The Italian Renaissance was an incredible two-hundred-year period of human history marked by remarkable advancement in both the arts as well as science and technology. Names like Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo Galilei, and Sandro Botticelli are but a few of the great minds that gifted the world with incredible knowledge, art, and inventions (Figure 1). A few centuries later, a renaissance in electronics would emerge from a small town in Italy named Ivrea. And it all began with a hand-soldered circuit board that would become known globally as Arduino.

 

 

In the (Academic) Beginning…

Before the early 2000s, many engineers and makers interested in embedded electronics cut their teeth on the PIC-based BASIC Stamp platform. BASIC Stamp became popular since the hardware was relatively inexpensive compared to most microcontroller platforms of the time. $139USD (inflation-adjusted to 2022, almost $400) in the 1990s got you a Stamp, parallel port programming cable, and a copy of Stamp Editor. The BASIC-esque programming language (a variant named PBASIC) was easy to learn, but the editor only ran on Windows. Still, the emphasis of BASIC Stamp was on those with a technical mindset. For many of those with an artistic bent who yearned for a way to integrate technology into their art, the BASIC Stamp proved to be less than ideal as it was not programmable on a Mac, and the cost was still a bit high, especially for students.

Around 2003 this would begin to change. Enter the Interaction Design Institute Ivrea (IDII) and a perfect storm of technology and art (Figure 2).

 

 

A group of students and professors whose work revolved around interactive art were frustrated that the technology of the time was more a hindrance than a help in bringing their creative works to life. Some of the earliest people involved were Hernando Barragán, Massimo Banzi, Casey Reas, and Ben Fry. Barragán’s master's thesis was the Wiring development platform built around the humble ATmega128 microcontroller and a handmade circuit board. Banzi was one of Barragán’s advisors along with Reas. Fry and Reas were the creators of the processing integrated development environment (IDE). Hernando would leverage processing as the basis for the original Arduino IDE, which was replaced only recently (September 2022) by the more modern Arduino IDE 2.0. These decisions would lay the foundations for the beginning of the worldwide Arduino ecosystem.

NOTE: It should be noted that since the initial IDE launch, Arduino has also released a command line interface (CLI) and a text-based linter that is useful for those seeking modern professional development tools.

Going Commercial and Open Source

The first commercially available board was the Arduino RS232 featuring through-hole components, a DB-9 serial port, and a DC barrel jack power supply (Figure 3). This design made it easy to hand-solder and reproduce in decent quantities. The simple design, coupled with the decision to release the hardware design under a Creative Commons license (specifically a CC BY-SA license), propelled Arduino into the hearts and minds of countless artists and electronics hobbyists.

 

 

Low cost was another consideration, as the Arduino was initially targeted at art and design college students. The decision to release the hardware and software (the IDE is released under a GNU general public license, version 2) is arguably one of the defining and, at the time, riskiest propositions for the then-fledgling electronics ecosystem. The pending closure of IDII in 2006 and its academic program being subsumed into the Domus Academy in Milan also helped prompt the founders to adopt an open-source model for Arduino.

In 2008, the five founding members of the Arduino project formed Arduino LLC to handle the intellectual property of the Arduino. It was initially envisioned that other companies would manufacture and sell the “official” Arduino boards while Arduino LLC would receive royalties from these sales. Of course, due to the open-source nature of the Arduino platform could take the design files and create both exact duplicates or improved boards (Figure 4). The only stipulation being they could not be named “Arduino” as that name was trademarked exclusively for boards licensed by Arduino LLC. Surprisingly while many derivative boards did find their way to the market, they did not have a significant negative impact on official board sales. Customers did indeed reward Arduino LLC with loyalty, recognizing the superior quality of the hardware and the effort Arduino LLC put into expanding the hardware platform and constantly improving the software development tools. Additionally, the form factor of the original Arduino boards has been faithfully maintained throughout the lineage of the credit card-sized Arduino boards, including the Diecimila, Duemilanove, and the current Uno R3.

 

 

It was not always smooth sailing for the Arduino LLC team. In the 2010s, a legal dispute erupted amongst the founders. Without rehashing this dark period, the bottom line was that the trademark Arduino was only good for boards sold in the United States. A company (Arduino SRL) run by one of the founders, Gianluca Martino, held the Arduino trademark in Italy. In response, Arduino began to market Arduino boards outside the United States as Genuino. For a few years, there was quite a bit of confusion in the Arduino ecosystem regarding which boards were compatible with which companies' development software. In 2017, the other four founders regained the trademarks held by Arduino SRL, and once again, Arduino was made whole.

Original Source: Mouser

About The Author

Michael Parks, P.E. is the co-founder of Green Shoe Garage, a custom electronics design studio and embedded security research firm located in Western Maryland. He produces the Gears of Resistance Podcast to help raise public awareness of technical and scientific matters. Michael is also a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Maryland and holds a Master’s degree in systems engineering from Johns Hopkins University.

The Arduino platform is one of the most popular platforms for electronics enthusiasts and hobbyists for building electronic projects. Sometimes an Arduino board may not work as you might have expected and you might be wondering what the problem is. In this blog, we will learn the reasons why your Arduino board may not be working and how to solve it.

You can also go through our previous Arduino common problems blog or learn more about Arduino projects on our website

Let’s go through the problems one by one

Arduino not Powering Up

So, you’ve bought yourself a new Arduino. you plug your USB cable and it’s not powering up. No power led. No Rx or Tx led’s working. Let’s see what can be the issues:

If your Arduino is not showing any signs of powering up…you might check the following issues to sort your problem: -

Faulty Cable Issue:-

• Inspect the cable for any signs of physical damage, such as frayed wires, kinks, or loose connections. If you see any type of damage, replace it.
• Testing the cable: Use a multimeter to test the continuity of the cable. Test for continuity between each pin of the cable to ensure that it is properly connected.
• Try a different cable: If you have another cable, try to use it to connect the Arduino to the power source or your computer. If the Arduino works with the new cable, then the old cable is likely the issue.
• Check the USB port: If you are using a USB cable to connect the Arduino to the computer, try using a different USB port. Sometimes, a faulty USB port can cause connection issues.

