eewire.com

Samsung to cut 2009 chip investment

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Samsung Electronics, the world's largest maker of memory chips, is considering cutting its 2009 investment in semiconductors by more than half from last year, the Korea Times reported, citing company sources. [Source: India Times / 01-05]

NEC breakthrough paves way for powerless standy-by modes

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Flip-flop fiddling NEC has announced the development of a memory circuit element that, it claims, will allow chips to consume no power when they're put in stand-by mode. [Source: The Register / 01-05]

Amtech Systems Announces Stock Repurchase Program

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Amtech Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASYS), a global supplier of production and automation systems and related supplies for the manufacture of solar cells, semiconductors, and silicon wafers, [Source: Business Wire / 01-05]

ESS Technology Announces Sabre32 Reference DAC - World's Best 32-bit Audio D/A Converter with 135dB Dynamic Range

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

ESS Technology, a leading provider of high performance audio/video solutions, today announced the addition of two new Sabre32 Reference 32-bit Audio DAC parts to its Vista [Source: Business Wire / 01-05]

ESS Technology Announces World's First VoIP Single-Chip Solution to Embed Two SLICs and Ethernet Switch

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

ESS Technology, a leading provider of high performance audio/video solutions, today announced the ES9701 as the newest member of its VoIP product line. First in the industry to embed [Source: Business Wire / 01-05]

Freescale Semiconductor Targets the Netbook Market

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Freescale Semiconductor enters the fast-growing netbook market with a comprehensive solution designed to enable netbooks that feature 8.9 inch displays, deliver eight hours of battery [Source: Business Wire / 01-05]

Low-power wireless performance starts with CMOS elegance

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

The IC Insider delves into an ISM transceiver implemented in standard CMOS, revealing that interference-free operation in this crowded swath of spectrum begins with attention to layout details. [Source: EDN / 01-05]

GigaOM Interview: Broadcom CEO Scott McGregor

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Heading into 2009, web-connected consumer electronics are finally on the horizon, and players from Cisco to AT&T are salivating at the opportunity. But in the welter of wires connecting our devices, Broadcom sees an opportunity to offer chips that can connect devices to each other, the home network and even back out to the web [Source: GigaOM / 01-05]

Reprogrammable Prototyping for Actel RTAX Space-Flight FPGA Webinar

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Aldec and Actel are offering a webinar entitled, Innovative Reprogrammable Prototyping for Actel RTAX Space-Flight FPGA Designs. [Source: FPGA Blog / 01-05]

Chi Mei Optoelectronics Selects Pixelworks' DNX® MotionEngine Family of Chips for Next Generation of LCD Panels

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Pixelworks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PXLW), an innovative provider of powerful video and pixel processing technology, announced today that Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO) has selected [Source: Business Wire / 01-05]

Good For George! Semis Up 5.6%

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Good for George! The worldwide economic crisis is having an impact on demand for semiconductors, but to a lesser degree than some other major industry sectors, says George Scalise, president of the Semiconductor Industry Association, not all segments of... [Source: David Manners / 01-05]

PTI revenues to slide due to memory production cutback

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Memory packaging and testing house Powertech Technology (PTI) may experience a sequential sales drop of 20-25% in the first quarter of 2009, as a result of DRAM production cutbacks, according to company chairman DK Tsai. In addition to the revenue decline, the company's utilization may fall to 75% during the quarter, said Tsai. [Source: DigiTimes / 01-05]

IC designers see weak December sales, conservative about 1Q09

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Performances of Taiwan IC design houses were generally not satisfactory in December 2008, with some expected to report an over 30% sequential sales decline. The IC designers do not expect their sales to recover at least until March, according to industry players. [Source: DigiTimes / 01-05]

Taiwan consumer IC demand in China to drop 20-30% in 1Q09

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Consumer IC demand in the first quarter of 2009 is expected to decline 20-30% compared to previous years because distributors in China have held back from placing orders, according to industry sources. [Source: DigiTimes / 01-05]

Nanya to submit application for bailout funds this week

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Nanya Technology will submit its application to Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) for government bailout funds by the end of this week, in a partnership with Micron Technology, today's Chinese-language Apple Daily reported. [Source: DigiTimes / 01-05]

Chip suppliers see strong demand from digital broadcasting, says paper

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

[Source: DigiTimes / 01-05]

Southeast Asian Optoelectronics Market to Tap the Eco-friendly Solid-state Lighting Applications Segment

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

[Source: PRNewswire - Technology / 01-05]

