Title
ASIC for smoke detectors
Microelectronics reduces cost, increases reliability
Technologies used

Mixed Signal ASIC

Industrial sector (PRODCOM code)
    332 Instruments
Abstract
ANION P.S.E., S.A. is a 15 employees Spanish company that designs and manufactures electronic equipment for fire and gas detection. Its products are sold to both industry and household installations. The company sales revenues were near to 2,7 MEUR during 1997.

ANION was founded in 1982 as an electronic Division of COFEM aimed to the Spanish market of fire and gas detection. ANION has developed its own technology and has positioned itself in the Spanish market as one of the main manufacturers of fire detectors. The company had electronic design and manufacturing capability with discrete and standard devices, although did not have such expertise in the field of ASIC components.

Conventional smoke ionisation (DIH) and rate of rise heat (DTVT) detectors represent two important products among ANION product range, with selling volumes of 25.000 units/year and 30.000 units/year, respectively. However, the use of off-the-shelf standard components in both devices is a source of reliability and cost optimisation problems, especially in the smoke ionisation sensor. This had as consequence that the company market share was halved over the past 4 years.

In order to address these points this Application Experiment developed a mixed signal ASIC to be introduced in the whole conventional detector line of products that ANION manufactures. The new IC will improve the production process and costs, specially in making easier the individual calibration process, it will enhance some features in these devices, and as a consequence will enable a better positioning of the company in the fire-detection sector.

In addition, this experiment has allowed a guided introduction in the microelectronics field of knowledge that will enable the company to face in the future new projects of bigger technical complexity and economical impact.

The total cost of the Application Experiment was 103 KEUR and was completed in 13 months. The company expects the investment to be paid back in approx. 1½ years. The ROI is approx. 300% over three years, equivalent to an average yearly rate of 40%.
Company
ANION P.S.E. S.A.
Ctra. Molins de Rei a Rubi, Km. 8,4
08191 Rubi, Barcelona,
Spain
Detailed information
You can also benefit from microelectronics

Mixed Signal ASIC technology provided ANION P.S.E. S.A. with the means of improving its products and enhancing its market position. You can also achieve significant benefits by acquiring the right microelectronics technology and utilising it in your product or manufacturing process. You can get help from FUSE to realise this.

FUSE is a technology transfer programme, funded by the European Commission to stimulate the wider use of microelectronics technologies by European enterprises to increase their competitiveness and enhance their economic growth. The demonstrator described here is one of many examples in the public FUSE portfolio covering the whole spectrum of microelectronics technologies and spanning a wide range of applications and industry sectors.

FUSE provides you with:

  • Best practice in acquiring specific microelectronics technologies and conducting full development projects through the FUSE portfolio of real life demonstrator documents.
  • Local training and expert support to plan your innovation realistically and help you conduct your project successfully.

Further information and support relating to this and other demonstrators can be obtained from the addresses below.
Further information   Guiding Technology Transfer Node
For further information and support regarding this case study, please contact a Technology Transfer Node (TTN) in your region.
Homepage: http://www.fuse-network.com
COTEC
C/Marques De Urquijo 26, 1 C, Izq.
E-28008 Madrid
Spain