systemkrets

A systemkrets, commonly known as a system on a chip (SoC), is an integrated circuit that consolidates the core components of a digital system onto a single semiconductor die. By integrating a central processing unit, memory, and a range of peripherals and interfaces, a systemkrets can reduce size, cost, and power consumption compared with multi-chip designs.

A typical systemkrets includes CPU cores, on-die memory controllers or external memory interfaces, and graphics processing units or other accelerators. It may also contain digital signal processors, image signal processors, neural processing units, audio processors, and various accelerators for multimedia or cryptography. Connectivity blocks such as Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, cellular modems, and high-speed interfaces (PCIe, USB, MIPI) are common, as are power management units, clock distribution networks, safety and security features, and on‑chip interconnects.

SoCs are widely used in smartphones, tablets, wearables, embedded devices, automotive systems, and other consumer electronics. They differentiate themselves from microcontrollers by higher integration and performance, though some devices combine an application processor with separate modules or chips. Heterogeneous architectures, featuring a mix of CPU cores, GPUs, and specialized accelerators on one die or tightly coupled dice, are common to optimize for efficiency and speed.

Design and manufacturing involve integrating licensed IP blocks and custom logic, extensive verification, and silicon testing. SoCs are produced on advanced semiconductor processes, requiring substantial investment and collaboration with foundries and IP licensors. Ongoing trends include greater integration of AI accelerators, improved power efficiency, enhanced security, and system-level optimization to meet varying application requirements.