Tower Semiconductor to Present at the 11th Annual Needham Growth Conference

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

[Source: PRNewswire - Technology / 01-05]

Freescale chip aims at 1GHz, sub-$200 Netbook

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Freescale Semiconductor will target a different market segment than Intel's Atom processor. [Source: CNET News.com / 01-05]

austriamicrosystems Introduces New Energy Saving LED Controller IC Enabling Low Power Dissipation For Slimmest LCD TVs

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

austriamicrosystems (SWX:AMS), a leading global designer and manufacturer of high performance analog ICs for communications, industrial, medical and automotive applications, [Source: Business Wire / 01-05]

China Week - More Layoffs Expected at China PCB Companies

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Many small- and medium-sized PCB and CCL makers in South China have been shut down or merged. Early in 2009, another round of closings is expected to increase the shutdown rate to 40% and bring about more layoffs. [Source: PCB007 / 01-04]

Turbo encoders boost efficiency of a femtocell's DSP

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

With an efficient turbo-encoder algorithm, a multichannel 14.4-Mbps femtocell base station can be done on a single digital signal processor. [Source: Embedded / 01-04]

Slump Gives Intel A 'Staging Area'

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Intel copes with slumps like the current one by using them as staging areas for future growth, says Chief Financial Officer Stacy Smith. [Source: Investors Business Daily / 01-04]

The Sad Semi Stocks: J.P. Morgan Sees a Bottom

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

[Source: Seeking Alpha / 01-04]

Chips Dip

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

As bad as predictions are for global IT spending during the next year, they're not nearly as bad as what the industry experienced between 2001 and 2003. So when the Semiconductor Industry Association says worldwide sales of semiconductors declined more steeply in November than in October, well, we've seen worse, right? [Source: Digital Daily / 01-04]

World’s Smallest SMD Quartz Crystal For Ultra Small Wireless Applications

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

NDK (Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.) announces the availability of the world’s smallest low profile high reliability surface mount crystal. The NX1612AA series measures only L=1.6 mm x W=1.2 mm x H=0.3 mm, taking only 40% of the volume and 60% of the board space of NDK’s previous generation crystal products. These devices operate in a fundamental frequency range of 26~80 MHz. Frequency tolerance at 25ºC is ±10 ppm and their frequency stability vs. temperature is: ±10 ppm over –20 to +70ºC. The NX1612AA exhibits a maximum series ESR (equivalent series resistance) of 200W in the frequency range of 26~36 MHz and 100W in the 36~80 MHz frequency range. The Standard load capacitance is 7 pF, however other values can be made available. Applications for this tiny crystal include mobile phones, Bluetooth, WLAN, Zigbee, NFC, and many other small wireless devices and module components. The NX1612AA is presented in a lead-free, RoHS conformance package and meet the re-flow profiling requirements for lead-free solder. [Source: NDK (Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.) / 01-02]

New Hospital Grade Self Contained Non-Invasive Blood Pressure Module on Display at MDM West in Anaheim, February 10-12, 2009

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Omron Electronic Components LLC announces the availability of the M3600 Non-Invasive Blood Pressure (NIBP) module and software which utilizes the non-invasive oscillometric method (the measurement of the oscillations caused by the arterial pressure pulse). These modules allow for easy integration of an automated blood pressure measurement feature into existing or new medical devices. The module incorporates Omron’s proprietary Smart Inflation™ feature that determines the patient’s arterial occlusion and automatically stops inflation (no need to inflate to a predetermined inflation rate). Less inflation pressure makes for a more comfortable measurement experience for the patient. Its Dynamic Linear Deflation deflates the cuff based on the patient’s pulse rate, insuring the correct number of oscillations are measured and can reduce the measurement time. . With less time being spent taking measurements, clinicians can spend more time helping patients, therefore increasing productivity. [Source: Omron Electronic Components / 01-02]

DRAMeXchange expects 81% NAND flash bit growth in 2009

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Weaker demand coupled to production cut backs are expected to result in NAND flash bit growth of 81% in 2009, according to revised figures from DRAMeXchange. This is a significant drop compared to its 2008 estimated bit growth of 121%. DRAMeXchange also expects NAND flash production to decline by approximately 10% Q-on-Q in 1Q09. [Source: Fabtech / 01-02]

Actual chip sales were down 22.5% in November, says analyst

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

The three-month moving average of global chip sales in November was $ 20.8 billion, against $22.5 billion the previous month, down 9.9 percent year-on-year, according to figures from the World Semiconductors Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization. [Source: EETimes News / 01-02]

