name: akm description: AKM (Asahi Kasei Microdevices) MPN encoding patterns, suffix decoding, and handler guidance. Use when working with AKM audio ICs, magnetic sensors, or electronic compasses.

AKM (Asahi Kasei Microdevices) Manufacturer Skill

Company Overview

AKM (Asahi Kasei Microdevices) is a Japanese semiconductor manufacturer specializing in:

• Audio ICs: High-performance DACs and ADCs for professional and consumer audio
• Magnetic Sensors: 3-axis magnetometers and electronic compasses
• Hall Effect Sensors: Position and rotation sensing
• IMUs: Combined 9-axis sensors with accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer

AKM is renowned for their premium audio converters used in high-end audio equipment and their compact magnetic sensors used in smartphones and wearables.

MPN Structure

AKM MPNs follow this general structure:

[PREFIX][SERIES][VARIANT][-][PACKAGE/OPTIONS]
   |       |       |           |
   |       |       |           +-- Package code or options
   |       |       +-- Variant/revision letter
   |       +-- Series number (4-5 digits)
   +-- Always "AK" prefix

Naming Convention by Product Family

Audio ICs:
AK4490 EQ    - Premium 32-bit DAC
AK4493 SEQ   - Upgraded premium DAC
AK5386 VT    - 24-bit ADC
AK4796 VQ    - Audio DAC

Magnetic Sensors:
AK8963 C     - 3-axis electronic compass
AK8975 A     - 3-axis compass
AK09918      - 3-axis compass, newer series

9-axis IMUs:
AK09911 C    - 9-axis sensor (accel+gyro+compass)
AK09912      - 9-axis with improved gyroscope
AK09913      - 9-axis combined sensor

Product Families

Audio DACs (AK47xx, AK44xx)

Audio ADCs (AK44xx, AK53xx)

Magnetic Sensors / Electronic Compasses (AK89xx, AK099xx)

High Precision Magnetic Sensors (AK099xx)

Package Codes

Package codes appear as suffixes, typically separated or as trailing letters:

Package Extraction Logic

// From AKMHandler.extractPackageCode():
// Split on hyphen, take suffix from main part
String[] parts = mpn.split("-");
String mainPart = parts[0];
String suffix = mainPart.replaceAll("^[A-Z0-9]+", "");

// Map known suffixes
switch (suffix) {
    case "TR" -> "LGA";
    case "CS" -> "CSP";
    case "WL" -> "WLCSP";
    case "TS" -> "TSSOP";
    case "QFN" -> "QFN";
    case "BGA" -> "BGA";
    default -> suffix;  // Return as-is
}

Series Extraction Rules

The handler uses different extraction lengths based on product family:

Series Extraction Logic

// From AKMHandler.extractSeries():
boolean isAudioIC = mpn.startsWith("AK4") || mpn.startsWith("AK5");
int maxLength = isAudioIC ? 5 : 6;

// Extract up to maxLength alphanumeric characters
// AK4490EQ -> AK449 (audio IC, 5 chars)
// AK8963C  -> AK8963 (sensor, 6 chars)
// AK09918  -> AK0991 (sensor, 6 chars)

Interface Detection

For magnetic sensors, interface type can be extracted from the MPN:

Resolution Detection

For sensors, resolution may be indicated in the MPN:

Supported Component Types

From AKMHandler.getSupportedTypes():

Note: The handler has commented-out types (HALL_SENSOR, ADC, DAC) that may not exist in the ComponentType enum.

