Micro-Technology Vision: A Business Perspective Angel Rodríguez-Vázquez

Transcription

1 Executive Track Micro-Technology Vision: A Business Perspective Angel Rodríguez-Vázquez November 18, Lanzarote SPAIN Copyright and Proprietary Information Copyright 2010 Innovaciones Microelectrónicas S.L. (ANAFOCUS) No part of this document shall be reproduced, transmitted or translated in any form or by any means, without prior written permission from ANAFOCUS 1

2 About the Panellist Founder of AnaFocus CEO of AnaFocus until June 2009 Chairman of the Board Responsible for Long-Term Research Full Professor of Electronics Institute of Microelectronics of Seville 2

3 Origin of AnaFocus - I Mapping Knowledge onto Products Identifying new Opportunities and Niches Generation of New Knowledge Long-Term Research First commercial ASIC Mixed-Signal - Communications Start of IC design activity 1 PhD ,35mm CMOS 1MT Vision Commercial ADSL MODEM 0,25mm CMOS Commercial Vision Chip 1989 Chips in 2 m CMOS Chips in CMOS 0,8mm 4KT -Sensors PhD 100T - Communications 3

4 Origin of AnaFocus - II To become a leading company in the semiconductor market by providing high-performance and programmable vision operations in a single mixedsignal chip To devise and deliver state-of-the-art the art mixed- signal interfaces for on-chip solutions at the global semiconductor industry 4

5 Some Relevant Milestones Year 2001 Year 2003 Year 2004 Year 2005 Official Foundational Date Got Venture Capital Investment Start Operation Two Acquisition Offers Year 2007 Focuses only on Imagers and Visioni Systems Year 2008 Year 2009 Year 2009 Year 2010 Launches the first VSoC Standard Product Open Office in Japan Got First Phase of Second Round Capital Investment Launches MOS Imager Standard Products 5

6 AnaFocus Today - Mission To become the leading provider of high-performance CMOS single-chip imaging g and vision solutions for the industrial, scientific, and medical applications Image sensor Data converters Sensor control Memory Digital image processing Communications Single-chip solution Multi-system solution 6

7 AnaFocus Today - Areas of Know-How Application development Specialists in real-time image processing algorithms for embedded platforms Development of automatic sensor-camera test algorithms for production Production management Custom package for image sensors CMOS system on-chip Production test (wafer & final) and logistics Quality assurance and control CMOS pixel Analog/mixed-signal circuitry Digital IC design Image sensor test specialists Camera SW-FW design Programming environment (SDK) RTOS Development of compilers, linkers, and assemblers Drivers for multiple communication peripherals Camera hardware High-speed PCB (up to 14 layers) Advanced FPGA design Microprocessor programming Multiple communication peripherals 7

8 AnaFocus Technology - Imaging/Vision SoC THREE possible solutions Depending on the amount of on-chip intelligence #1: CMOS Digital Image Sensor Image sensor control in external FPGA also responsible for data reception Output image data is RAW. Image correction in external FPGA or DSP Minimum components for building an industrial camera: image sensor, FPGA and communication interface Incorporating new functions requires reprogramming FPGA, thus increasing time-to-market and camera complexity 8

9 AnaFocus Technology - Imaging/Vision SoC THREE possible solutions Depending on the amount of on-chip intelligence #2: CMOS camera SoC Image sensor control by onchip microprocessor On-chip image correction. No need for external FPGA or DSP Minimum components for building an industrial camera: camera SoC Incorporating new functions requires software update, thus reducing time-to-market and camera complexity A complete family of cameras A complete family of cameras can be developed changing flash-memory, all of them with identical hardware 9

10 AnaFocus Technology - Imaging/Vision SoC THREE possible solutions Depending on the amount of on-chip intelligence #3: CMOS vision SoC Same functionality than a camera SoC PLUS On-chip image-processing (filters, convolutions...) Only pre-processed images are output; thus reducing output bandwidth Combination of on-chip image pre- processing and post-processing in DSP result in ultra-compact, ultra powerful smart-camera devices Si i t k lt Since pre-processing tasks are ultraefficiently realized on-chip, specifications on DSP could be relaxed. 10

11 Examples of Standard Products - LS4k SoC LS4k SoC line-scan image sensor (i) Overview High speed CMOS system on chip (SoC) line scan sensor Optimized for applications requiring short exposure times and high accuracy line rates. Utilizes active CMOS pixels with last generation pinned photodiodes d improving CCD quality. Incorporates two pixel lines: - Line #1: consisting of 4,096 pixels with 7µm pitch - Line #2: consisting of 2,048 pixels with 14µm pitch Includes high accuracy (12 bit) high speed (80MHz) analogue to digital (A/D) conversion and on chip optical calibration (PRNU, DSNU, and lens shading). Windowing and sub sampling allows achieving line rates up to 70,000 lines per second (for500 pixel window). The line rate, image sub sampling/windowing, exposure time, gain, and other features are controlled via sensor configuration register. Incorporates an SPI port to communicate with an external host device and three high speedh LVDS ports for data output. The reference voltages are generated on chip from an internal band gap. No external components are required. Applications Printed circuit board inspection High performance document scanning Flat panel display inspection General machine vision 11