• Check the power supply: If you are using a power supply (I.e., power bank, adapter etc) to power the Arduino, make sure it is giving enough voltage and current. If the power supply is faulty, it can cause connection issues.If you have checked the cable and tried the above steps, but the Arduino still does not work, then it is possible that the issue is not related to the cable. In that case, you may need to troubleshoot.

Voltage Regulator Faulty Issue:-

If you suspect that your AMS1117 voltage regulator is faulty in your Arduino project, here are some steps you can take to check and fix the issue:

             

• Check the complete voltage regulator for any discrepancy visually.
• Measure the input voltage of the ams1117 to ensure it is within the regulator's input voltage range provided in the datasheet. If the input voltage is higher than expected, consider adding a voltage divider or a Zener diode to reduce the input voltage to within the regulator's specified range.

• Check the output voltage of the regulator and check that it is stable and within the expected range. If the output voltage is unstable or too low, test the capacitors on the input and output sides of the regulator. They should be within the recommended values and securely connected.
• Check the regulator's current load capacity by measuring the current draw of the load and comparing it to the regulator's maximum output current rating in its datasheet. If the load current is more than the regulator's max output current rating, use a higher current rating regulator or add an extra regulator to share the load.
• add a heat sink to the regulator to help dissipate heat and avoid a thermal shutdown.
• Replace the faulty AMS1117 with a new one from a reliable supplier.

Atmega IC Faulty Issue:-

The majority of Arduino boards are controlled by the Atmega IC microcontroller chip. Here are some steps you can take to address the problem if you believe that the Atmega IC on your board is faulty:

• Visual inspection: Look for any obvious symptoms of Atmega IC damage on the Arduino board, such as fractures, burns, or discoloration.
• Verifying the connections: ensure that the Atmega IC is securely fastened to the circuit board and that none of the connectors or pins are flimsy.
• Trying a different Atmega IC: If you have an additional Atmega IC or have access to one from another Arduino, consider swapping it out for the problematic one. If the Arduino functions properly with the new Atmega IC, the problem is with the older IC.
• Testing with a programmer: If you have a programmer that is external, you can connect to it to test the functionality of the Atmega IC. Further setup will be necessary, such as the installation of the required drivers and software.

• Changing the Atmega IC: If none of the aforementioned solutions resolve the problem, this step is required. To fix the broken IC on the Arduino board, get a replacement IC online or from a nearby electronics retailer.

Removing the Atmega Chip can be challenging and calls for some soldering expertise.

Serial Converter Faulty:-

If you believe that the serial converter on your Arduino board is broken (it's most likely a ch340 or cp2102). You can take the following actions to address the problem:

• Look for connections: Check that the serial converter is securely attached to the board and that no connections or pins are loose.
• Using a separate USB cord to check: Try a new USB cord if you are using one to connect the Arduino to the computer. An unreliable USB cord may occasionally result in connectivity problems.
• Try connecting the Arduino to a separate system to test with a different computer (PC).
• Examining the USB port: If you are connecting the Arduino to the computer with a USB cable, try a different USB port. An unreliable USB port may occasionally result in connectivity problems.
• Verifying the power source: Verify that the power supply is supplying the Arduino with sufficient voltage and current. Connection problems may be brought on by a malfunctioning power supply.
• Replace the serial converter: If none of the aforementioned measures work to solve the problem, a new serial converter may be required. A replacement serial converter is available from stores or online.

Main Capacitor Faulty:-

An Arduino board's primary capacitor aids in power supply stabilization and filtering. These are some steps you can take to solve the problem if you think the main capacitor is faulty:

• Visual inspection: Check the capacitor visually for any obvious symptoms of damage, such as cracks, bulging, or leakage.
• Test with a multimeter: A multimeter can be used to measure the capacitor's capacitance. The capacitance value must be same as the the value listed in the documentation for the Arduino board.

• Checking the power supply: Check that the power source is supplying the Arduino board with the proper voltage and current. The primary capacitor may have some troubles as a result of a bad power supply.
• Changing the capacitor: You must replace the capacitor if it is faulty. The defective capacitor on the Arduino board can be swapped out with a new one by placing an online purchase or visiting a nearby electronics retailer. Make sure the capacitor you choose has the same capacitance and voltage specifications as the original capacitor.  

Polyfuse Faulty:-

Polyfuses are resetting fuses that shield an Arduino board's electronic parts from overcurrent and short circuits. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the problem if you think your Arduino board's polyfuse is defective:

• Visual inspection: Check the polyfuse for any cracks, bulges, or other outward indications of damage.
• Test with a multimeter: A multimeter can be used to measure the polyfuse's resistance. While the polyfuse is in its normal state, the resistance should be low, and when it is blown, the resistance should be high.

• Verify continuity: Examine continuity across the polyfuse using a multimeter. When the polyfuse is in its normal state, there should be continuity; when it is in its blown state, there should be none.

• Check the power supply: Ensure that the power source is supplying the Arduino board with the proper voltage and current. The polyfuse may experience problems as a result of a bad power source.
• Change the polyfuse: If the polyfuse is defective, you must change it. You can replace the defective polyfuse on the Arduino board by placing an online or offline order for a replacement polyfuse.

