Winslow Adaptics Capability and Case Study Presentation

Semiconductor / Connector obsolescence andleadtime solutions

Jonathan WarfieldProduct Development Manager

[email protected]@winslowadaptics.com

Tel: (+44) 1874 625555Fax: (+44) 1874 625500

Innovative Solutions to Semiconductor Obsolescence and Leadtime Issues

Footprint Convertors ASIC Replacement FPGA Retargeting

Standard Test Solutions Custom Test Solutions

Footprint Convertors

Any termination / package style can be converted into another desired footprinte.g. SMT to thru hole

Form, Fit and Function replacement either with a like for like component, or a small assembly to achieve the same results

The adapter program can be used to assist leadtime issues, obsolescence issues – low volume to full production quantities are both widely accepted

Example - Footprint ConvertorsIf available, components from the same device family can be converted to another package very easily.

The temperature range will be kept the same, and as standard the footprint will not exceed the original device dimensions.

8 pin DIL unavailable? 8 pin SO available?= Standard product

Footprint Convertors – Case Study

A large industrial manufacturing customer contacted Winslow Adaptics, as an On Semi device went out on allocation. The customer required a quantity of 15k per week to supply their manufacturing requirements.

The original DIL package variant was pushed out to 24-week leadtime , and the customer was about to go on line stop. So required something as a ‘stop gap’ and were not prepared to source from the grey market.

The device was a NCP1200 – Switch mode power supply.


The surface mount equivalent was freely available and it was quickly established that functionally these parts could be utilised.

It was agreed that the surface mount SO8 devices, were to be free issued to Winslow and mounted on to an adapter assembly.

The finished assemblies were to be supplied on anti-static foam and packaged to the customers specific specification.


Winslow proposed an initial 4-wk leadtime to cover material, component and manufacturing leadtimes, with drops of 15k per week to follow.

All this was built and delivered for less than $0.50 per assembly, this also matched the original DIL package component pricing.

Essentially the end customer was pleased that production continued through, until the correct package became available. This was after 150,000 adapters had been built, packed and shipped to the customer.

An enquiry was received from a large telecommunications OEM.

The device was a TIL311 – Hexadecimal display and was used across a number of the customers product range.

The option of a life time buy was available, but due to cost implications the customer was looking for a more cost effective solution.

Semiconductor Obsolescence - Case Study

The device datasheet was reviewed and it was decided that the original device would be recreated by using 22 x 0402 size LEDs, a small microcontroller and numerous discreet components.

Code was written to programme the microcontroller which was to the customers requirement and specification.

The customer only required 2000 / 3000 to cover the remaining expected life of the project, which also included maintenance.


The customer produced a schematic and asked us to design accordingly. The customer also requested test points to be added to the PCB design.

The design was completed, the manufacturing specification was agreed and production began.

The samples were built and shipped as per the specification, but the customer had an issue. They found that the LEDs that had been selected were brighter than the original and the solution was quite simple, it required resistor value changes – it was noted that LED technology had improved considerably over the past 20 years!


Application Specific Adapters

Application specific integrated circuit adapters are more customized for a particular use than the footprint convertors.

The IC’s themselves have been altered to perform a specific function within the customer circuit. The functionality is required to be known, before this can be recreated.

When these types of device go obsolete, it can be a major customer issue. What Winslow can produce is a bridge, to either provide short term solution, or something that can be used to future proof the design.

Application Specific – Case Study

A defence company contacted Winslow Adaptics with a issue they were having with a particular ASIC device.

Winslow were requested to manufacture an alternative to this ASIC and were given a component list and schematic to recreate the ASIC functionality.

The task was to fit all of the replacement devices into the original ASIC footprint, and to deliver something that was the functional equivalent.


Before a quotation can be produced, the design will need to be looked at carefully for space available for component footprints, and ultimately complete size of the adapter board. The components were also to be procured and mounted by Winslow, so reel sizes were also taken into account.

Winslow review all of this information, but also make recommendations to use smaller components where possible – this makes the PCB design easier and ultimately cheaper for the customer.


The original component was a QFP (quad flat pack) package, so the adapter was required to be surface mount. In this instance we designed the adapter using edge castellations – this was due to the volume of the requirement and the overall size.

Altogether, we have shipped over 5,000 of this product to the customer. There is still a requirement 4-years on and we are about to manufacture another 1k pieces.

FPGA Retargeting

FPGA retargeting is a relatively new concept to Winslow Adaptics, but has been proved to be a cost effective solution to the customer base.

It involves taking the architecture of an old FPGA and transferring this data to a newer modern FPGA. This again future-proofs the customers design and is classed as an upgrade.

As FPGAs become more common, the technology will advance and so older designs will be phased out of production, leaving customers with decisions to make. Winslow’s transition can assist with the upgrade, but also keep the customers existing PCB in production and take away the re-design requirement.

FPGA Retargeting- Case Study

The issue arose when a ASIC replacement adapter that had been manufactured by Winslow for over 15 years, had a last time buy notice put on the ‘replacement’ FPGA. The customer was informed of the last time buy, but decided against purchasing and holding stock due to cost implications.

Instead it was decided that the FPGA used would be a newer technology to upgrade the system and continue use for future builds. The product was used across many of the customers product lines.

The device in questions was a Xilinx Spartan device.


The initial work to be undertaken was investigation, to see if the device data could be transferred. All information was received by the customer and was dissected.

An alternative FPGA was found which required additional circuitry, mainly to reduce the voltage levels as per the manufacturers recommended advice. The footprints were layed out and pricing was offered for all steps of the conversion –

Code Recovery & FPGA selectionRe-generate codeProduce I/O compatibility circuitryHardware Modernisation


The recreation of the FPGA was completed over 12 months, as Winslow had enough stock of the older devices to cover the customers requirement. Realistically, the project from start to finish could have been completed in approx 25 weeks from start to finish.

The samples were shipped to the customer for trials, where after tinkering with the software and clock speeds, made a perfect transition from the old FPGA to the new FPGA.

The customer is now getting ready to place orders for 2k pieces of these parts per annum, which could increase with their own customer requirements.

Test Solutions

Single Probe / Multi probe Test clips Cable Assemblies

Custom Test Fixtures

Termination Styles

SMT, Thru hole, spring probe?

PCB already designed?

We can design around the environment.

Strange custom package?

Low Volumes?

Ideal for custom packages, obsolete packages, or any custom.

Development products available

Connectors can be included as well as Cable assemblies and box builds.

Engineering

Winslow Adaptics Capability and Case Study Presentation