12 Examples of Standard Products - LS4k SoC LS4k camera-module Description High speed, monochrome line scan camera, Capturing and transmitting from 16,250lps in 4k resolution up to 70,000lps with 0.5k resolution in digital format with 12 bit depth per pixel. Standard Camera Link Interface for transmitting images and camera configuration. Camera configuration is done with an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) Necessary software and libraries are provided for integration within existing software environments Very simple use with plug and play connectivity to compatible Camera Link frame grabbers (see recommended list of frame grabbers in user manual) Includes mechanical chassis and lens holder Basic specifications Camera Link Serial Communication control interface Lens F Mount 5 to 40 C operating temperature 75 (H) x 65 (W) x 20 (D) mm approximated dimensions 2W power 12V power supply Applications Printed circuit board inspection High performance document scanning Flat panel l display inspection General machine vision 12

13 Examples of Standard Products - The Eye-RIS Family Introduction to Eye-RIS family Family of industrial, high-speed cameras and vision systems Using AnaFocus technology for pixel-level image-processing Includes complete software-application environment for customization Ultra-high speed of operation with low-power & competitive price Eye-RIS Cam Eye-RIS Previa Eye-RIS VS / VSoC 13

14 Expected Human Resources Growth Human Resources AnaFocus hires highly-skilled mixed-signal IC designers, software and systems specialists from key companies of the global semiconductor industry. 50 Specialist Engineers Microelectronics PhD Non-technical Staff Human Resources Growth 14

15 Why starting Techno Companies from University? Who can do it better? You have: Knowledge Assets providing Differentiation Factors Hard-working culture Passion to invent and innovate The strength of the youths Plenty of educated human resources You simply need to add: Clear and Commercially Simple Targets A Business Plan Focusing, Focusing, Focusing... Methods, Methods, Methods... Marketing Organization and splitting of the work 15

16 And there are many opportunities... Micro-Technologies define a Land of Opportunities completely open to exploration and conquer 16

17 Genesis From Ideas to Opportunities Market Analysis Are there unsatisfied needs? IDEAs OPPORTUNITIES Market Demands Feasibility Both technically and economically I. Mission and Objectives? II. Team and Organization? III. How to Produce and how to Sell? IV. Marketing Plan: how to reach customers? V. Financial Plan: how much money needed and how to get it? 17

18 Genesis From Opportunities to Companies BUSINESS PLANs Provide answers to previous questions WHAT? OPPORTUNITIES Market Demands Product/Service HOW? Marketing Plan Operation Plan COMPANY Sized for Operation WHO? Team HOW MUCH? Financial Plan 18

19 The Team - I The Team is the most important Asset of Techo Companies Value Co ompany Financial Director Marketing Director Director of Operations (COO) Selling VicePresident (CEO) President / General Manager(CEO) Technical Director(CTO) Time Usually Founders hold the Technology Assets and must be committed with the Company 19

20 The Team - II Desirable Features of the Founding Team Must be visionnary, talented, passionate. And pragmatic Ready to delegate and open to team working Capable of attract top-tier people to cover vacant positions Ready to confront unexpected and new challenges Capable of executing plans at very high speed. 20

21 Getting Private Funds Stock Market Venture Capital Business Angels Personal and Family Contributions Idea Creation of Company Industrial Mass Development the SME Development Production Production 21

22 Some General Comments - I Support from Academia Leave of Absence is not possible for the private sector Partial Time assignments are dangerous because recovering Complete Time assignment is out of your control Switching to the private sector may not be well perceived by colleagues and authorities Academic freedom is instrumental to develop technological assets Leave of Absence should be regulated and enabled Universities must seek to provide partial support for: Offices Equipment, particularly Software Licences Professional Assessment 22

23 Some General Comments - II About Public Support There are many Programs available. AnaFocus got several million euro from: The Regional Government C.D.T.I. (NEOTEC, CENIT Projects, etc) Ministery of Industry (PROFIT, MEDEA and CATRENE, Avanza) Ministery of Science and Innovation (Torres Quevedo, Implanta) European Union (VI Framework Program and VII Framework Program) Office of Naval Research of the U.S.A. Approval is uncertain. You should not count on this money to keep your company in operation In many cases money transfers are over-delayed as compared project tasks and milestones 23

24 Some General Comments - III About Intellectual Property It is your major asset. YOU SHOULD PROTECT IT. Patents are important for: Venture Capital and Investors Companies interested in buying you Your customers To preclude being suited by technology pirates or by competitors Patent Application is far from trivial: Very detailed screening of competing applications Different regulations at different countries Very costly Seek for Assessment 24

25 Concluding Remarks Starting Techno Companies is an excellent opportunity for Young Researchers and PhDs: They have the most valuable asset: Knowledge The other ingredients can be found Promoting the creation of these Companies is among the basic responsibility of Universities (both at institutional and at personal levels) Techno Universities and Research Centers do only make sensein they can enrich Society around them The model of Self-Feedback Universities is not sustainable A rich industrial tissue makes Universities more important and relevant 25

26 A nadie en su sano juicio se le habría ocurrido preparar entonces todos estos componentes (transistores, resistores y condensadores) a partir de un semiconductor, que además de no ser el mejor material para ello, era increíblemente caro J. Kilby Un experto es alguien que ha cometido todos los errores posibles en un campo reducido del conocimiento i N. Bohr Hay una fuerza mas fuerte que la mecánica, la energía eléctrica y la nuclear: la voluntad A. Einstein 26