Osram Enters JV with Traxon Technologies

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Osram has set up a joint venture (JV) with Traxon Technologies Ltd Hong Kong to strengthen its portfolio in the field of professional LED lighting systems and solutions. [Source: Tech-On! / 01-02]

Viewpoint: Semi companies will survive, thrive

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Semiconductor companies are in much better condition than in past downturns to weather this storm, and they will emerge stronger and ready for the next generation of opportunities, an industry group maintains. [Source: EETimes Design News / 01-02]

Leadership In The Semiconductor Industry

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

The greatest leader the semiconductor industry ever had was Bob Noyce, co-inventor of the IC, co-founder and founding CEO of Fairchild Semiconductor, co-founder and founding CEO of Intel, founding CEO of Sematech, known to the industry as: 'The Mayor of... [Source: David Manners / 01-02]

AMD inside Apple in 2009?

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

It may be worth Apple's while to seriously consider some upcoming AMD processors. [Source: CNET News.com / 01-02]

Advanced Designer Certification Workshop and Exam (CID+)

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

May 28 - 30 Selangor, Malaysia SophiaSong@ipc.org (IPC Calendar) [Source: EE Bulletin / 01-02]

Power Integrations to Present At Needham Growth Conference

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Power Integrations (Nasdaq:POWI), the leader in high-voltage integrated circuits for energy-efficient power conversion, today announced that Bill Roeschlein, the company's chief financial officer, and Joe Shiffler, director of investor relations, will give a presentation at the Needham Growth Conference in New York at 11:30 a.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, January 6. Live and archived webcasts of the presentation will be available on the investor-relations page of the company's website, http://investors.powerint.com. [Source: Globe NewsWire / 01-02]

LeCroy Introduces 4 - 30 GHz WaveMaster® 8 Zi Series - World's Highest Bandwidth, Fastest Real-Time Oscilloscope

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

LeCroy Corporation's new line of WaveMaster digital oscilloscopes, Serial Data Analyzers, and Disk Drive Analyzers-the 8 Zi Series-provides up to 30 GHz of [Source: Business Wire / 01-02]

Atrenta CEO to Deliver Keynote Address at the 22nd International Conference on VLSI Design

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Ajoy Bose, chairman, president and CEO of Atrenta Inc., the leading provider of Early Design Closure® solutions to radically improve design efficiency throughout the IC design flow, [Source: Business Wire / 01-02]

Semiconductor Sales Slow in November

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

“The worldwide economic crisis is having an impact on demand for semiconductors, but to a lesser degree than some other major industry sectors. We expect the industry will remain the second largest exporter in the U.S. for 2008,” said SIA President George Scalise. “Not all segments of the industry are being affected equally by the downturn. The memory market which has been under severe price pressure throughout the year has seen sales decline significantly while many other product sectors have year to date sales above 2007 levels,” Scalise added. [Source: Business Wire / 01-02]

Wang Longji Discusses Future of Industry in China

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

The Secretary General of the China Printed Circuit Association (CPCA), Wang Longji, sits down with PCB007 China editor Edy Yu to discuss the current state of the PCB industry in China. He says the fourth quarter saw a 30 to 50% reduction in orders and that the entire annual growth rate for 2008 will be less than 5%. [Source: PCB007 / 01-01]

HannStar Board Sees 70% Share in Netbook PCB Market in 2009

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

HannStar Board, whose low-cost strategy has won it an over 50% share of netbook PCB market in 2008, stands a good chance of grabbing a 70% share next year, according to industry sources. [Source: PCB007 / 01-01]

Taiwan Govt rejects PSCs bailout proposal

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

[Source: EMSNow - Breaking News / 01-01]

Frans van Houten Leaves NXP

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

So, Frans van Houten is to step down as CEO of NXP. For NXP this could be a good thing. I like Frans van Houten, but he's not a semiconductor guy. [Source: David Manners / 01-01]

Eurocircuits acquires majority stake in PCB Power

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Belgium based PCB supplier Eurocircuits has acquired a majority stake in Indian based PCB Power. [Source: evertiq / 01-01]

Antares Advanced Test Technologies Recognized by Inc. Magazine and Regional Business Journals

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Antares Advanced Test Technologies, a global supplier of integrated semiconductor test cell consumables, has been recognized by Inc. magazine and three Northwest business journals this year for its growth in the IC test and burn-in market. [Source: Market Wire - Electronics / 01-01]

Atmel Completes Sale of Manufacturing Operation in Heilbronn, Germany

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

[Source: PRNewswire - Technology / 01-01]

