1. Overview of isolation chip
isolation chip refers to chips with electrical isolation characteristics between the input and output of the chip. The purpose of electrical isolation includes high and low voltage circuit insulation, isolation of noise, matching level, etc. In high-voltage systems or multi-circuit connection systems, isolation chips are required for safety regulations or electrical isolation requirements.
According to different functions, the isolation chip can be divided into three types: digital isolation chip, isolation driver chip, and isolation sampling chip. kind. Among them, according to different functions, digital isolation chips can be divided into digital isolators, isolated communication interfaces (CAN, LIN, 485, etc.). Digital isolators are mainly used to transfer input signals to output ports isolated from inputs. The isolated communication interface adds the parsing function of communication protocol , which can convert signals on the communication link into MCU/SoC easy-to-process format. The isolation driver chip can be divided into single-tube, half-bridge drive, etc. The main difference is that the number of MOSFET/IGBTh that can be driven at the same time is different, with 1 single-tube and 2 half-bridges. The isolation sampling chip can be divided into voltage sampling, current sampling, isolation amplifier, ADCh, etc. The voltage/current sampling is mainly aimed at direct signal acquisition, and the isolation amplifier is used for sensor back-end signal processing, and the ADC is used for analog-to-digital conversion.
Isolation chip classification (by function)
Source: Public information sorting
2. Isolation chip technology development background
From the technical route, isolation devices can be divided into optocoupler and digital isolation chip. Among them, the optical coupling component is the earliest isolator , also known as an optocoupler or optocoupler. An optical isolator is a device with two diodes , one is a light source or emitter, usually a light emitting diode (LED), and the other is an photodiode as an photoelectric sensor . The LED converts the electrical input signal into light, and the photodiode detects the incident light and generates corresponding electrical energy based on the incident light, thereby achieving electrical isolation. Before the development of digital isolators based on CMOS in the late 1990s, optocouplers were basically the only isolation solution. However, due to the limitations of photodiode/triodes characteristics, high frequency transmission cannot be achieved and power consumption is large. In addition, the dielectric strength of common dielectric air and epoxy resins for photocoupling is limited, and the isolation performance is poor.
digital isolation devices are transformers or capacitors that use semiconductor process technology to create transformers or capacitors that transmit data through isolation barriers. Among them, digital isolation is mainly magnetic inductive isolation chips (referred to as "magnetic coupling"), capacitive coupling isolation chips (referred to as "capacitive coupling") and giant magnetoresistive isolation, and giant magnetoresistive isolation is used relatively few. In recent years, capacitive coupling and magnetic coupling have rapidly replaced optocoupling devices due to their higher transmission speed and better insulation performance (usually SiO2 or Polyimide as dielectric).
Optocoupler and digital isolation chip comparison
Source: Public information compilation
From the specific performance perspective, compared with optocoupler, capacitive coupling has greater advantages in isolation strength, speed, and power consumption; compared with magnetic coupling, capacitive coupling has certain advantages in cost and EMI ( electromagnetic interference ), and is a relatively cost-effective choice. For third-generation semiconductors, due to the fast switching speed, it has become necessary for CMTI (parameters for characterizing isolation performance). In areas where costs are relatively insensitive and performance requirements such as automobiles, new energy power generation, and industrial products, capacitive coupling chips have replaced most of the share of optocouplers. Optocoupler chips are mainly used in low-end scenarios such as consumer electronics, while magnetic coupling chips are mainly used in high-end scenarios.
Comparison of performance indicators of different isolation devices
Source: Public information sorting
Related reports: "2022-2027 China Digital Isolation Chip Market Panoramic Evaluation and Investment Planning Recommendation Report" released by Huajing Industry Research Institute
III. Isolation Chip Industry Chain
From the perspective of the industrial chain, the upstream of the isolation chip is raw materials and electronic components . The downstream application fields mainly include: 1) communication, drive and signal sampling in new energy vehicles OBC, main drive and charging piles; 2) communication, drive and signal sampling in photovoltaic power generation system; 3) server power supply , multi-computer communication interconnection, board-level communication, signal sampling, etc. in base station power supply; 4) communication, drive and signal sampling in industrial inverters and servo drive .
isolation chip industry chain
Source: compiled by Huajing Industry Research Institute
4. Analysis of the current status of the isolation chip industry
From the perspective of the global isolation chip market, according to Markets and Markets data, the global digital isolation chip market size is expected to be about US$1.8 billion in 2022, and is expected to grow to US$2.7 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 8.45% from 2022 to 2027.
