Cambridge Silicon Radio Ltd
Website: www.csr.com
Who we are and what we do
CSR plc is a leading provider of multifunction connectivity and location platforms. Our technology portfolio includes Bluetooth, GPS, FM, Wi-Fi, UWB, NFC and other technologies to enable silicon platforms that incorporate fully integrated radio, baseband and microcontroller elements. CSR’s Connectivity Centre is designed to enhance user experience with mainstream mobile devices by intelligent integration of multiple wireless connectivity and location-awareness technologies. CSR’s Location Platforms are complemented by wireless connectivity and multimedia capabilities for high-volume mobile consumer devices and commercial applications.
Our technology has been adopted by market leaders into a wide range of mobile consumer devices such as mobile phones, automobile navigation and telematics systems, portable navigation devices (PNDs), wireless headsets, mobile computers, mobile internet devices, GPS recreational devices, digital cameras, mobile gaming, plus a wide range of personal and commercial tracking application.
What you could be doing during your summer work placement
The project you could be working on varies depending on the department or business area of CSR. Previous summer projects for students have involved developing a slot tester for the automated test systems, CMOS ATPG pattern effectiveness, Coding Style Impacts on Synthesis, CMOS IC power-gate cell design projectand designing a control board for our latest microchip test system.
The projects are usually self contained, experimential work and can include both hardware and software and in some cases lab work.
Meet one of our UKESF Scholars
Rares
- Name:
- Rares
- University:
- University of Edinburgh
- Degree Course:
- BEng in Electronics and Electrical Engineering with Management
How I ended up studying Electronics
During high school I enjoyed technical subjects related to electronics, but my hands-on experience was limited to taking devices to pieces and trying to understand their operation. In my last year at high-school I decided to find out more about several career options. What attracted me most was an electronics profession, mostly because it involves variety, competitive salaries, up-to-date technologies and technical challenges. After two years of studying Electronics, I strongly believe it was the perfect choice, as I now have the opportunity to both learn interesting concepts and also have fun during laboratories when designing various circuits.
The reason for applying for the CSR scholarship
During my studies, I found Radio-Frequency to be an appealing subject, so I decided to look for scholarships in this area of electronics. CSR has an impressive portfolio, with expertise in a wide range of technologies: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS/GNSS. Moreover, the company is renowned for a large number of innovations, allowing me to work in a competitive environment, along with highly skilled engineers.
My experience at CSR
During my summer internship with CSR, I was part of the RF Systems department, working on a breakthrough technology. My task was to implement a number of changes in the department’s work which would allow improvements in the overall functioning of their product.
Although at first the tasks seemed extremely difficult, I had the opportunity to interact with a highly professional team that assisted me and answered all of my questions during the entire placement. Not only was I able to greatly improve my technical skills, but I also enhanced my communicational and teamwork skills.
How I spend my spare time
I spend most of my spare time practicing sports: I mostly enjoy cycling, tennis and skiing. Since starting university, I have also practiced curling and fencing. I am also interested in volunteering, taking part in my local IET Young Professional Committee and also being a member of the Edinburgh Rotaract Club.
Meet one of our Engineers
Copyright @ Cambridge Silicon Radio Ltd
- Name:
- Savelie
- Job Title:
- Engineer, RF Systems
How I got interested in electronics
I started getting interested in electronics when I was 16. I was decent at Maths and Physics but wanted to study a more applied subject. Electronics at A-Level seemed like a great option. By the end of school I had a good final year project (an electronic combination lock), hours of hands-on experience from the school’s electronics club and an offer from Oxford to read Engineering Science.
My experience at university
It is interesting that at university the course started with the basics as the lecturers tried to bring all the students to the same level. I found the first few months straight forward, as I was coming from an Electronics background, but then the complexity and the intensity of the teaching material and assignments increased. Also, there were the individual projects that taught me to be a ‘starter-finisher’ which I knew was a quality that employers were after. Then there were the group projects which were great because I got to assess other people’s ideas but also had to sell my own. After another final year project (fast, controllable zoom lenses) I was off to start my career in electronic engineering.
Why I chose CSR
I chose CSR because they were an up-and-coming electronics company which had many projects starting at the time. Within the company I joined the RF Systems group but there were opportunities in the digital and analogue design groups, software and production engineering. In almost three years here I worked on many of the radios that we design - Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS. I also acquired a kind of expertise in FM radio and my latest work involves evaluation of FM antennas for our chips. What I find the most exciting about my job is the opportunity to work with technology which is so new that is not yet available in consumer products.
What I do when I’m not working
As for my free time, I spend it rowing with one of the town clubs or going out in Cambridge, which feels like a very young town, with my friends.