The Internet of things in the past few years has become the crispy Fried chicken, chip suppliers have market ranking top ten objects connected to the processor?

If we assume that the Internet of things (IoT) market is taking off, we can also inference network processor also keep up with the pace, and semiconductor industry so much luck? That so... Iot processors have? Is there a market ranking top ten objects connected to the processor? To how to make companies more successful than others iot processor?

That is not unreasonable problems; After all, the Internet of things in the past few years has become a chip suppliers in the eyes of crispy Fried chicken, many manufacturers catch the Internet boom introduced related product portfolio, and spare no effort to promote its growth potential.

Processor in order to catch up with things networking subjects, the author began to try to get rid of the top 10 list of network processor, but in the more and the more people discuss, seen white paper with the product after the press release, I want to write the report content become more ambiguous, I'm not sure whether industry analysts can tell me who is the winner who is a loser. I already know, there are several reasons can let the market has yet to judge, too fast to list "top ten iot processor" list.

First of all, the so-called "Internet of things market ─ ─ no matter how you cut it ─ ─ actually with the embedded systems market is not too big different; , of course, those "embedded" Internet of things device is "connected", but just as microcontroller (MCU) worrying about how to service suppliers decades embedded market diversification, iot processor supplier too. Iot market are so scattered that it is difficult to find the processor winners.

Consolidation and tide manufacturers haven't clarify the product strategy

Second, chip industry over the past year and a half since the unprecedented and tide, and is still in continue. Such as market Research firm Semico Research technology officer Tony Massimini puts it: "what has happened in the past two years of industry consolidation, than we have experienced over the past 20 years;" No wonder that everything was in change state.

Massimini pointed out that when a chip manufacturer just acquired another company, usually busy examining new product lineup, compared with their products, and try to draw up new strategy; He bought the Microchip of Atmel for Atmel as an example, the two companies had a number of different MCU and link product, and how will they clarify the positioning themselves in the Internet market, remains to be seen.

Cypress Semiconductor is another example of the company only recently announced a $550 million deal to buy Broadcom wireless Internet of things (IoT) business, including Broadcom wi-fi, bluetooth and Zigbee IoT product line and IP, in addition to its WICED brand and the development of ecological system... Spansion and Cypress last year to buy an embedded flash memory suppliers, before that, Spansion also by acquisition Fujitsu MCU and simulation products business.

So, who knows how will the Cypress (or in a short time) to integrate new iot products to iot processor big strategy of the company? In the meantime, this acquisition means Broadcom (before merger Broadcom, the name of the company is Avago) interested in Internet of things have no?

But on this issue, Broadcom declined the EE Times interview; To market research firm The Linley Group, a senior analyst Mike Demler, points out that Broadcom in December last year announced a new 2.4 GHz WICED bluetooth and 802.15.4 series products, and The other on The market architecture (M4 compare core iot chip is very competitive.

And Broadcom is obviously the first announced to 40 nm embedded flash technology production company, it can bring the product performance and integration advantages; , of course, now sells WICED brand products to Broadcom Cypress, Demler, said: "this looks like it will exit the Internet of things."

Iot processor definition of chaos is unknown

The third reason is a very basic question, how do we define "Internet of things" processor?

This Demler said: "our definition is that the so-called" Internet of things the processor must be able to provide some degree of built-in link function, even if only a wireless base band;" The Linley Group categories, from standard embedded processors and MCU is called The Internet of things The processor ruled out a lot of suppliers products, because these components has not connected to The Internet service application for years: "therefore, integrating The function of The wireless link is The key difference lies."

The lack of a built-in wireless link function component, may be to integrate the processor and the external rf components in multiple chip packaging products; But Demler said: "this approach will improve cost, parking area and may increase power consumption," and an external wireless chips may be from third party suppliers, it will also bring support issues.

Moreover Demler also pointed out: "made with embedded flash memory can reduce the cost, chip size and power consumption, and realize from the flash memory on the chip to perform a bluetooth or ZigBee communication protocol."

Massimini and Demler agree that integrating security functions are necessary conditions; Demler said: "the wireless network processor must have software stack, provide a complete solution." Massimini is pointed out that if the recently held in the United States of NXP FTF BBS portend any trends, combined the Internet of things security functions will be NXP, and the diversity of the manufacturer to the key, because network means that there are security holes, anyone can see anything.

Sensor fusion

The fourth reason is that sensor fusion (sensor fusion)? In addition to networking, this function make the Internet of things is different from general MCU processor, let iot processor can collect ─ ─ even handle ─ ─ a large amount of data from different sensors. The question is: the Internet of things system supplier looking for combining with the application processor used as a sensor (central) solution? And they want a single processor ─ ─ without application processor, to collect and process sensor data?

Demler Linley Group, said that in addition to safety, another network processor is the key of the differentiation of important: "integrated processing of sensor and actuator analog/mixed-signal interface; and those who are in digital technology as the center, the supplier will usually lack of high-performance simulation technology ability."

Massimini said sensor fusion, argues MIPI alliance's forthcoming I3C specifications, will play a major role in the future of the Internet of things processor design. The alliance has expanded the I2C interface, as MEMS and other types of sensors, the interface between the sensor central or processor.

MIPI alliance, said managing director Peter Lefkin I3C specifications of the development is in response to the engineer to be simplified in the product design easy integration processor chips to the pressing needs of chip interface; Members participated in the development of specifications, including and action across the sensor field ecosystem of each supplier.

As for when I3C will officially published? Lefkin expected later this year, once the MIPI alliance officially by the specification, can quickly adopted by the industry. It is worth noting that the MIPI I3C is not only locking support for sensors in mobile devices, also including the Internet of things, and other higher bandwidth, but needs fewer lines of low power consumption system.

I3C IP ready listed, Synopsys he announced at the end of April can immediately provide the industry's first MIPI I3C controller IP, simplified to integrate diverse sensor and mobile devices, cars and the task of Internet of things. So, the best days of the Internet of things market is coming soon, I think; As for the top 10 Internet of processor? We wait for a while!