An ADC, also called an analog-to-digital converter, is a device that converts continuously changing analog signals into discrete digital signals. Real-world analog signals, such as temperature, pressure, sound, or images, need to be converted into digital forms that are easier to store, process, and emit. The analog-to-digital converter can achieve this function, and it can be found in various products. In practical applications, in order to achieve miniaturization, an ADC chip is usually formed. The chip is a very precise process. Usually, the chip unit is nanometer, and one nanometer is one hundred thousandth of a millimeter. This has strict and high standard requirements for design and manufacturing process. In terms of product types, there are dozens of types of chips, thousands of small categories, and more if it involves equipment processes.

Since the actual objects of the system are often analog signals such as temperature, pressure, displacement, and image, in order for a computer or digital product to recognize and process these signals, these analog signals must first be converted into digital signals, which requires an ADC. The digital output that is analyzed and processed by the computer often needs to be converted into the corresponding analog signal to be accepted by the actuator. According to relevant data, ADC chip sales in 2017 was 54.5 billion US dollars. It is estimated that by 2022, the global ADC chip market will reach 74.8 billion US dollars, and the market prospect is very impressive. The main driving forces supporting the growth of ADC chips in the next few years are emerging applications such as 5G, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, and automotive electronics. The demand for signal processing by these related products or technologies has soared.

A good ADC chip is reflected in high precision, low power consumption, conversion efficiency and other indicators. At present, the temperature sensor and high-precision oscillator for manufacturing ADC chips are very scarce. There are fewer than ten companies in the world that can produce cost-effective high-precision ADC chips, and they are mainly American companies. At present, the main suppliers of ADC chips are Texas Instruments, Adeno and other companies. China is the world's leading supplier of ADC chips, but the company that can produce high-precision ADC chips in China is very small. Even if it is built, the performance and price cannot keep up with the rhythm of the market. It can be said that in the core ADC chip supply rate, the domestic market share is almost zero.