Diode Faulty:-

Diodes are used on an Arduino board to stop voltage spikes and restrict the direction in which current can go. If a diode on your Arduino board is broken, use these steps to fix the issue:

• Visual inspection: Check the diode for any signs of damage, such as cracks or discoloration.
• Do a multimeter test: Measure the voltage drop across the diode using a multimeter in both- forward and reverse orientations. The voltage loss should be within the ranges specified in the Arduino board's documentation. To get started with Multimeter, follow the link.

• Do a continuity test by using a multimeter to look for continuity across the diode. The forward direction should go on forever, but the reverse direction shouldn't.

• By examining the diode continuity, you may examine the power supply. Check to see that the power supply is providing the right voltage and current to the Arduino board. A bad power source could cause complications for the diode.
• Replace the diode: If the diode is broken, you must do so. Get a replacement diode online or at a nearby electronics store to repair the broken one on the Arduino board.

Board not in Sync

The "Board not in Sync" error message in Arduino IDE typically means that the computer is unable to establish communication with the Arduino board. This can happen due to various reasons, such as incorrect board selection, damaged USB cable, or wrong port selection.

Here are a few steps you can try to resolve the "Board not in Sync" error:

• Ensure that the correct board is selected under the "Tools" menu. Check if the board type matches the one, you're using.
• Check if the correct serial port is selected under the "Tools" menu. If you're unsure which port to select, disconnect the board, and see which port disappears from the list. Reconnect the board and select the corresponding port.
• Try a different USB cable or USB port. A damaged USB cable or a faulty USB port can prevent communication between the computer and the board.
• Press the reset button on the board while uploading the code. Some boards require you to press the reset button once the upload starts to get them into the bootloader mode.

• Try uploading the code using another computer. If none of the above step’s work, try using a different computer to eliminate the possibility of a software or hardware issue with the original computer.
• If none of the above step’s work, there may be a hardware issue with the board that needs further investigation.

Wrong COM Port

This error in Arduino IDE means that the serial port which is selected is not the correct one for the Arduino board that you have connected. This happens when the board is not recognized by the computer or if multiple devices are connected to the computer, making it difficult to identify the correct port.

Here are a few steps you can try to resolve the "Wrong COM Port" error:

• Disconnect the Arduino board from the computer and reconnect it.
• Check the Device Manager or System Information to see if the Arduino board is there under the Ports section. If it's not listed, the computer may not recognize the board, or there could be an issue with the USB cable or the board itself.

• Check that the correct board is selected under the "Tools" menu. Check if the board type matches the one, you're using.
• Check if the correct serial port is selected under the "Tools" menu. If you're unsure which port to select, disconnect the board, and see which port disappears from the list. Reconnect the board and select the corresponding port.
• Try a different USB cable or USB port. A damaged USB cable or a faulty USB port can prevent communication between the computer and the board.
• Restart the computer and the Arduino IDE. Sometimes, a simple restart can help resolve the issue.
• If none of the above steps work, there may be a hardware issue with the board that needs further investigation.

avrdude: stk500_getsync (): not in sync: resp=0x00

"avrdude: stk500 getsync (): not in sync: resp=0x00" often indicates that the computer is not able to connect to the Arduino board. This error can happen various reasons, including choosing wrong board, wrong port, having a corrupt bootloader, or a damaged USB cord.

To fix the "avrdude: stk500 getsync(): not in sync: resp=0x00" problem, try the following steps:

• Check that your board is chosen in the "Tools" menu. Also check that the board type corresponds to the one you are using.
• Verify that the proper serial port is chosen in the "Tools" menu. Disconnect the board and see which port vanishes from the list if you're confused which port to choose. Choose the appropriate port and reconnect the board.
• Test a different USB port or cable. Communication between the computer and the board can be hampered by a broken USB cable or a defective USB port.
• While uploading the code, press the reset button on the board. Some boards require you to click the reset button once the upload starts to bring them into the bootloader mode.
• Try using a different computer to upload the code. If none of the above measures are successful, the board may have a hardware problem that requires additional research.

Arduino Board not Recognized

This indicates that the Arduino board is not recognised by the computer. A broken USB cable, improper driver installation, or a hardware problem with the board are just a few causes of this message.

You can try the following things to fix the "Arduino board not detected" error:

• Verify that the USB cable is securely attached to the computer and the board. To test whether it fixes the problem, try some other USB cord.
• Check that the board is turned on. Some boards need a battery or an external power source to operate effectively.
• To see if the Arduino board is visible under the Ports section, check the Device Manager. If it isn't listed, there might be a problem with the USB cable or the board itself, or the computer might not be able to recognize the board.
• Setting up the board's proper driver. A particular driver needs to be installed on the computer to support some boards. To get the correct driver and installation instructions, visit the manufacturer's website.
• Restart the Arduino IDE and the computer. Sometimes all it takes to fix something is a restart.
• Examine another USB port. The computer may be unable to recognize the board due to a broken USB port.
• Try utilizing the board with a different computer. To rule out the potential that the original computer has a software or hardware problem, try utilizing the board on another computer if none of the previous methods work.

Bootloader Issue

Here are a few things you can do to solve the issue if you are having bootloader issues and none of the solutions mentioned above are working for your Arduino board:

• Verify your USB cable: As you connect your computer to the Arduino board using a USB cable, check that everything is working properly. To test whether it fixes the problem, try a different USB cord.
• Make sure you chose the right board and serial port in the Arduino IDE by checking your selections. Choose the proper board type and port from the "Tools" menu. Unplug the board, check the list of possible ports, plug the board back in, then check the list of ports once more if you are not sure which port to choose. The brand-new port that pops up must be the right one.
• Clear the screen: By pushing the reset button, try to reset the board. The bootloader will restart as a result, enabling programming mode to be accessed by the board. After the board has been reset, make sure to immediately begin the upload procedure.
• Burn the bootloader again: You might need to do this if the bootloader on your Arduino board is corrupted or not operating properly. On our website are instructions for burning the bootloader. It should be noted that an ISP programmer or another Arduino board acting as a programmer is required for this process.
• Verify the fuse settings: Verify that the Arduino board's fuse settings are accurate. The board may not operate properly or the bootloader may not work at all if the fuse settings are off.

