Macau’s First Fully Locally-Owned Self-Developed Chip: The Story of Macauchip’s Capacitive Transducer ASIC

Project Origin & Professional R&D Team

Supported by AIDIT, Macauchip set up its formal operation team at the beginning of 2016. Our core R&D members are Master and PhD graduates from the State Key Laboratory of Microelectronics, University of Macau, with years of practical experience in integrated circuit design.

We focused on developing a dedicated chip for capacitive grating sensing equipment. Our R&D team created an innovative optimized core algorithm, which simultaneously upgrades measurement precision and reduces the overall component cost of sensing modules. This chip is mainly applied to digital calipers and all types of precision displacement measuring instruments.

R&D Timeline & Government Funding Application

The first prototype of our capacitive transducer ASIC finished complete performance testing in November 2016. After the initial test success, our team started revision design to prepare for formal mass production.

At that stage, the project required high-performance computing servers for high-precision circuit simulation. To speed up iteration and realize large-scale manufacturing, Macauchip submitted a research funding application to the Macao Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT), with the official project file No. 057/2016/A. The full FDCT project record is available at: https://www.fdct.gov.mo/pt/approvedproject_detail/article/jezf6xfd.html

The project also received media coverage from local mainstream newspaper Cheng Pou Daily, news link: https://www.chengpou.com.mo/dailynews/122383

Industry Significance & Long-Term Layout

Chao Wong On, Director of AIDIT, stated that the association always commits to supporting local tech startups, turning creative concepts into commercialized products. Leveraging Macau’s close cooperative ties with Portuguese-speaking countries, the association helps local tech hardware expand global markets, and strives to build Macau into an international technology exhibition hub.

This ground-breaking sensing chip laid solid technical foundations for Macauchip’s long-term development. In the following years, we expanded our product portfolio and built stable authorized cooperation with GEO-CHIP, forming our dual-service system of self-designed custom IC development and full-series RF & analog chip supply for worldwide electronics manufacturers.

Global Technical Support For Sensing Device Manufacturers

Up to now, we still provide mature capacitive transducer ASIC solutions and customized chip design services for global clients. If you develop precision measuring instruments, industrial automation sensors or IoT position detection terminals, please contact our sales team via [email protected] for datasheets, sample arrangements and quotation.