August 27, 2007

News      p. 7

Sharp Sues Samsung for Patent Infringement

The Digital Camera Customs Issue Avoids the Worst Case Scenario

Matsushita Develops Carbon Microparticle Based Speakers, First Use Is in PDP TVs

The Automobile Industry Formulates Skill Standards for Model Based Development

NE Interview

Tokai University, Professor, Shigeyuki Ohara / Toyota Motor Corp, Managing Officer, Takashi Shigematsu: “The Reason for Creating an ‘Embedded Graduate School’ in Japan”            p. 28

In April 2007, a graduate school opened to foster embedded technology engineers.  Having lost patience with the shortcomings of software technology courses available at Japanese universities, the Japanese industrial community proposed in 2005, through the Nippon Keidanren, that graduate schools offering professional degrees in information technology be established to promote more practical education.  The appeal was answered.  Only one of the nine newly established professional graduate schools of information technology carries the banner of embedded technology—the Tokai University Professional Graduate School of Embedded Technology.  Why would a university choose now to train up embedded technology engineers?  What qualities is the industry looking for in such an engineer?  We talk to Professor Shigeyuki Ohara, Head of the Tokai University Professional Graduate School of Embedded Technology and the person responsible for establishing the school, and Takashi Shigematsu, a Managing Officer at Toyota Motor Corp., who advocates the importance of embedded technology within the business community.  From them we gain two perspectives, business and academic, on aspirations and expectations for the graduate school of embedded technology, and their visions for technological education.

Key Person

Digital Media Professionals, Eisaku Ohbuchi: “Compete with the World through Graphics”       p. 35

Keyword

Rare Earth           p. 37

Cover Story

Transparent Circuitry         p. 39

Research and development relating to “transparent electronics” has surged even in the last 2-3 years, the reason being that transparent transistors can now be readily manufactured at low cost.  Advancements are so fast they may soon even outstrip existing thin film transistors (TFT) in performance.  Not only will the technology aid in development of new electronic devices, performance and cost improvements to existing devices are also likely.  In addition to Japanese universities, which have been driving development to date, manufacturers around the world are beginning to show intense interest.

The Merits of Transparency              p. 42

Transparent transistors to drive new electronics development

Practical Application Close              p. 47

Transparent TFTs to start by realizing next-generation high-definition electronic paper

The Next Move     p. 53

P-type transistors offer fresh opportunities and an alternative to polycrystalline silicon

Special Feature

Mobile Phone Chargers Trigger the Leap for USB to Become a New “Power Outlet”            p. 81

USB has become a widespread standard for PC interfaces.  Now vigorous moves are underway to promote USB interfaces as a power supply source.  A particularly popular application is the recharging of batteries for portable equipment.  At present, non-designated rechargers are slowly becoming available.  It will be the standardization of mobile phone rechargers that provides further momentum to “USB recharging.”  Raising power feed capability to a maximum 1,800mA would improve consumer convenience.  Anticipating the new application, the USB standards body has established a new set of standards covering recharging.  Once USB recharging becomes the norm for mobile phones, it will likely spread quickly to peripheral devices.

Guest Paper

Design Guidelines Drawn Up by JEITA and BAJ Aim for an “Nonflammable Battery”           p. 89

The Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA) and the Battery Association of Japan (BAJ) have released a “guidebook” establishing safety guidelines for the use of lithium ion rechargeable batteries in notebook computers.  The guidebook is the result of a joint effort to establish guidelines pursued by the two groups since the latter half of 2006 following a spate of instances of lithium ion rechargeable batteries catching fire or exploding that year, attracting a lot of attention.  The guidelines go into great depth about designing battery packs for notebook PCs and touch on issues such as the importance of thorough voltage management in the recharging of notebook PCs.  The people in charge of the project explain the contents of the guidebook.

Prototyping a 2MB Non-Volatile RAM Using Spin Torque Transfer Method             p. 97

As fast as DRAM, a virtually unlimited number of rewrites and retention of data even when deprived of power—Hitachi, Ltd. and Tohoku University have jointly developed technology that will open the way for non-volatile main memory storage, defying the commonly-held assumptions of hardware designers.  Into non-volatile magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM), which employs the magnetoresistance effect, they incorporated a new principle of operation—spin torque transfer.  This allows greater miniaturization of circuits compared to conventional MRAM products, which is why competition among domestic and overseas memory manufacturers to develop such products is intensifying.  Hitachi’s team succeeded in fabricating a 2Mbit memory array before anyone else in the industry.  The developers explain in detail about their technology and the direction of future advancements.

Documentary

The Chip that Popularized CMOS (Part 3): A Conversation with an Old Friend Expands into a Huge Project    p. 111

Tutorial

Causes and Countermeasures for Accidents (Part 2): How to Ascertain the Cause of the Accident      p. 122

When an accident involving a product occurs, determining the cause of the accident becomes an extremely important element of deciding whether to recall the product or take another course of action.  The condition of the product involved, however, varies enormously.  It might be burned beyond recognition, a complete write-off, or there may be a fault with only a single electronic component.  The second installment in this series explains the procedures and analytical methods for investigating the cause of an accident.

Introduction to Mobile Power Electronics (Part 8): Power Conversion by Switching             p. 130

The eighth and ninth installments in this series explain the circuit technology employed in mobile equipment.  This installment explains the principles and problems of power conversion circuits and describes power supply circuits with DC conversion.  Circuit design must take into consideration such matters as the particular form of the power supply, which in the case of mobile equipment is a DC power supply.

1seg Systems (Part 3): The Description Language for Data Broadcasting p. 142

Integration of communication and broadcasting can be observed in the form of tie-ups between the two services.  However, it is extremely difficult for such different industries to come up with a single set of specifications and standards.  The 1seg system was created jointly by the two industries.  This third installment takes a look at the broadcasting description language, Broadcasting Markup Language (BML), and TV link functions.

Watcher

Samsung Management Backs Their Internal Design Department              p. 168

For further information, please contact:

Nikkei Electronics

1-17-3, Shirokane

Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8646, Japan

Vox: +81-3-6811-8141, Fax: +81-3-5421-9100

http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/