From the perspective of downstream applications, industrial and automotive electronics are the two largest application areas of digital isolation chips, accounting for 28.58% and 16.84% in 2020, respectively, and is expected to reach 28.80% and 16.79% by 2026.
2020-2026 global digital isolation chip downstream application share
Source: Markets and Markets, compiled by Huajing Industry Research Institute
From the perspective of the market segmented gate driver market size, according to Yole data, the global gate driver chip market size in 2021 is about US$1.678 billion, and it is expected to reach US$2.732 billion by 2027, with CAGR=8.5% from 2020-2030.
2021-2027 global gate driver chip market size and growth rate
Source: Yole, compiled by Huajing Industry Research Institute
5. Competitive pattern of the isolation chip industry
From the perspective of market competition pattern, European and American semiconductor companies started early in the field of digital isolation chips and have long occupied a dominant position in the market. According to statistics from Markets and Markets, TI, Silicon Labs, ADI, Broadcom (Broadcom) and Infineon account for 40%-50% of the global digital isolation chip market size in 2020. The remaining market is mainly occupied by NVE, ROHM (Rom Semiconductor), MAXIM (Mein Information Company), Vicor, ON (ON Semiconductor) and other companies.
Competitive landscape of the global digital isolation chip industry in 2020
Source: Naxin Micro Prospectus, compiled by Huajing Industry Research Institute
Naxin Micro is an integrated circuit design company focusing on the research and development and sales of high-performance and high-reliability analog integrated circuit . The products cover analog and mixed signal chips in the technical field. At present, it can provide more than 800 product models for sale, which are widely used in information and communications, industrial control, automotive electronics and consumer electronics fields. Judging from the isolation chip situation, according to Markets and Markets data, the global shipment of digital isolation chips in 2020 was 701 million, and the company's digital isolation chip product shipment reached 35.8671 million, with a market share of 5.12%.
2019-2021 Nanxin micro isolation and interface chip business revenue in various fields
Source: Company announcement, compiled by Huajing Industry Research Institute
6. Development trend of the isolation chip industry
1. There are two major application fields in automobiles that correspond to the two major development trends of automotive electronics: electrification and intelligence. In recent years, with the reduction of battery costs and the improvement of battery and power system reliability, sales of new energy vehicles have grown rapidly. According to IEA data, global sales of new energy vehicles reached 6.6 million in 2021, an increase of 121.48% year-on-year.As the penetration rate of in new energy vehicles continues to increase in the future, it is expected that the corresponding demand for isolation chips for large and small three-electric systems will maintain a rapid growth trend.
Global new energy vehicle sales and growth rate from 2016 to 2021
Source: Public information sorting
2. In new energy power generation and energy storage systems, isolation chips are mainly used to realize isolation, sampling, communication and other functions in inverter , converter, PCS and other equipment, and are an indispensable chip component of power electronic converters. In addition, in the BMS system of energy storage power station, isolation chips are also widely used in inter-board communication to isolate high voltage and signal interference.
In recent years, countries have successively proposed the target of carbon peak and carbon neutrality . The demand for new energy installed capacity has grown rapidly. With the growth of new energy installed capacity demand, the frequency and peak regulating capabilities of the power grid are challenged, and energy storage demand has also ushered in a rapid growth period. In the future, with the increase in the installed capacity of new energy power generation and energy storage capacity, the demand for isolation chips will also benefit.
3. In the communication field - 5G base station , the isolation chip is mainly used for driving, sampling and communication of primary and secondary power systems. According to data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, in 2021, the total number of China Mobile Communications base stations reached 9.96 million, with a net increase of 650,000 throughout the year. Among them, there are 5.9 million 4G base stations, 1.425 million 5G base stations, and more than 650,000 new 5G base stations are built throughout the year. It is expected to build more than 600,000 5G base stations in 2022. With the gradual completion of the macro station construction, the construction of 5G base stations has gradually shifted to the small station stage. It is expected that the number of domestic 5G base station construction will stabilize in the future.
2019-2022 China's 5G communication base station new construction and cumulative number of websites
Source: Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, compiled by Huajing Industry Research Institute
4. There are also application scenarios for isolation chips in industrial inverters, servo drivers, PLCh. Isolation chips are mainly used in IGBT/MOSFET drivers, communication interfaces and other scenarios. In PLC, the isolation chip can also serve as an I/O interface to output signals to the outside and isolate external noise interference.
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