'Decoding' the power of the first ADC chip designed by Vietnamese engineers

The ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) chip design introduced by a team of Vietnamese engineers at Diginal (a member of CT Group) at the end of June 2025 not only marks a breakthrough in the semiconductor industry in Vietnam, but also affirms the ability to independently design and master core technology.

In the context of comprehensive digital transformation and the trend of building digital twins becoming a new driving force for development, it is essential that intelligent systems have the ability to "sense," "understand" and "respond" accurately to the physical world .

Experts say that ADC and DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) chips play an important role as a bridge, converting analog signals such as sound, light, and temperature into digital data for easy processing by microprocessors, AI systems, or FPGAs, and doing the opposite to control speakers, motors, or sensor modules.

According to Diginal representative, in the field of security and defense, ADC and DAC have been widely applied in radar warning systems, precision-guided weapons, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), surveillance and navigation systems.

In smart agriculture , humidity, temperature, and soil quality sensors combined with ADC/DAC converters support real-time data collection and automatic irrigation system control, contributing to optimizing productivity and saving water and fertilizer resources.

For autonomous cars, the ADC chip is a key component in the camera system, LiDAR sensor and radar, helping to collect images, distances and depths of surrounding objects continuously and accurately. This data is converted into digital signals, allowing the algorithm to process quickly, ensuring timely response to complex traffic situations.

In the consumer electronics and AI applications segment, ADC/DAC contributes to creating vivid audio experiences in microphones, headphones, smart speakers, and helps virtual reality (VR) devices reproduce smooth, realistic images and sounds.

In medicine , the accuracy and reliability of ADC/DAC directly affect the effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment. Ultrasound equipment, heart rate monitors, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines all depend on the ability to convert analog signals from the body into digital data with high resolution and low noise. As a result, diagnostic images are clearer, helping doctors make accurate and timely judgments.

Strategically, mastering semiconductor technology, especially ADC/DAC converter chips, is the 'key' to unlocking the potential for building digital ecosystems: smart cities, smart grids, precision agriculture, digital healthcare, etc.

In phase 3 of digital transformation, when the focus is on artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), big data and comprehensive automation, the ability to digitize the real world into digital data, processing in real time with ultra-low latency is a must. ADC chips act as a 'gateway' connecting billions of sensors, supporting the operation of industrial robots, controlling autonomous vehicles, optimizing production in smart factories, and providing a platform for precision medical applications.

Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc and Chairman of CT Group Tran Kim Chung performed the ceremony to launch the ADC chip design. (Photo: CT Group)

For Vietnam, designing and manufacturing ADC chips itself not only improves core technology capabilities in front-end design and system optimization, but also reduces dependence on imported components, increases localization rate, and controls quality and security right from the start. This helps increase added value in the global value chain, creating opportunities for Vietnam to develop “Make in Vietnam” products with high technology content, ready to compete in the international market.

Besides, proactively mastering semiconductor technology also contributes significantly to improving national competitiveness, protecting national security and defense, and promoting digital economic growth.

The ADC chip is not only an electronic component but is also considered a 'technological key' to help Vietnam break through in the digital age, affirm its position and contribute to the global digital transformation process./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/giai-ma-suc-manh-con-chip-adc-dau-tien-do-ky-su-viet-thiet-ke-post1051057.vnp