DESIGN OF A CUSTOM ASIC INCORPORATING CAN™ AND 1 ...

manufacturing process. Structured or platform ASICs, which belong to a relatively new ASIC
classification, are those which have been designed and produced from a tightly defined set of:
design methodologies; intellectual properties (IP’s); and well-characterized silicon, aimed at
shortening the design cycle and minimizing the development costs of the ASIC [2].
A new application emerging recently in the medical field, wearable sensor technology
can be widely used in clinical care, home health care, special people monitoring, elderly care and
assistance, psychological evaluation, physical training and many other different medical areas.
Wearable technology may provide an integral part of the solution for providing healthcare to a
growing world population that will be strained by a ballooning aging population. By providing a
means to conduct telemedicine – the monitoring, recording, and transmission of physiological
signals from outside of the hospital – wearable technology solutions could ease the burden on
health-care personnel and use hospital space for more emergent or responsive care. In addition,
employing wearable technology in professions where workers are exposed to dangers or hazards
could help save their lives and protect health-care personnel [3].
Another application is in the rapid introduction of green technology in the form of hybrid
and electric vehicles. This will strongly increase the use of electronics as the electrical features
and increased powertrain complexity will rely on sophisticated electronic control to achieve
maximum efficiency, performance, and reliability. The replacement of mechanical components
by electronics, such as relay replacement by electronic switches, is a means by which electronics
can address several needs of the automobile industry. This would not only reduce the weight of
wire harnesses but would also increase reliability. The wire harness forms the backbone of the
2