April 21, 2008

News      p. 11

 

TDK Develops New Power Supply Circuit Board Components for Ultra-Thin LCD TVs

 

Tearing Down the High Speed Continuous Shooting EX-F1, which Employs Sony's Image Processing LSI

 

The Results of the US 700MHz Auction Gives LTE a Lift

 

Sony Creates Li-ion Secondary Battery Prototype Employing Silicon Material for Cathode

 

Tokyo University Forms Crystal Film on Graphite Substrate, Opening Way to

Development of High Luminance, Low Cost Wall Lighting

 

NE Interview

Elpida Memory, President & CEO, Yukio Sakamoto: “I Want to Give LSI Designers More Freedom”  p.38

In March 2008, Elpida Memory, Inc. revealed it will join forces with United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC) of Taiwan to launch a semiconductor foundry operation that will manufacture logic LSI products for other firms.  UMC will offer IP core support and advanced process technologies for services that Elpida will provide to manufacturers in Japan from spring 2009 at its 300mm wafer fabrication plant in Hiroshima.  Elpida hopes to develop the business into a second major profit-earner to add to its DRAM business.  We asked CEO Sakamoto about Elpida’s chances of success in the foundry business competing against industry powerhouses like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (TSMC).

 

Key Person

Sci-Fi Author, Hosuke Nojiri: Rocket Girls - Fostering High School Girls' Interest in Science             p.43

 

Keyword

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface)   p.45

 

World Report

From the US: Apple's Impact on the Semiconductor Industry    p.47

 

Cover Story

The Odds of Toshiba Winning          p.51

HD DVD Withdrawal Press Briefing—The Hidden Message            p.52

 

Interview: Where the Big Money Leads              p.53

NAND will replace optical discs—versatility is a semiconductor forte          

Shozo Saito—Executive Officer, Corporate Senior Vice President of Toshiba Corporation and President and CEO of Toshiba’s Semiconductor Company

Interview: Pressing Ahead with Multi-Level Cell Technology            p.56

50% of memory cells to store 3 bits, 10% to store 4 bits by 2009

Eli Harari—Chairman & CEO, SanDisk Corp.

 

The Reason for Aggressive Management          p.58

Competing in the semiconductor business on manufacturing capability and applying NAND strengths to other businesses

Toshiba has aggressive plans for its semiconductor business—take a 40% share of the NAND flash memory market, become the world’s number-three system LSI company and achieve unchallenged domination of the discrete devices market.  The company will use NAND flash memory as a technology driver, applying miniaturization technologies and know-how acquired in that area to system LSI and discrete devices.  As an increasing number of manufacturers with moderate sales pull out of semiconductor manufacturing, Toshiba is making clear its intention to compete on manufacturing capability.

 

A Vision for Solid-State Drives           p.67

OS compatibility is a pressing issue for full replacement of the hard disk drive

Applications for NAND flash memory have been found in more and more products, including digital cameras, USB flash drives, portable music players and mobile phones.  The next goal will be to replace the hard disk drive.  This article explains the current status of solid-state drives, which are being developed with an eye toward eventual replacement of the HDD, as well as upcoming issues and a technological roadmap for finding solutions.  The author was one of Toshiba’s main NAND flash memory designers until 2007 when he took up a position at the University of Tokyo.

 

Special Feature

The First Generation “Life Recorder” - Records Your Day from Dawn till Dusk      p.91

Imagine wearing on your body, like a wristwatch, a terminal that watches your every move during the day and constantly offers you appropriate advice.  2008 will be the year in which such ideas will develop.  Teams all over the place are enthusiastically pursuing activities relating to the “life recorder,” a device that will continuously record the movements and biological data of individuals.  While still only a fledgling idea, life recorders will have an enormous impact that will change our lives.

 

Test Design Support Tools: Employing Models to Validate Software       p.101

 

Tools supporting software test development are gradually finding their way on the frontline of embedded device development. Model-based testing (MBT) involves the creation of models describing software behavior and specifications.  Source code is then run against the model to check whether or not it runs accordingly.

 

Guest Paper

Reducing MEMS Manufacturing Costs by Conducting Electrical Testing of Upstream Processes       p.109

 

Microphones, pressure sensors and actuators are a few of the wide range of MEMS devices being developed.  There is huge demand for these products but manufacturing costs are an impediment to popularization.  Replacing mechanical tests within the manufacturing line with electrical tests is expected to improve product yield and reduce costs.  This paper introduces the basic concepts and testing methods.

 

Documentary

Super Hacker gNiibe's Hunt for the Bug Afflicting Embedded Linux Software (Part 2)          p.117

The Real Cause Lurks Inside the CPU

Prominent Japanese hacker, gNiibe (Yutaka Niibe), has heaped praise on Kuro-Box Pro, a Linux box, as a platform allowing users to work freely with embedded Linux.  However, when using Kuro-Box Pro to demonstrate the GNOME desktop environment, an unexplained error occurred.  Towards the end of November 2007, while investigating the cause of the error, gNiibe uncovered a bug in driver software created by Marvell Technology Group Ltd. of the United States.  But it was discovered on continuation of the verification process that the bug had no direct connection to the error.  gNiibe begins his second attempt, “This time I’ll nail down the real cause.”

 

Academy 2           p.121

Part 7: Making a Detailed Design Model (2nd half)

 

Tutorial

How Engineers Can Utilize Patent Information (Part 3): Analyzing the Game Industry from the Perspective of Patents

Strategies of the 3 Major Players Become Visible         p.142

 

The third installment in our series introducing methods for examining technological development using patent information focuses on the game industry.  Patent analysis shows that manufacturers of game consoles have been following different strategies.  We also offer an explanation, with recommendations, of changes within the industry that have occurred since the emergence of the Cell microprocessor.

 

Introduction to CMOS RF Circuitry Design (Part 5): Link Budget Analysis of Wireless Systems for Circuit Designers              p.150

 

Advancements in single-chip integration of wireless communication circuits have generated greater need in circuit design for knowledge of communication link design, or more specifically, evaluation of energy attenuation and noise during wireless transmission.  This installment introduces the basics of communication link design, including thermal noise, and procedures.

 

News:	11
NE Interview:	38
Key Person:	43
Keyword:	45
World Report:	47
Cover Story:	51
Special Feature:	91
Guest Paper:	109
Documentary:	117
Academy 2	121
Tutorial:	142
News Ranking:	156
New Products:	164

 

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