Serial Port Issues

Serial port issues in Arduino can occur due to various reasons, such as incorrect port selection, damaged USB cable, or a malfunctioning board.

Serial communication in Arduino refers to the process of sending and receiving data through the serial port of the Arduino board. Serial communication can be established between the Arduino board and another device such as a computer, another Arduino board, a sensor, or a display.

Here are the few common issues beginners face with serial communication are

Serial Port Already in Use:-

If you are getting a "Serial Port Already in Use" error message when trying to upload code to your Arduino board or trying to open the Serial Monitor, it means that the port you are trying to use is currently being used by another application or process on your computer. Here are some steps you can take to resolve this issue:

• Close any other applications that may be using the serial port: Make sure that no other programs or applications are using the serial port that you want to use with your Arduino board. This could include other instances of the Arduino IDE, serial terminal software, or any other programs that use serial communications.

• Disconnect and reconnect the Arduino board: Try disconnecting the USB cable from the Arduino board and then reconnecting it to see if that releases the serial port.

• Restart your computer: Sometimes, the issue may be caused by a conflict with another software or process that is running on your computer. Try restarting your computer to see if that helps.

• Use a different serial port: If your computer has multiple USB ports, try using a different port to see if that resolves the issue.

• Check your code: Make sure that your code is not holding the serial port open or using it in a way that prevents other programs from accessing it.

If none of these step’s work, you may need to consult the Arduino forums or seek additional help from an expert.

Serial Port Menu Grayed Out: -

If the Serial Port menu is grayed out in the Arduino IDE, it usually means that the IDE is unable to detect any available serial ports on the computer. This can occur due to several reasons such as an incorrect board selected in the "Tools" menu, a damaged USB cable, or a malfunctioning board.

Here are a few steps you can try to resolve the issue:

• Ensure that the board is connected to the computer via a USB cable and powered on.
• Check if the correct board is selected in the "Tools" menu. If the board is not selected, the IDE may not be able to detect any available serial ports. Select the correct board from the "Tools" > "Board" menu.

• Try using a different USB cable. Sometimes, a damaged USB cable can prevent the IDE from detecting the serial ports.
• Try using the board on another computer. If the board works on another computer, it may indicate a hardware or driver issue with the original computer.
• Reinstall the board's driver. Some boards require a specific driver to be installed on the computer. Check the manufacturer's website for the correct driver and installation instructions.
• Restart the computer and the Arduino IDE. Sometimes, a simple restart can help resolve the issue.

If none of the above step’s work, there may be a hardware issue with the board that needs further investigation.

Serial Monitor Not Working:-

If you are experiencing issues with the Serial Monitor not working, there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot the problem:

• Check your connections: Make sure your Arduino is properly connected to your computer and that the correct serial port is selected in the Arduino IDE.
• Restart your Arduino IDE: Sometimes, the Serial Monitor can become unresponsive due to a software glitch. Closing and reopening the Arduino IDE can help to fix this issue.
• Check your code: Make sure your code is properly written and that you have included the necessary Serial.begin() and Serial.print() statements.
• Adjust the baud rate: Try adjusting the baud rate setting in the Serial Monitor. Sometimes, the default baud rate of 9600 may not work for certain projects.
• Clear the buffer: If the Serial Monitor is displaying gibberish or incorrect data, try clearing the buffer by pressing the "Clear" button.
• Reset your Arduino: Try resetting your Arduino by pressing the reset button on the board. This can sometimes help to fix issues with the Serial Monitor.
• Try a different computer: If none of the above steps work, try connecting your Arduino to a different computer to see if the issue is with your hardware or software.

Sketch Too Large

If you are getting a "Sketch Too Large" error message when trying to upload code to your Arduino board, it means that the compiled code (or sketch) is too big to fit in the available program memory on the board. Here are some steps you can take to resolve this issue:

• Optimize your code: One of the most effective ways to reduce the size of your code is to optimize it. This involves removing unnecessary code, using more efficient programming techniques, and minimizing the use of libraries or other resources that consume a lot of memory. There are many online resources available that provide tips and best practices for optimizing Arduino code.
• Use a smaller board: If your code is too large to fit on your current board, you may need to consider using a smaller board with less program memory.
• Remove unnecessary libraries: Libraries are a convenient way to add functionality to your Arduino project, but they can also consume a lot of program memory. Consider removing any libraries that you are not using or finding alternative libraries that are smaller or more efficient.
• Use the F() macro for string literals: String literals (e.g. text messages) can consume a lot of program memory. To reduce their impact, you can use the F() macro to store them in flash memory instead of RAM.
• Use PROGMEM to store data in flash memory: If your code includes large arrays or other data structures that are consuming a lot of program memory, you can use the PROGMEM directive to store them in flash memory instead of RAM.
• Upgrade your hardware: If none of the above steps work and you absolutely need more program memory, you may need to consider upgrading to a board with more memory or using an external memory device.

By following these steps, you should be able to reduce the size of your code and resolve the "Sketch Too Large" error message.

