At the end of June 2025, Diginal, a member of CT Group, launched the ADC chip design. The ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) and DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) chips are the key "bridges" that help collect and convert physical signals into digital data, creating a foundation for simulation, optimization and real-time operation - the core element to build digital twins and promote digital transformation in all fields.

Many people still do not understand what these chips actually do. When raising this question to ChatGPT, this AI application replied that ADC and DAC are indispensable "bridges" that help electronic devices understand and interact with the world around them.

ADC converts analog signals - such as sound, light, temperature - into digital signals for the chip to process, while DAC performs the opposite process, controlling speakers, motors and sensor systems.

In security and national defense, they are integrated into radar systems, precision-guided weapons, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), surveillance and navigation systems. In smart agriculture, ADC/DAC support sensors to measure humidity, temperature, soil quality, and control automatic irrigation systems, helping optimize productivity and save resources.

For self-propelled cars, they play a key role in camera systems, LiDAR sensors, radars and intelligent driving assistance, helping the vehicle detect and handle situations quickly. In AI devices and consumer electronics, ADC/DACs are present in microphones, headphones, smart speakers, virtual reality devices, helping reproduce realistic and smooth sounds and images.

In medicine, they are used in ultrasound machines, heart rate monitors, and diagnostic imaging equipment (CT, MRI), improving the accuracy and reliability of diagnosis and treatment.

ADC and DAC are considered a "bridge" between the physical world and the digital world, playing a fundamental role in the modern technology era. More importantly, semiconductor chips are the key to the digital transformation process, supporting the construction of digital copies for complex systems, helping connect, analyze and process huge amounts of data in real time.

Why are ADC chips significant for Vietnam?

Mastering semiconductor chip technology means holding the “key” to developing an independent digital economy, enhancing competitiveness and protecting national security in the digital age.

Vietnam is currently in phase 3 of digital transformation - the highest development phase with the focus on the Internet of Things, big data and comprehensive automation - the ability to digitize the real world becomes a mandatory foundation.

The ADC chip is the core component enabling this. Technically, the ADC is responsible for converting continuous analog signals (e.g. sound, light, temperature, pressure) into digital signals, helping the microprocessor (MCU), FPGA and AI systems to process and make decisions quickly and accurately. Important technical parameters such as resolution, sampling rate and noise level directly determine the accuracy, reliability and performance of the entire system.

In the current digital transformation stage, systems require the ability to collect and analyze data in real-time (real-time data acquisition), while processing huge amounts of information with extremely low latency.

ADC is the "gateway" connecting billions of sensors on IoT platforms, operating industrial robots, controlling autonomous vehicles, optimizing smart factories, as well as supporting precision medicine applications.

Designing and developing ADC chips on its own not only helps improve technological capacity but also brings the country to a higher position in the global value chain, especially in system design and optimization, which brings the greatest added value.

Mastering core technology helps to reduce dependence on imported strategic components, increase localization rate, and ensure quality control and security right from the first step.

More importantly, ADC chips play a fundamental role in building digital ecosystems: from smart cities, smart grids, precision agriculture, to digital healthcare solutions. 

This is the stepping stone for Vietnam to develop “Make in Vietnam” products with high technology and intelligence content, ready to compete in the international market. Therefore, ADC chips are not only an electronic component, but also considered a “technological key” to help Vietnam make a breakthrough in the comprehensive digital transformation stage, affirming the country’s position on the global technology map.

Thai Khang