The Texas Analog Center of Excellence (TxACE), located at the University of Texas at Dallas is the largest analog research center based in an academic institution. Analog and mixed signal integrated circuits engineering is both a major opportunity and challenge. Analog circuitry is a critical component of nearly every product of the ~$400 billion per year integrated circuits industry, as a part of sensing, actuation, communication, power management and others. Digital integrated circuits such as microprocessors, logic circuits and memories are now integrating analog functions such as input/output circuits, phase locked loops, temperature sensors and power management circuits. It is also common to find microcontrollers with multiple analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters. These circuitries impact almost all aspect of modern life: safety security, health care, transportation, energy, entertainment and others.
The increasing importance of analog integrated circuits in electronic systems and the emergence of new applications are providing an exciting opportunity. However, the inherent difficulty of the art makes it challenging. Creation of advanced wireless technology and sophisticated sensing and imaging devices depends on the availability of engineering talent for analog research and development. TxACE was established to help translate these opportunities into economic benefits by overcoming the challenge and meeting the need. Support for TxACE has been provided through a collaboration of the state of Texas, Texas Instruments, the Semiconductor Research Corporation, the University of Texas System, and the University of Texas at Dallas. TxACE is committed to transforming analog and power circuit research from a process driven mainly by circuit innovation into a holistic collaborative process that creates revolutionary integrated circuits and systems driven by both great societal needs and industry.