Alphacore Wiki

Alphacore, Inc.

Alphacore, Inc. is a U.S.-based provider of high-performance analog, mixed-signal and RF semiconductor IP, with special expertise in radiation-hardened electronics and imaging solutions. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, the company serves critical markets such as aerospace, defense, scientific research, medical imaging, and homeland security.

🔹 Company Overview

• Founded: 2012

• Headquarters: Tempe, Arizona, USA (Silicon Desert region)

• Employees: Small, agile team of approximately 11–50 staff

• Industry: Semiconductor IP, RF and analog design, rad-hard electronics

• Core Competencies: High-speed ADCs and DACs, imaging systems, power management blocks, custom ASIC/IP solutions

🧰 Technology & Offerings

Data Converter & Analog/Mixed-Signal IP

Alphacore develops ultra-low power and high-speed data converter IP cores—including flash ADCs, SAR ADCs, pipeline ADCs, and DACs—tailored for advanced nodes like GlobalFoundries 22FDX. Products are known for their precision, optimized time-to-market, and compatibility with demanding specifications.

Radiation-Hardened (Rad-Hard) Electronics

Specializing in designs hardened by radiation-aware architecture (RHBD), Alphacore delivers microelectronics capable of withstanding harsh environments—offering resilience to total ionizing dose (TID), single-event effects (SEE), and reliability issues across long-term deployment use cases.

Imaging & Sensor Systems

Alphacore offers high‑resolution, high‑frame‑rate imaging ROICs and camera modules, including multi-channel focal plane arrays (FPAs) and readout integrated circuits (ROICs), suitable for radiation-intense environments, cryogenic operation, and scientific instrumentation.

Custom IC Design & Engineering Services

In addition to off-the-shelf IP, Alphacore independently handles full custom ASIC design—from analog/RF blocks (PLLs, comparators, regulators) to complete imaging systems. Clients benefit from expert design services and collaboration during system partitioning and optimization.

Security & Reliability Monitors

Alphacore also develops hardware-based circuits for supply chain authentication, reliability monitoring, and built-in self-test (BIST), geared toward detecting counterfeit or compromised components in critical systems.

🌍 Target Markets & Applications

Alphacore focuses on niche, mission-critical applications with strict requirements around performance, size, weight, power, cost (SWaP-C), and environmental resilience, such as:

• Aerospace & satellite systems

• Military / defense electronics

• Scientific research including nuclear and particle physics detection

• Medical imaging devices

• Industrial sensors under extreme conditions

✅ Design Philosophy & Strengths

• Radiation-Hardened-by-Design (RHBD): Built-in methodology rather than post-design mitigation

• Silicon-Proven IP: Validated in real silicon across foundry process nodes

• SWaP-C Optimization: Focus on reducing footprint, weight, power, and cost

• Fast & Flexible Business Model: Small company agility with high attention to client needs and contract flexibility (ITAR/CMMC compliant)

📋 Summary Table