Pattern Registry

Patterns registered in AKMHandler.initializePatterns():

Magnetometer Patterns

// 3-axis magnetic sensors
"^AK89[0-9].*"       // AK8963, AK8975 series
"^AK099.*"           // AK099xx high precision
"^AK8963.*"          // Electronic compass
"^AK8975.*"          // Electronic compass
"^AK09918.*"         // 3-axis compass

Sensor/IMU Patterns

// 9-axis and Hall sensors
"^AK09[0-9].*"       // General 9-axis
"^AK09911.*"         // 9-axis with accelerometer
"^AK09912.*"         // 9-axis with gyroscope
"^AK09913.*"         // 9-axis combined
"^AK0991[0-9].*"     // Hall sensors

Audio IC Patterns

// DACs and ADCs
"^AK449[0-9].*"      // Audio ADC series
"^AK479[0-9].*"      // Audio DAC series
"^AK4490.*"          // Premium DAC
"^AK5386.*"          // Audio ADC

Official Replacement Logic

The isOfficialReplacement() method checks compatibility based on:

For Sensors (AK8x, AK09x)

1. Same series
2. Same resolution (14-bit vs 16-bit)
3. Compatible interface (I2C/SPI or unspecified)

For Audio ICs (AK4x, AK5x)

1. Same series
2. Same sample rate (48/96/192 kHz)

Example MPNs with Explanations

Audio DACs

AK4490EQ
|  |  ||
|  |  |+-- Package: QFN (5x5mm)
|  |  +--- E: Enhanced variant
|  +------ 4490: Premium 32-bit DAC
+--------- AK: AKM prefix

AK4493SEQ
|  |  | |
|  |  | +-- Package: QFN
|  |  +---- S: Super variant
|  +------- 4493: Successor to AK4490
+---------- AK: AKM prefix

AK5386VT
|  |  ||
|  |  |+-- Package: TQFP (7x7mm)
|  |  +--- V: Voltage variant
|  +------ 5386: 24-bit stereo ADC
+--------- AK: AKM prefix

Magnetic Sensors

AK8963C
|  |  |
|  |  +--- C: Revision C
|  +------ 8963: 3-axis electronic compass
+--------- AK: AKM prefix

AK09918
|  |
|  +------ 09918: Latest 3-axis compass
+--------- AK: AKM prefix

AK09911C
|  |   |
|  |   +-- C: Revision
|  +------ 09911: 9-axis IMU with accelerometer
+--------- AK: AKM prefix

Hall Effect Sensors

AK09915
|  |
|  +------ 09915: Hall effect sensor
+--------- AK: AKM prefix

AK09970D
|  |   |
|  |   +-- D: Grade/variant
|  +------ 09970: Linear position sensor
+--------- AK: AKM prefix

Related Files

• Handler: manufacturers/AKMHandler.java
• Component types: SENSOR, MAGNETOMETER, IC
• Pattern registry: PatternRegistry.java

Learnings & Quirks

Handler Implementation

• getSupportedTypes() uses HashSet: Should be migrated to Set.of() for immutability (known technical debt)
• IC type needed: Audio IC patterns are registered under ComponentType.IC, so IC must be in getSupportedTypes() for matches to work correctly
• Commented-out types: HALL_SENSOR, ADC, DAC types are commented out in getSupportedTypes() - may indicate missing ComponentType definitions

Pattern Overlap

• AK09xxx series: Multiple patterns overlap (AK09[0-9], AK099, AK09911, etc.) - more specific patterns should be checked first
• Sensor vs Magnetometer: AK099xx matches both SENSOR (AK09[0-9]) and MAGNETOMETER (AK099) patterns - first match wins

Series Extraction

• Length varies by family: Audio ICs use 5 chars, sensors use 6 chars
• Includes variant letter: For sensors, the series includes the variant letter (AK8963C -> AK8963, but for shorter audio ICs AK4490EQ -> AK449)

Replacement Compatibility

• Sample rate matching for audio: Audio ICs require matching sample rates (48/96/192 kHz) for replacement compatibility
• Interface compatibility for sensors: Sensors with unspecified interface can match either I2C or SPI variants

Common Applications

• AK8963: Very popular in consumer electronics, used in smartphone compasses
• AK4490: Reference DAC for high-end audio equipment
• AK09918: Modern smartphone compass IC

Fire at AKM Factory (2020)

In October 2020, a fire at AKM's primary manufacturing facility severely impacted production:

• Many audio DAC/ADC products had extended lead times
• Some products were EOL'd
• Competitors (ESS, Cirrus Logic) gained market share
• Recovery took 2+ years for some product lines

Consider lifecycle status when specifying AKM components.