Grounding Errors

Many things, including as improper wiring, shoddy connections, and electrical noise, might result in grounding issues in Arduino. These are some methods you can take to investigate and fix grounding issues:

• Inspect your wiring: Verify that all of your connections and cables are secure and correctly linked. Errors in grounding can result from faulty or loose wiring.
• Employ a dedicated ground wire: In some circumstances, connecting all of the circuit's components to a dedicated ground wire may be beneficial. This can lower the possibility of grounding problems and increase your system's overall reliability.
• Isolate high-current and low-current wires: By doing this, you will lessen the chance that grounding errors will be caused by electrical noise and other types of interference.
• Employ shielded wires: Shielded cables can reduce electrical interference and noise, which are frequent causes of grounding mistakes in Arduino circuits.
• Utilize a power supply with a ground pin: Power supplies without a ground pin may result in incorrect grounding. To ensure appropriate grounding, utilise a power supply with a ground pin.

Employ decoupling capacitors to prevent electrical interference and noise, which are frequent causes of grounding problems in Arduino circuits. Decoupling capacitors should be placed as close as feasible to the component's ground and power pins.By following these steps, you should be able to troubleshoot and resolve grounding errors in your Arduino circuits

In this blog, we discussed some common issues that can occur when working with Arduino, along with steps to resolve them.  By following the troubleshooting steps outlined in this blog, you should be able to resolve these issues and continue working with Arduino. However, it's important to remember that Arduino is a complex system and there may be other issues that can arise as well. If you continue to experience problems, don't hesitate to seek additional help from the Arduino community or an expert in the field. With patience and perseverance, you can become proficient in working with Arduino and enjoy the benefits of this powerful platform.

Projects you can make using Arduino

The Taiwan based global semiconductor manufacturing firm TSMC, which is now equipped with the world’s largest foundry, is leading the industry. Chinese premier President Xi Jinping, who is considered to be one of the most powerful global leaders, has undertaken numerous efforts to reunify or invade the island country Taiwan. The danger of military takeover by China is increasing everyday. Now, on the other hand, the US is forming various strategies with its allies to defeat China in the global technology race and also to boost its growth in the chip industry. Since the time of the Trump administration Chinese giants like Huawei and ZTE were banned from providing services and solutions in the country. In fact Japan, which was once a preferred semiconductor destination is now trying hard to regain the growth like the 70s. Therefore, experts opine that Japan must increase their current strengths and must have amicable relationships with their equivalents overseas such as Taiwan and the US.

With the onset of COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, the global production of semiconductors slumped to a larger extent, which ultimately affected the international automobile and every chip-based sector. As per media reports, the worldwide sales of semiconductors towards the end of 2021 has reached $556 billion of which the US accounted for 46 percent. In fact, the global shares of top-notch semiconductor manufacturers in the US has degraded from 37 percent in 1990 to 12 percent until today. This is because the USA’s counterparts overseas have invested massively in semiconductor manufacturing coupled with billions of dollars of incentives. In an effort to revive its growth again, the US has finally unleashed the much-awaited CHIPS and Science Act in 2022 worth $52.7 billion.

What’s Leading the Semiconductor Geopolitical Scuffle

Semiconductors act as the brain of electronic devices and are playing an imperative role in shaping the digital economy. Now, the point is the upcoming cutting-edge semiconductors, which will be equipped with millions of transistors coupled with massive integrations are relying on the volume of investments. The chip manufacturing is now going through a lot of geopolitical scuffles, which is because of the fact that China now produces 25 percent of the semiconductors and is aiming to lead the global market. The remaining 75 percent of semiconductors are manufactured in East Asian countries such as Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. Taiwan’s TSMC alone accounts for 90 percent of the advanced semiconductor manufacturing. Apart from Taiwan, one foundry is located in Nanjing, Shanghai, and in the US.

As per a previous report of the CircuitDigest, there were several heated discussions and speculations in the past couple of weeks regarding USA’s strenuous efforts to persuade Netherlands and Japan to join its league of no export of semiconductor technology to China. According to the experts, the US has been undertaking this strategy to boost its semiconductor industry and Japan and Netherlands will play an imperative role because they are the key providers of semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Although the US has the largest group of Integrated Device Manufacturers (IDM) for semiconductors, Netherland's ASML Technology and Japan's Advantest are the key players in this industry. ASML is the only company in the world that produces lithography machines that are utilized in making cutting-edge chipset. Therefore, if the country chooses to abide by Biden’s request, the matter will be a serious threat to China. Both India and the US have announced a strategic partnership on January 31 to boost the growth of semiconductors, space, defense, and modern technologies.

According to the experts, this association will help India to grab the benefits from initiatives on development, research, and the potential decrease of hurdles on US tech exports for supercomputers. Global experts have clearly added that by unleashing the CHIPS and the Science ACT, the US is looking to spearhead cutting-edge technology globally such as 6G, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence. Before the alliance with India, the US decided to craft a ‘Chip 4’ association with Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan to build a strong semiconductor supply chain that will keep out China.

Against the USA’s critical strategy of curbing export of key semiconductor technology to China, the latter has carried out a dispute against the former at the World Trade Organization (WTO) a month back. This is because of the fact that the world’s second largest economy with a GDP of 23.32 trillion dollars feels that they could be under a serious financial tussle. Back in October 2022, the USA had formed rules that stopped export of chips to China made from American technology and also American citizens working in Chinese firms are fearing of losing their jobs or risking their US citizenship. This move has severely affected China’s semiconductor industry and other high-tech industries. Because of these stern situations, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce confirmed the trade dispute in a media briefing and harshly criticized the US for misusing export control rules and fetching obstacles in global trade in chips and other tech products.

The WTO argued that tariffs foisted by President Trump on imported aluminum and steel deeply contravened international trade policy and this is when China initiated the tech trade dispute against the US, as per a report of CNBC. Experts opined that trade disputes in the WTO can take numerous years for a possible solution. The point to be noted is that WTO also has rules that says every country has the right to impose curtailment of export in the interest of national security. Hence, it could be difficult for China to win this battle.