Switches and Multiplexers TS3USB30E High-Speed USB 2.0 (480-Mbps) 1:2 Multiplexer/Demultiplexer Switch With Single

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

[Source: EE Bulletin / 01-01]

Amplifiers and Linear DRV602 DIRECTPATH, Pop-Free 2VRMS Line Driver with Adjustable

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0000

The DRV602PW is a 2Vrms Pop-less stereo line driver designed to allow the removal of the output dc-blocking capacitors for reduced component count and cost. (TI - New Products) [Source: EE Bulletin / 01-01]

TV IC Market Consolidates; Demand Strong for Video Processing, IC Manufacturing, Says DisplaySearch

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0000

With the Flat Panel TV market experiencing consolidation, the turmoil is being repeated in the TV semiconductor sector, according to DisplaySearch. [Source: Tech-On! / 12-31]

Lots of jobs on offer at Gigle

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0000

Gigle Semiconductor, a developer of home networking chips, has nine jobs on offer at its website. The positions vary from SOC designer, through embedded firmware engineer to physical design team leader. [Source: EETimes Design News / 12-31]

HannStar Board to have 70% share in netbook PCB market in 2009

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0000

HannStar Board, whose low-cost strategy has won it an over 50% share of netbook printed circuit board (PCB) market in 2008, stands a good chance of grabbing a 70% share next year, according to industry sources. [Source: DigiTimes / 12-31]

AU Optronics to make thin-film PV modules, e-paper production to begin soon

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0000

Taiwan-based TFT-LCD maker AU Optronics (AUO) on December 30 announced the establishment of an energy project office specifically for the development and production of third-generation amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules. In addition, AUO is expected to begin shipping electronic paper (e-paper) displays soon, according to industry sources in Taiwan. [Source: DigiTimes / 12-31]

PSC includes Elpida in proposal for bailout funds, but not its technology

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0000

Taiwan DRAM maker Powerchip Semiconductor Corporation (PSC) has been asked to resubmit its application for government bailout funds, since the current proposal outlining its cooperation with Japan's Elpida Memory does not confirm that Elpida's DRAM stack process technology is allowed to be transferred to Taiwan. [Source: DigiTimes / 12-31]

Samsung to increase DRAM quotes

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0000

With Samsung Electronics reducing its supply, contract quotes for some NAND flash segments have increased significantly in the second half of December. The Korean chipmaker now plans to raise DRAM quotes while cutting supply, according to industry sources. [Source: DigiTimes / 12-31]

VIA to launch new Nano CPU in 3Q09 and dual-core Nano before the end of 1Q10

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0000

VIA Technologies has recently notified its partners that the company plans to launch the next-generation Nano 3000 series CPU in the third quarter of 2009, while engineering samples of a dual-core Nano CPU will be ready in the second half of 2009 with mass production scheduled in the fourth quarter of 2009 or the first quarter of 2010, according to sources at PC makers. [Source: DigiTimes / 12-31]

Spot prices of China-made solar-grade 6-inch poly-Si wafers fall to US$6

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0000

China-based producers of solar-grade 6-inch polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) wafers have been dumping their products in the spot market for sale at US$6 per wafer or even lower, according to industry sources in Taiwan. [Source: DigiTimes / 12-31]

Copper foil prices to rise 5-10% in January 2009

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0000

According to industry sources, copper foil maker Chang Chun Group has taken the lead in rising copper foil quotes, pushing other suppliers to also reset their quoting strategies. As copper foil prices are expected to increase 5-10% in January 2009, copper clad laminate (CCL) makers are planning to start building up their inventories. [Source: DigiTimes / 12-31]

Report: Via readying dual-core Atom rival

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0000

Via Technologies is reportedly joining other chip suppliers in readying a dual-core processor that will compete with Intel's Atom. [Source: CNET News.com / 12-31]

Amtech to Present at 2009 Needham Growth Stock Conference

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0000

Power Management TPS51220A Fixed-Frequency, 99% Duty Cycle Peak Current-Mode Notebook System Pwr Controller

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0000

The TPS51220A is a dual synchronous buck regulator controller with two LDOs. It is optimized for 5-V/3.3-V system controller, enabling designers to cost effectively complete 2-cell to 4-cell notebook system power supply. The TPS51220A supports high efficiency, fast transient response, and 99% duty cycle operation. It supports... (TI - New Products) [Source: EE Bulletin / 12-31]

Interface TCA4311 Hot Swappable 2-Wire Bus Bufers

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0000

[Source: EE Bulletin / 12-31]