The ASIC incorporates multiple analogue front ends (AFEs) including:

Two differential ECG sensor channels suitable for 3-lead ECG with <2.5µVrms noise levels and CMRR of 70dB@50/100Hz
A highly sensitive capacitive sensor channel
A temperature sensor (35-45oC, <0.15oC resolution)
Two photodiode drivers/photodetector readouts with SNR over 70dB and Read-out dynamic range of 105dB
The device can also interface to other optical or current sensors, such as fluorescent glucose probes

Designed to work alongside an edge processor, or a communication device, the EN62020 uses a single 1.2 – 3.6V supply, has a flexible IO voltage and consumes as low as ~10µA per AFE.

The evaluation platform comes with a 10cm x 10cm evaluation board fitted with an EN62020, an MCU interface board for PC connection, and a graphical user interface (GUI) software for the control of EN62020.

The evaluation platform is available from the EnSilica website EN62020 request form.

It is also available via EnSilica partners Cedar Technologies (Europe) and QLS (North America).

ESA and UK Space Agency back EnSilica to develop satellite broadband chip

17th February 2023

EnSilica to develop satellite communications chip for next generation user terminals

Oxford, UK – 17 February 2023 – EnSilica (AIM:ENSI), a leading ASIC and mixed signal chip maker, has announced a contract to develop a new chip to address the next generation of mass market satellite broadband user terminals.

The contract has been awarded through the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems Core Competitiveness programme (“ARTES CC”), through the support of the UK Space Agency.

The chip in development will enable a new generation of lower-cost, low-power satellite broadband user terminals, which track the relative movement of low-earth orbit satellites and allow users to access high bandwidth connectivity when out of reach of terrestrial networks.

Use cases include satellite communication-on-the-move (SOTM) for automotive, maritime, and aerospace connectivity as well as extending broadband access to users without internet access.

Dietmar Schmitt, Head of Technologies & Products Division at ESA, said “ESA is pleased to continue our collaboration with EnSilica through the ARTES Core Competitiveness programme and to support this important technology development, which will facilitate the provision of high capacity connectivity across a wide range of use cases.”

Henny Sands, Head of Telecoms at the UK Space Agency, described EnSilica’s satellite broadband user terminals chip as “a brilliant example of the diversity of expertise in the UK’s leading satellite communications sector.”

He added: “Through the ARTES CC programme the UK Space Agency aims to champion UK companies that have the right expertise and ambition to become global players in this market and lead on ground-breaking technologies that will enhance the wider UK space sector, create jobs and generate further investment. That’s why we recently announced £50 million of funding for ambitious and innovative projects that will supercharge the UK’s satellite communications industry.”

Paul Morris, VP RF and Communications BU, commented: “We are delighted to be continuing our successful partnerships with both UK Space Agency and ESA to further develop innovative semiconductor solutions for the next generation of satellite broadband user terminals.”

About EnSilica

EnSilica is a leading fabless design house focused on custom ASIC design and supply for OEMs and system houses, as well as IC design services for companies with their own design teams. The company has world-class expertise in supplying custom RF, mmWave, mixed signal and digital ICs to its international customers in the automotive, industrial, healthcare and communications markets. The company also offers a broad portfolio of core IP covering cryptography, radar, and communications systems. EnSilica has a track record in delivering high quality solutions to demanding industry standards. The company is headquartered near Oxford, UK and has design centres across the UK and in India and Brazil.

About ESA’S ARTES Core Competitiveness Programme

ESA’s ARTES (Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems) programme is unique in Europe and aims to support the competitiveness of European and Canadian industry on the world market. Core Competitiveness is dedicated to the development, qualification and demonstration of products (“Competitiveness and Growth”), or long-term technology development (“Advanced Technology”). Products in this context can be equipment for the platform or payload of a satellite, a user terminal, or a full telecom system integrating a network with its space segment.

Find out more at: https://artes.esa.int/core-competitiveness

EnSilica growth continues with new Bristol ASIC design office

30th October 2022

EnSilica has opened a new design centre in Bristol

Extends recruitment drive following period of strong growth

Oxford, UK – October 26, 2022 – EnSilica has today opened a new design centre in Bristol. The office, its fourth in the UK, will open with a staff of 14 highly-experienced engineers and a particular focus on advanced node ASIC design.

The new office opens following a period of significant growth, and Bristol chosen for its heritage, its university links and the quality of life offered by the city.

The company is now looking to expand both in Bristol and its other offices across the UK, initiating a recruitment drive both graduate and senior levels.

The design cente joins EnSilica’s existing headquarters and design facility near Oxford, and a design centre in Sheffield. The company also has a specialist centre in Bangalore, India and a design facility in Porto Alegre, in southern Brazil.

EnSilica’s VP of SoC Engineering and head of the Bristol office, Davide Sarta said:

“The city was a natural choice for us as we go through this period of significant growth. The city is home to one of the UK’s largest electronics hubs. The university is a leading centre of excellence for electronics. And the quality of life that the city offers means that many of those we’re hoping to employ will want to be there.

