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We create semiconductor circuits that function like the human brain and nerves. Professor Kim Dae-jeong, Department of Electronic Engineering
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The Brain Designing Future Semiconductors: IC Design Lab Professor Kim Dae-jeong's IC Design Lab at Kookmin University's Department of Electronic Engineering designs semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs), which are 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 to the entire semiconductor industry. While it does not perform cutting-edge processes directly, it provides systematic education and practical training environments aimed at cultivating talent with the practical design capabilities demanded by the industrial field.
Research on Analog and Mixed-Mode ICs Bridging the Real World to Digital One of the main research areas of the IC Design Lab is analog and mixed-mode 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 the entire data-centric 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·IoT Sensor Convergence Semiconductor Design The IC Design Research 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 Project 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 Development’ project, it supported students in acquiring practical skills enabling them to perform design tasks immediately upon graduation in industrial settings. Furthermore, via the ‘New Industry Intellectual Property Convergence Talent Development Project’, 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 Collaboration Research Growing with Industry The laboratory also strives to connect research outcomes to actual industry applications, not just academic results. A prime example is the industry-academic collaboration with Above Semiconductor Co., Ltd., a 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 appliances. This collaborative model, where students experience 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 Hub of Practical Semiconductor Education: The Shared Equipment Center The Shared Equipment Center, a core infrastructure supporting research and education, consists of the K-FAB semiconductor process facility and the Shared 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-academia collaboration semiconductor process training and advanced analysis equipment training curricula, enabling students to acquire practical skills demanded in the industrial field starting from their undergraduate studies.
A Laboratory Growing Together, Cultivating Talent to Design the Future The IC Design Laboratory adopts cultivating talent with both engineering capabilities and leadership as its research philosophy. Semiconductor design is a field where teamwork, insight, and perseverance are crucial. The laboratory 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
We create semiconductor circuits that function like the human brain and nerves. Professor Kim Dae-jeong, Department of Electronic Engineering Integrated Circuit Design Laboratory A core field leading 'Next-generation Healthcare Industry' and 'Smart Sensor Technology'. In this video |