In an interaction with CircuitDigest, Samrendra Mohan Kumar, Founder & MD, MitKat Advisory said, “In the coming years, the communist government in China will play a significant role in increasing the financial strength of the country and it could be harsh. Li Qiang who is now spearheading the economic policy of China has framed various policies, which are yet to be implemented. Currently, the country still depends on the US and other countries for key technology and intellectual property for its semiconductor manufacturing. After COVID, global firms have decided to move out of China and semiconductor firms such as TSMC, Intel, Samsung, and many more are investing massively in the American market and also in India. Attractive measures are also launched by the EU to magnetize chief semiconductor firms.”

How The Global Semiconductor Battle Can Benefit India?

If we go by history, Bengaluru has turned out to be a hotspot for IT and technology in 1985 and it also gave birth to the semiconductor industry. The commencement of the semiconductor journey seemed to be very propitious, but unfortunately the revolution lost balance. It then helped South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and China to lead the race. As per a report of The Print, semiconductor Complex Ltd (SCL), which was a government owned fabrication foundry in Punjab caught fire in 1989 and the numerous government initiatives were blown over. Rather than focusing on manufacturing, the country focussed deeply on chip design between the 1990s to 2000s. The nation now imports 100 percent of chips and it was negatively impacted by the global shortage of semiconductors due to Covid and the Russian-Ukraine tussle.

To achieve self-sufficiency and stop relying on imports, the government unleashed the much-anticipated PLI scheme of Rs 76,000 crore to boost display and semiconductor manufacturing. Also, a panel has been formed in April 2022 to assist start-ups and MSMEs in this industry. Now, there are various globals investments in the country in semiconductor manufacturing like investment from Singapore’s IGSS Ventures, Vedanta-Foxconn deal, Tata Group’s foray into manufacturing of chips, and Next Orbit Ventures and Israel’s Tower Semiconductor announcement of a $3 billion chip plant in Karnataka.

Now, the point is how China Plus One Strategy and USA’s export ban strategy will help India to grow its ESDM sector. The US is trying hard to pull out the supply chain strengths from China by forming amicable relationships with its allies such as the Netherlands, Japan, Taiwan, and India. The White House has assured India to build its semiconductor industry due to which the latter is expecting to unleash an investment of $25 billion as an incentive scheme. The aim is to make India a key competitor in the international supply chain. In a recent interaction with The Diplomat, Sunil G. Acharya, vice president at India Electronics & Semiconductor Association (IESA) mentioned that the semiconductor major firms such as Micron, Intel, and Texas Instruments are all operating in India who are providing support services and designs. Apart from that, there are a couple of well-known fabless domestic firms who provide design services to numerous international companies. Acharya further added that due to the unleashing of the SCIENCE and Chips Act, the US based chip firms will be able to expand their support services, R&D, and design centers in India.

Faisal Kawoosa, Senior Research Analyst and founder at techARC told CircuitDigest, “ChinaPlus One Strategy is already helping India to grow its ESDM sector in various ways and the alliance with the USA will give India further impetus to boost its semiconductor industry both in terms of investment and revenues. The major problem is China is still leading the component industry and without that you can grow your industry. Therefore, both India and the US must find solutions to grow its component sector. Even if you set-up manufacturing bases you are still importing a huge chunk of components from China. Global investments have already happened in India and I am sure the close association with the US will make India a major player in the ESDM sector internationally.”

Geopolitics surely has a say as every major country has now put semiconductors as an important pill and there is an urgency as every key semi-country also depends on imports of various kinds of chips as well. It's the IP that is at stake here and the race is on....US, Korea specialize in high value advance chips and China needs to play a catch game here. All this means that diversification will happen, claim experts.

Tarun Pathak, Research Director, Devices and Ecosystems at Counterpoint Research told CircuitDigest, "As no one would like to put eggs in one basket. India has an added advantage in terms of design experts as leading semiconductor companies have design houses here and It's the manufacturing and IP where we catch up and we believe India is at the right place at the right time. Semi content within categories is increasing, while the electronic devices growth will continue too. Promoting product design, including both hardware and software can be a first step in making India a hub for the electronics system design and manufacturing sector. India semiconductor market consumption is all set to reach $64Bn by 2026 with a CAGR of 16 percent."

Of late, various reforms and policy measures have been announced with an aim of escalating the share of manufacturing in gross value added (GVA) to 25 percent. In the financial year of 2019-20, the manufacturing cluster offered 17.1 percent of GVA and exports accounted for 20.7 percent of the overall manufacturing yield. The point to be noted is that none of the computer chips are completely manufactured in India yet and although US semiconductor firms have shown a lot of optimism to India there is still a discrepancy between what has been committed in eloquence and what has been assured in a signed document.

Transforming our traditional society to one that employs Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is a significant task. When personal vehicles are eliminated in favor of ride-shared technologies, traffic, emissions, and even vehicle costs may decrease. However, pushback can occur because the right to transportation law allows us to select our transportation modes.

It was once said that starting an engine wasted more fuel and created more emissions than an idling vehicle. That has changed, especially with the technological prowess we have today. Modern cars don't just have a timing mark to indicate top dead center on cylinder 1. They have cam and crankshaft position sensors that indicate accurate angular position sensing.

Electronically controlled fuel injection systems can only deliver a spurt of fuel into the cylinder at top dead center or beyond. Since ignition spark is no longer magneto or distributor cap controlled, the same car computer can ignite that spurt of fuel and, very efficiently and cleanly, get that old motor turning again.

More than Starting and Stopping

Engine restart is only an issue with gas cars. The shift to electric self-driving vehicles is a significant part of MaaS proposals. A higher level of autonomy means constant connectivity to the internet and GPS (and an extensive array of sensors).

