Application Specific Standard Product (ASSP)

What is Application Specific Standard Product (ASSP)?

An application-specific standard product (ASSP) is a type of integrated circuit (IC) that is customized for a specific application, but is based on a standard design or architecture. ASSPs are designed to perform a specific set of tasks and are typically used in devices that require a high level of performance or functionality but do not require the full customizability of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

ASSPs are used in a wide range of electronic devices, including smartphones, routers, and other networking equipment, as well as in industrial and military systems. They are often used in situations where the performance of a general-purpose microprocessor is not sufficient, or where the cost of using a microprocessor would be too high.

One of the main advantages of ASSPs is that they offer a good balance between performance and cost. They are more specialized and optimized for a specific task than a general-purpose microprocessor, but they are not as expensive or complex to design and produce as an ASIC. They also offer some level of flexibility, as they can be customized to a certain extent to meet the specific needs of the application.

However, ASSPs are not as flexible or adaptable as microprocessors, and they are not as customizable as ASICs. They are also more expensive to design and produce than standard microprocessors, and they may not be suitable for applications that require a high level of customization or performance.

See Also

1. Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC): ASICs are custom-designed chips for a specific application or purpose. Both ASICs and ASSPs are application-specific, but while ASICs are custom and proprietary, ASSPs are standardized and available to multiple users or manufacturers.
2. Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA): FPGAs are integrated circuits that can be programmed by the user post-manufacturing to behave in a specific way. Both ASSPs and FPGAs serve specialized needs, but FPGAs offer flexibility in post-production customization, while ASSPs have a fixed functionality.
3. System on a Chip (SoC): An SoC integrates most components of a computer or other electronic systems on a single chip. Given their specific standardized functionalities, ASSPs might be used as components within an SoC.
4. Integrated Circuit (IC): Both ASSP and ASIC are types of ICs. IC is a broader term, referring to a set of electronic circuits on one small flat piece (or "chip") of semiconductor material.
5. Digital Signal Processing (DSP): A DSP is a specialized microprocessor with an architecture optimized for digital signal processing. Some ASSPs can be designed to function as DSPs or might integrate DSP functionality.
6. Microcontroller: A microcontroller is a compact integrated circuit designed to govern a specific operation in an embedded system. While microcontrollers are generally more general-purpose than ASSPs, there's a relation in the context of specialized integrated circuits.
7. Semiconductor: The fundamental material upon which ICs, including ASSPs, are built. Semiconductors are materials that have electrical conductivity between conductors and insulators, and their conductive properties may be altered with changes in temperature, applied fields, or the introduction of impurities.