EnSilica is a former winner of the Queen’s Award for International Trade; and has been ranked in the top 5 in the Sunday Times Lloyds SME Export Track 100, and regularly wins awards for its engineering.

The company recently reported its first financials since its successful IPO in May, with 77% year-on-year revenue growth.

EnSilica is looking to recruit engineers in analogue, physical, system-level design, DFT and verification across UK at both graduate and more-senior levels.

About EnSilica

EnSilica is a leading fabless chipmaker focused on custom ASIC for OEMs and system houses, as well as IC design services for companies with their own design teams. The company has world-class expertise in supplying custom RF, mmWave, mixed signal and digital ICs to its international customers in the automotive, industrial, healthcare and communications markets. The company also offers a broad portfolio of core IP covering cryptography, radar, and communications systems. EnSilica has a track record in delivering high quality solutions to demanding industry standards. The company is headquartered near Oxford, UK and has design centres across the UK and in India and Brazil.

Banner for Ensilica at the Med-Tech Innovation Expo

EnSilica Presenting at Medtech Innovation 2021

22nd October 2022

September 2021:
Join us at MedTech Innovation at NEC, BIRMINGHAM, UK

London Stock Exchange welcomes EnSilica plc to AIM

25th May 2022

EnSilica is a designer and supplier of mixed signal ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). ASICs are Integrated Circuits or semiconductor chips developed for a particular use or product rather than for general purpose usage. ASICs help differentiate products through optimised hardware making products smaller, faster, lower power, improved security, add novel functionality, improving supply chain security and protecting product from being copied.

The Company has expertise in the area of designing complex mixed signal ASICs. Mixed signal ASICs combine digital and analogue functions onto a single chip. They are the most complex chips to design hence the highest value.

The Company was established in 2001 as a specialist consultancy designing ICs on a contract basis. Using over 15 years’ first-hand industry experience, the Company was able to begin transitioning to a fabless design and supply business model in 2016. EnSilica now provides an end-to-end service for the design and supply of ASICs, outsourcing certain elements such as the wafer fabrication of the manufacturing and packaging to third parties – otherwise known as a Fabless Semiconductor Model. This is a proven model for growth and profitability used by many European companies including Dialog Semiconductor, Cambridge Silicon Radio, Wolfson and Nordic Semiconductor.

EnSilica’s customers currently range from global corporations and OEMs to technology start-ups, including automotive Tier 1s, industrial enterprises, as well as large software companies and service providers developing proprietary hardware. EnSilica is an approved supplier to some of the world’s largest automotive and industrial OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.

Transaction Details

EnSilica, a leading designer and supplier of mixed signal ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), is pleased to announce its admission to trading on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange. Dealings on AIM are expected to commence at 8.00 a.m. on 24 May 2022, under the ticker ENSI and ISIN GB00BN7F1618.

In connection with Admission, EnSilica has raised £6 million through a placing and subscription of 12,000,000 Ordinary Shares at a price of 50p per share and will have a market capitalisation of approximately £37.6 million at the Placing Price.

The Directors believe that the Group has reached a stage in its development where it will benefit from a quotation on AIM and that, as well as providing the Company with the net proceeds of the Fundraising, this will:

enhance both transparency and international profile of EnSilica with existing and potential customers;
allow the Company to access equity capital creating flexibility to fund growth and support potential M&A opportunities;
enable EnSilica to attract, recruit and retain key employees who may be further incentivised through share option schemes ; and
create a platform for existing shareholders to participate in the future growth of the Company

Ian Lankshear, Chief Executive Officer of EnSilica commented:

“We are delighted to be floating EnSilica on AIM and believe this represents a major endorsement of our business. Our quoted status will provide an ideal platform from which to accelerate a number of growth initiatives which will ultimately further expand both market reach and customer footprint.

Having developed a reputation of excellence and innovation over the past 21 years, we firmly believe our mixed signal and RF design and supply capabilities are ideally placed to further capitalise on the significant demand for ASICs across our key markets.

We are excited by the numerous opportunities that being a quoted company will bring and we look forward to further developing EnSilica over the coming years.”

EnSilica to list on London Stock Exchange’s AIM market, expected to begin trading from 24th May

19th May 2022

OXFORD, United Kingdom –May 19, 2022 – EnSilica, the UK-headquartered specialist designer and supplier of mixed signal ASICs has announced it is set to be listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market. Trading is expected to begin from the 24^th May under the ticker ENSI.

AIM is the LSE’s market for small and medium sized growth companies, with over 1,200 companies listed on it.

In connection with the Admission, EnSilica has raised £6 million (USD 7.4m) through a placing and subscription of 12,000,000 Ordinary Shares at a price of 50p per share and will open with a market capitalisation of £37.6 million (USD 46.6m).

The company designs ASICs for system developers working across the automotive, satellite and healthcare sectors. Its CEO, Ian Lankshear said “Our quoted status will provide an ideal platform from which to accelerate a number of growth initiatives, which will ultimately further expand both market reach and customer footprint.

“Having developed a reputation of excellence and innovation over the past 21 years, we firmly believe our mixed signal and RF design and supply capabilities are ideally placed to further capitalise on the significant demand for ASICs across our key markets.”