Many cars already have radar and video-based collision avoidance systems, and they seem to play well together. More accurate GPS technologies, like Ultra-Wideband (UWB), will provide the centimeter resolutions needed to make autonomy safer.

With more responsibility placed on web-based information, cars now join the myriad of IoT devices monitored and controlled by cloud-based services and sites. IoT traffic devices include traffic lights, railroad crossings, lane closures, draw bridges, traffic sensors, speed sensors, cell phone transponders, E-Z pass transponders, RFID readers, facial recognition systems, biohazard sensors, radiation sensors, and more.

Rapid charging and widely deployed charging stations still need to be addressed. MaaS aims to eliminate all internal combustion engines, making all cars, trucks, buses, and delivery vans electric-only. This requires building reliable, fast, and clean charging stations, relying heavily on battery technology.

Battery Technology Options for MaaS

Despite not being the ideal choice, lithium-ion remains the industry standard. Lithium tech is dirty, expensive, dangerous, and not easily reclaimed. There are sounder battery technologies, and we need to find and use them.

Cleaner batteries are on the horizon. Air batteries promise higher energy densities than Lithium and use lower-cost, readily available metals. Sodium, graphene, and even hemp are viable substitutes. As more renewable energy is deployed, clean sources of power will be available for the large number of new charging stations needed to replace the internal combustion engine. Solar, wind, and geothermal technologies are being explored as alternatives to aged and dirty energy generation sources.

Conclusion

MaaS wants to eliminate internal combustion engines and reduce the number of privately owned vehicles. There are many environmental benefits to this idea if done right. We are at a point now where we can solve tech problems efficiently. The first-place experts are starting is at the battery level, so we can rely on fast and clean power to bring MaaS even further into the future.

About the Author

After completing his studies in electrical engineering, Jon Gabay has worked with defense, commercial, industrial, consumer, energy, and medical companies as a design engineer, firmware coder, system designer, research scientist, and product developer. As an alternative energy researcher and inventor, he has been involved with automation technology since he founded and ran Dedicated Devices Corp. up until 2004. Since then, he has been doing research and development, writing articles, and developing technologies for next-generation engineers and students.

Original Source: Mouser

In the electronics value chain, the packaging is a very early stage. The semiconductor foundries can either outsource packaging or do it in-house. In the last two years, the international semiconductor packaging industry has been impacted tremendously because of the strict lockdowns in various countries. Due to this scenario, the production of the chipset has been slumped. In fact, the massive disruptions of the supply chain ecosystem also severely affected the growth and demand of the semiconductor packaging sector. Experts have clearly added that slowly consumer electronics demand will be augmented and that will lead to escalating demand for semiconductor packaging. Numerous international firms are carrying out innovative strategies to deploy cutting-edge technologies in the packaging production process.

The high-end semiconductor devices, wafers, PCBs, ICs, LED chips, and electronic components are mostly imported from China and hence, the closure of manufacturing units in the region has augmented the costs of semiconductor components by more than 2-3 percent. This has led to a supply slump. Nonetheless, OME’s slow manufacturing and the decrease in demand of consumer electronics and smartphones have marginally impacted the semiconductor packaging industry. The delay in planned ventures and the decrease in capital outlays in several end-use industries have crashed the international economy. Also, during that time, semiconductor firms monitored the volumes of product demand and the production schedules have been altered to fulfill the urgent needs by deploying AI-backed technologies. 

Why Advanced Semiconductor Packaging Gaining Prominence and The Growth

The growth and resurgence of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) and the sudden spike in demand for top-notch electronics spearheaded the cutting-edge application segment across the automotive and consumer electronics sector. Over the years, the packaging technology of semiconductors has been matured to reduce the costs involved and perk up the entire efficiency of Integrated circuits (ICs). Therefore, in the market, the vendors are surrounded by a huge challenge to offer efficient solutions in terms of the performance of the packaging, size, and on-time delivery aspects. Semiconductor packaging technology also plays a pivotal role in the defense and aerospace sector.

Sagar Sharma, Chief of Staff, India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) said, “When we speak about semiconductor design and manufacturing, packaging plays a very important role. The cost, power, performance, and normal functionality of all chips on a macro level are dependent on it. Basically, the container is the package where the semiconductor die is kept. After the COVID-19 scenario, many global semiconductor foundries are increasing their packaging units, which are now done by OSATs or vendors. The die is protected by the package, helps in dissolving the heat, and connects the chip to the board. Currently, the packages appear in various materials, which could be standard or custom and they can be furnished with active or passive cooling.”

As per a report by Future and Markets Insights, the semiconductor packaging market internationally reached a growth of CAGR 4.9 percent. In 2015, the overall market valuation of this industry reached US$ 19.1 billion, whereas by the end of 2021, the sector reached a growth of US$ 25.4 billion. Media reports further added that by 2030, the global market of this industry is speculated to reach $60.44 billion compared to $27.10 billion in 2020 which is increasing at a CAGR of 9.10 percent from 2021 to 2030. When speaking of the Asia-Pacific region, the market is expected to augment at a CAGR of 6.8 percent by grabbing a revenue of $19,078.5 million by 2028. The North American semiconductor packaging market generated $7,778.5 million in 2020 and is projected to register a revenue of $13,747.0 million by 2028.

The global firms operating in this space are massively investing in key strategies such as alliances, expansions, and mergers and acquisitions to increase their worldwide share and presence. Also, new products are being unleashed by these firms to enhance their product range. For example, Intel back in 2022 associated with the University College London (UCL) to unveil a new touchless computer that can be controlled and operated by waving the hands, face, full body, and head. Texas Instruments on the other hand unveiled a new camera and sensor for the mist, rain, and snow for the radar of the vehicle during rough weather.

