Sensor interface ASIC design examples
Swindon Silicon Systems specialises in sensor interface ASIC design, delivering precision signal processing, IP protection, and long-term supply assurance for automotive, industrial, and aerospace applications.
Swindon Silicon Systems at a glance
TPMS market
design experience
Precision sensor signal processing for demanding applications
Custom sensor interface ASICs are essential for modern applications, from automotive systems to industrial automation.
Key design challenges:
- Signal integrity – Amplifying extremely small analogue signals whilst minimising noise
- Environmental compensation – Accounting for temperature and other factors affecting performance
- Power efficiency – Optimising battery life in wireless and portable sensors
Swindon Silicon delivers proven sensor interface design solutions across automotive, industrial, and aerospace applications.
Examples of ASIC capabilities
Our sensor ASICs enable accurate signal processing, reliable sensor integration, and long-term performance across demanding automotive, industrial, aerospace, and smart sensing applications.
Precision analogue signal processing for low-level sensor outputs.
Environmental compensation for improved sensing accuracy.
MEMS sensor interface integration.
System-in-Package (SiP) sensor architectures.
Resistive, capacitive, inductive, optical, magnetic and acoustic sensing for position, proximity and pressure applications.
Automotive, industrial, aerospace, and machine vision sensor ASIC expertise.
Support for analogue, PWM, SPI, and SENT interface outputs.
Long-term supply assurance and IP protection for ASIC solutions.
Why use custom sensor interface ASICs?
Sensor interface ASICs deliver precision signal processing, IP protection, and supply chain benefits that discrete component solutions cannot match. They deliver reliable data in demanding conditions, accurately measuring pressure, position, proximity, or temperature.
- Optimised performance – Purpose-built circuitry for your specific sensor and application requirements
- BOM reduction – Integrate multiple components into a single chip, reducing costs and complexity
- Long-term supply assurance – Dedicated manufacturing with obsolescence protection built in
Sensor interface ASICs are particularly valuable where applications demand high accuracy, compact designs, and reliable long-term availability.
Proven sensor interface ASIC designs across applications
Swindon Silicon has designed and delivered sensor interface ICs across automotive, industrial, aerospace and consumer applications, with the capability to support whatever interface type your system demands.
Resistive sensor interface
Tyre pressure monitoring systems ASIC
Swindon Silicon are global leaders in TPMS, accounting for approximately 45% of the global TPMS business.
Sensing pressure is used in many applications, with TPMS being widely adopted in automotive applications.
Our resistive sensor interface uses Wheatstone Bridge structures formed as MEMS devices, allowing precision analogue pressure sensing and efficient integration with an ASIC sensor interface die in a System in Package (SiP) configuration.
Haptic sensor interface
Haptic & tactile sensor interface ASICs
Swindon Silicon has developed haptics technology for automotive and industrial applications.
Haptic technology relates to the sense of touch, and it's already found in many consumer products, most notably in mobile phones. Haptic sensing technology detects and processes touch interactions, controlled by incoming Low-Voltage Differential Signalling (LVDS) signals and driving tactile feedback in automotive and industrial human-machine interface (HMI) applications. This provides users with a more intuitive experience.
Optical image sensing
Optical image sensor ASICs for machine vision
Swindon Silicon partnered with a world leader in precision imaging to develop an optical image sensor for machine vision applications.
Automation across several industries has significantly increased demand for optical image sensors, which can be controlled by a simple Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) interface. Technological breakthroughs have advanced new optical image sensors that make processes more efficient and significantly improve detection accuracy across various applications.
Inductive sensor interface
Inductive proximity & position sensor ASICs
Swindon partners with global industrial leaders to provide accurate sensor interfaces for smart factory and machine vision applications.
Inductive sensing ASICs enable reliable non-contact position and proximity detection in harsh industrial environments by processing electromagnetic field variation for factory automation and industrial positioning systems, with analogue voltage or 4–20mA current output available depending on the application's requirements.
This sensor type is particularly useful for no-contact applications or dirty environments, as the sensing element is unaffected by dirt.
Magnetic sensor interface
Magnetic encoder & hall-effect sensor ASICs
Swindon Silicon is partnered with a global automation equipment manufacturer to provide innovative ASICs for their positional encoders used in factory automation applications.
Magnetic sensor ASICs use the Hall Effect and magneto-resistive techniques, measuring magnetic field strength to generate accurate positional information for factory automation applications. They are commonly used in factory automation and lighting applications.
Capacitive sensor interface
Capacitive touch screen sensor ASICs
Swindon Silicon works with a leading industrial touch screen manufacturer to provide an accurate positional touch screen ASIC for its touch screen products.
Capacitive sensing ASICs measure changes in capacitance to determine positional touch input and proximity events in industrial touch-screen systems, with support for an SPI interface to an external microcontroller. These sensors are useful for proximity detection of non-metallic items as they do not rely on conductance.
Acoustic sensor interface
Acoustic & noise-cancelling sensor ASICs
Swindon is partnered with a leading headset manufacturer to provide a state-of-the-art noise-cancelling solution for an industrial headset, which is used in many spheres of operation, including Formula One (F1) motor racing.
Acoustic sensing ASICs provide industrial hearing protection and advanced noise-cancelling applications. Today's acoustic sensors can measure wave characteristics (amplitude, phase, polarisation), wave velocity and spectrum.
Latest updates & insights
Sensor interface ASIC design FAQs
What is a sensor interface ASIC and how does it work?
A sensor interface is the system that links a physical sensor to the end user or processing unit. It receives analogue signals such as voltage, current, resistance, capacitance, or magnetic field variation. It then conditions and processes those signals and converts them into digital data where required before transmitting the information through wired or wireless communication interfaces (such as SPI, PWM, SENT, or analogue outputs). In short, it turns real-world measurements into usable information.
Where are sensor interfaces used?
Sensor interfaces are found anywhere sensors are used, from automotive systems and industrial automation to healthcare and consumer electronics. They’re essential in applications requiring accurate real-time sensing and communication for variables such as pressure, position, proximity, touch, temperature, sound, and optical imaging.
What sensor types are commonly used in sensor interface ASICs?
Four core sensor types are resistive, capacitive, inductive, and optical. Each detects changes in a specific physical property. Examples include resistance, capacitance, electromagnetic fields, light, sound waves, or magnetic field strength. They require appropriate signal processing and interface circuitry to convert those measurements into usable outputs.
How long does it take to develop a sensor ASIC?
Timelines vary depending on how complete the customer specification is, the quotation and approval process, and the complexity, but most ASICs are delivered within 12–24 months, including specification, prototyping, and production.
Which industries use Swindon Silicon’s sensor interface ASICs?
Our sensor interface ASICs are widely used in any application that requires accurate, reliable measurement and communication between sensors and control systems. This includes automotive systems, industrial automation, smart factories (Industry 4.0), machine vision systems, positional encoders, touch-screen interfaces, and industrial sensing applications.
What output interfaces can sensor ASICs support?
Sensor interface ASICs can support a range of analogue and digital output formats depending on application requirements. This includes analogue voltage/current outputs, SPI, PWM, and SENT communication interfaces – or fully customised protocols.
Output architecture is typically tailored to the sensing technology, system integration requirements, and environmental conditions of the target application.
What sensing technologies can be integrated into an ASIC?
ASICs can interface with a wide range of sensing technologies. This includes resistive, capacitive, inductive, optical, magnetic, acoustic, pressure, and positional sensing architectures depending on application requirements.