[Chip Talk] Power Management ICs Rise as Essential for 'SoC' Brain Chips in Smartphones and Electric Vehicles

Electricity is the source of energy that allows electronic devices to operate. If we compare electricity to the blood inside the human body, there is a semiconductor that plays the role of the heart, distributing blood to each organ. This is the power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

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As its name suggests, a power management integrated circuit is a semiconductor that manages electric power. This management is carried out intelligently and efficiently through autonomous judgment, and it can even change the way power is delivered depending on the internal status of the electronic device. It is mainly embedded within system-on-chip (SoC) chips. SoC chips serve as the 'brain' of electronic devices such as smartphones and, more recently, electric vehicles, which are becoming mainstream in the automotive market. SoC chips are typically manufactured through foundry (semiconductor contract manufacturing), and as a result, many power management integrated circuits are also produced at foundries. In order to excel at foundry operations, it is essential to be proficient in manufacturing the power management integrated circuits that go into SoC chips.

For this reason, some in the industry analyze that the recent good news for Samsung Electronics, which received consecutive foundry orders from Tesla and Apple this month, is partly due to its power management integrated circuits. Samsung Electronics began manufacturing power management integrated circuits in 2010, accumulating 15 years of experience and conducting long-term research and development in this field.

As the foundry market shows signs of gradual activation and humanity’s methods of electricity production are increasingly focused on naturally occurring 'renewable energy,' power management integrated circuits are receiving even more attention. The outlook for the future is bright, and the number of companies actively participating in this market is growing. According to a report released by market research firm IMARC Group this March, the global power management integrated circuit market, which was valued at $44.6 billion (about 61 trillion won) last year, is expected to reach $59.5 billion (about 82 trillion won) by 2033. Compared to memory semiconductors such as DRAM and NAND flash, non-memory semiconductors like power management integrated circuits have yet to be recognized as highly profitable or mainstream in the industry. However, there is broad consensus that they will soon become one of the indispensable types of semiconductors.

The main target managed by power management integrated circuits is, naturally, the battery. They extract or block power from the battery, distribute it, and coordinate its use. This enables the entire device to use electricity efficiently and helps reduce variables that could cause overheating. The unique roles and capabilities of power management integrated circuits are possible because their constituent materials differ from those of conventional silicon semiconductors. Recently, they are often manufactured by combining silicon carbide (SiC), germanium, and gallium nitride (GaN). These materials have been selected as the most suitable through years of technological development. There are also products made solely from silicon carbide or gallium nitride, and these substances allow the semiconductor to function normally at very high temperatures and to resist high voltages. They also help reduce energy loss. Semiconductors made from silicon carbide and gallium nitride can operate at high temperatures of up to 400 degrees Celsius and 800 degrees Celsius, respectively. In comparison, conventional silicon semiconductors can operate at temperatures up to 150 degrees Celsius, meaning these new materials allow operation in environments five to six times hotter.

Industry interest in power management integrated circuits has been significant for some time. However, companies' determination to enter this field intensified as the electric vehicle market expanded. As competition in electric vehicle development intensified, demand for SoC chips, which are essential components, naturally increased, and the development and mass production of power management integrated circuits grew alongside this trend. The industry also notes that after the electric vehicle fire incident in the underground parking lot of an apartment complex in Cheongna, Incheon in August last year, the issue of finding solutions to the problem of battery overheating in electric vehicles came to the fore, leading to increased calls for the active development and utilization of power management integrated circuits.

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Korean companies’ investment in and attention to power management integrated circuits is on par with leading companies in countries like Germany and the United States. Samsung Electronics, DB Hitek, and Hyundai Mobis are producing and supplying power management integrated circuits or are actively engaged in related research and development. There is also significant activity among small and medium-sized startups.

Samsung Electronics is at the forefront and is demonstrating remarkable performance. Samsung Electronics entered the power management integrated circuit market relatively early, in 2010. The group’s characteristics, such as producing mobile products like smartphones and tablets and operating a semiconductor business, naturally led to interest in power management integrated circuits. Smartphones also require power management integrated circuits to prevent overheating and control battery usage. Recently, under the high interest of its management, Samsung Electronics has been investing significant business resources in automotive semiconductors for electric vehicles, which has accelerated the development of power management integrated circuits. It is reported that Samsung Electronics has recently established a Power Semiconductor Task Force (TF) to focus on growing this business. This organization researches and develops power management integrated circuits while also exploring whether certain theories and performance features can be applied to general semiconductors. The company is working to devise and implement business strategies from multiple angles. In addition to electric vehicle manufacturers, Samsung is also pursuing partnerships and collaborations with various companies. It is also putting effort into the development and launch of new products. For example, in May 2021, Samsung released three types of power management integrated circuits (S2FPD01, S2FPD02, S2FPC01) that can be mounted on DDR5 DRAM modules. Unlike previous products that were mounted on external boards, these are mounted directly on the DRAM module board, allowing for stable and rapid power supply, which improves memory performance and minimizes malfunctions.

Although currently highlighted in electric vehicles, power management integrated circuits are now considered to have unlimited potential as the use and generation of renewable energy become more widespread. Power management integrated circuits are essential for managing and utilizing renewable energy. A representative example is solar power generation systems. Power management integrated circuits are used when converting electricity produced by solar power from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). They are also required to address the irregular flow characteristics of renewable energy as it is generated. In the era of artificial intelligence (AI), power management integrated circuits play a critical role in data centers, which companies are rapidly establishing.

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