The Current Technical Challenges of The Global Semiconductor Packaging Industry

The semiconductor packaging industry is not new and has been there for more than fifty years, says experts. Slowly, new transistors and architectures started coming in the market and there are innovative ways of increasing the performance with the same transistors or a better one. This is where the major technology was centered and it was inside the chip. The process became a bit intricate because more complex electrical functionality was centered around the central processor. There were necessities of top-notch transistors and different voltage domains. And if the performance needs to escalate in a cost-effective way, all of that functionality cannot be kept into what is going to be a relatively big chip in a cutting-edge node and in that case, the wafers are going to be very costly.

The major problem is that most of the semiconductor companies do not have skilled designers to design a custom SoC for the entire marketplace. In order to have a full operation product, the IP blocks are required to be re-aggregated at the package level, if a chip is disaggregated. Now, this is where the package is being pushed to do an end number of things. Fine lines are needed to retain things integrated. The power and the thermal waste heat requires managing. If a device is power-hungry, more power needs to be delivered. This is where the packages are endowed with additional demands.

One of the major impediments is power utilization and dissipation. It’s hitting the packaging sector due to the integration at the package level. A huge amount of wasted heat is generated by Silicon, which is not thermally methodical. This is because the heat needs to be dumped somewhere else. Experts highlighted that a good participation is required between the package edge and the die. The most important thing from a technological perspective, additional voltage regulations and conversions are required in the package. Through this way, higher voltages can be fetched into the package and then weed them out into lower voltages.

Shanmugavadivel S, Founder at IcOnT Technology & Co-Founder of Tohands, said "Packing is more important as it determines the usability of the silicon wafers. Packaging is core thing that ensures the life time of the semiconductor, Heat withstanding and protect the wafers from environmental hazards. Now a days chip sizes are reduced very much, which is eventually due latest packaging process. First point i would say is infrastructure provided for fab is not enough. It requires a lot of capitals to establish the fab, in which the government is trying to subsidize that too. Second part is the availability of academic institutions which are more into semiconductors. Though India has few but not like Taiwan ,US or other countries established."

Where India Currently Stands in Semiconductor Packaging

Of late, a media report added that the semiconductor packaging industry in India is expected to craft a revenue opportunity of around US$ 1.7 billion during 2022-23. The All India Association of Industries (AIAI) stated that the nation has augmented its investment in defense and military by proclaiming a budget around US$ 67.4 billion during the union budget 2020-21. The investment has been increased to 10 percent when compared to the past few years. The increasing demand of semiconductors in this sector will escalate growth of the packaging industry in the country in the coming years.

Amid the government of India’s strong push to spearhead the growth and supply of semiconductors, packaging wafers will turn out to be the first node, which is going to be localized in the electronic component’s supply chain. In an interaction with the Economic Times, IIT-Madras director Kamakoti V and HCL founder Ajai Chowdhry mentioned that the packaging services like putting the wafers in casing and its shipment will be the most important thing that will start off. Now, when the investments are taken into consideration, the semiconductor packaging industry will make India an imperative part in the worldwide supply chain of semiconductors, used from luxury cars to phones.

Highlighting the importance of semiconductor packaging industry in India, Amitesh Kumar Sinha, Joint Secretary at Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) told CircuitDigest exclusively, “The growth in electronics manufacturing in India is happening immensely because back in 2014-15, the valuation was just 29 billion, and now, we have a target of 300 billion in the coming four years. In fact, the economy of semiconductors in the country is also growing around 110 million. So, you can imagine what kind of growth is happening. By 2030, the semiconductor industry is also poised to become a trillion dollar economy; around 450-500 billion economies exist in this industry. This is the right time for design and make products in India backed by incentive opportunities. Product design is the most important thing and the journey starts from there. In the semiconductor program, we have attributed 30 percent incentives for designing in India. Around 50 percent of the cost will be borne by the government from designing to testing and production of final products.”

To boost the growth further, homegrown electronics firm Sahasra Group has set up a memory chip assembly, test and packaging unit in the Bhiwadi region of Rajasthan with a capital outlay of Rs 150 crore, which in coming three years will increase to Rs 300 Crore. The plant is set to begin its operation from February 2023. Whereas, another home-grown firm Ruttonsha invested Rs 200 crore, which is under the compound semiconductor category. In Phase 1, the company aims to produce silicon wafers, phase 2 is about fabricating power electronic devices, and the unit is expected to commence its operation by March 2023.

In December 2021, the government announced a staggering Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme of roughly $10 billion dollar, which will offer an incentive of upto 30 percent on the capital expenditure for OSAT/ATMP. It is expected by the government that there would be 15 approvals for semiconductor packaging and compound semiconductors. And as per a report of the ET, Tata Electronics' Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) is in discussions with several international OSAT vendors and semiconductor firms to invest into advanced packaging of semiconductors.

Speaking of the grave concerns in this industry, Dr. Sandip Chatterjee, Director & Scientist at MeitY told CircuitDigest exclusively, “The semiconductor industry has transformed tremendously over the past few years and it requires a very high-tech workforce. Advanced materials should be the main thrust area. We require more skilled manpower, research in a very matured way and there should be more IPs. From the ministry side, we are creating an ecosystem along with the industry where we are trying to create more deep tech startups. We also have a couple of centers of excellence in India on semiconductors.”

“What we are trying to do is solve the pain-points of research and final development of the products. Investment will come, but unless we are working on the technology side we cannot grow our market. In the last four decades, the government of India has invested heavily on R&D especially on IIMs and IITs. We have even created nano-centers in IITs. But findings reveal that in the last two decades the institutes were not focused and the industry was also not capable of absorbing the high-end niche research areas. In the last 5-6 years, industry has started taking interest. Earlier, IITs were taking initiatives of upto tier-III cities, which is now extended beyond that.” added Chatterjee.