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Designing Semiconductor Circuits That Function Like the Human Brain and Nervous System Professor Kim Dae Jeong, Department of Electronic Engineering
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The IC Design Laboratory: The Brain Behind Future Semiconductors Professor Kim Dae Jeong's IC Design Lab at Kookmin University's Department of Electronic Engineering designs semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs) that lie at the core of key technologies in the Fourth Industrial Revolution era, such as smartphones, wearable devices, autonomous vehicles, and artificial intelligence systems. This lab designs semiconductor circuits that function like the human brain and nervous system to ensure the stable operation of advanced electronic products, researching core circuit design technologies essential across the semiconductor industry. While the lab does not perform advanced semiconductor processes directly, it provides systematic education and practical training environments aimed at cultivating talent with practical design capabilities demanded by the industrial field.
Research on Analog and Mixed-Signal ICs Connecting the Physical and Digital Worlds One of the main research areas of the IC Design Lab is analog and mixed-signal IC design. This is a core technology that converts analog signals from the real world, such as sound, video, and environmental signals, into a form that digital systems can recognize and process. For example, the process of converting sound input from a microphone into a digital signal that a smartphone can understand falls under this category. The lab focuses on systematizing circuit design technologies that process these signals more accurately and efficiently, and on implementing practical semiconductor solutions by integrating them with various digital systems.
Memory Semiconductor Design Leading the AI Era Another core research area is memory circuit design. Memory is the foundation of Korea's semiconductor industry and is considered essential technology for AI semiconductors, mobile devices, and our data-driven society. Its importance is growing significantly, particularly as a key factor determining the performance of AI systems. The lab aims to develop memory technologies that store data faster, longer, and with less power. It is expanding its research scope beyond conventional DRAM to include system-integrated memory, logic process-based embedded memory, and next-generation non-volatile memory. Through this, it seeks to present innovative memory solutions for next-generation AI semiconductors and the future information society.
Bio and IoT Sensor-Converged Semiconductor Design The IC Design Lab is also actively conducting research on bio and IoT sensor chip design. This research aims to integrate sensors that detect human signals or environmental information with circuits that analyze and process these minute signals onto a single chip. Since biological signals like light intensity, electrocardiograms, and blood glucose are extremely subtle, high-performance circuit technology capable of precisely reading and interpreting them is essential. The lab is developing technology to rapidly and accurately convert these signals for application in wearable devices and smart healthcare. This convergence of bio, materials, devices, and circuits is gaining attention as a core next-generation healthcare technology.
National Research Projects for Cultivating Semiconductor Talent Over the past three years, the lab has significantly contributed to building educational infrastructure while executing a national-level semiconductor workforce development project. Through the Intelligent Semiconductor Convergence Electronics System Semiconductor Design Track Establishment project, it supported students in acquiring practical skills enabling them to perform design tasks immediately upon graduation in industrial settings. Furthermore, via the Cultivation of Intellectual Property Convergence Talent in New Industries Program, it cultivates convergent talents who understand not only technology but also patents and intellectual property rights, helping students connect creative ideas to industrial competitiveness.
Industry-Academic Collaborative Research Growing with Industry The lab also strives to connect research outcomes to actual industry applications, not just academic results. A prime example is the industry-academic collaboration with ABOV Semiconductor, a leading fabless company ranking second in domestic MCU sales. The two institutions signed an MOU and jointly executed a semiconductor circuit design project. The Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) chip designed during this process is now being applied to actual commercial products, such as AI home appliances. This collaborative model, which spans the entire process from planning to process selection, circuit design, layout, chip fabrication, and verification, is recognized as a model case bridging education and industry.
The Cooperative Center for Research Facilities: A Hub for Practice-Oriented Semiconductor Education The Cooperative Center for Research Facilities, a core infrastructure supporting research and education, consists of the K-FAB semiconductor process facility and the Cooperative Experimental Equipment Center for ultra-precision analysis. Notably, at K-FAB, equipped with a 1,800-square-meter Class 1000 cleanroom, students can directly experience the entire semiconductor manufacturing process, from wafer processing to chip fabrication and electrical characterization. Furthermore, it operates industry-linked semiconductor process training and advanced analysis equipment training courses, enabling students to acquire practical skills demanded in the industrial field starting from their undergraduate studies.
A Lab that Grows Together, Cultivating Engineers of the Future The IC Design Lab aims to cultivate talent with both engineering capabilities and leadership as its research philosophy. Semiconductor design is a field where teamwork, insight, and perseverance are crucial. The lab guides students to develop a comprehensive perspective encompassing devices–circuits–systems. The professor emphasizes that students must thoroughly complete foundational courses and required major courses to build a solid foundation. Believing that academic experiences in university are not merely graduation requirements but a solid foundation for growing into creative and independent engineers in the industrial field, the IC Design Lab continues to advance toward cultivating future semiconductor talent.
Professor Kim Dae Jeong's Lab Introduction Page Kookmin University Department of Electronic Engineering Homepage
Designing Semiconductor Circuits That Function Like the Human Brain and Nervous System. Professor Kim Dae Jeong, Department of Electronic Engineering IC Design Laboratory A core field leading the next-generation healthcare industry and smart sensor technology. This video covers the following topics: |
