Nikkei Electronics Asia -- June 2009

Nikkei Electronics Asia-June 2009
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*Article release dates are indicated in the parentheses.

Cover Story

SSDs Challenge HDDs, but Quality a Problem

Solid-state drives (SSD) using NAND Flash memory are beginning to show up in a variety of equipment as storage devices. Prices are dropping as semiconductor technology continues to evolve, accelerating adoption of the drives, but manufacturers must also deal with eroding quality.


Analysis

Expanded Use of Silicon Tuners Transforms Tvs

With analog television broadcasting slated for the axe in about two years in Japan, TV broadcast tuners are evolving rapidly, replacing old radio frequency (RF) analog circuits with new integrated circuits (IC) called silicon tuners. Signal demodulators are evolving with them, and by tracing the direction of their evolution it is possible to delineate the shape of tomorrow's TV.


Analysis

Convenience Stores Lead in Energy Conservation

Convenience store franchises are moving to slash energy consumption following the revision of the Japanese Act on the Rational Use of Energy, and are rapidly becoming showcases for cutting-edge energy-conservation technology. The technologies honed here will spread to other firms in the distribution industry, office buildings and more, eventually worldwide.


Latest

DSC Research Accelerates; Better Efficiency, Durability

Features

ASIMO Responds to Brain Activity with 90% Accuracy

Oki, Waseda U Develop Sound Source Separation Module

TFTs Used as Fingerprint Sensors for Smart Cards

Columns

Design View from Japan: Alaxala Brings Co-Verification Closer to Software Designers

Reports

3D Technology Drives Semiconductor Evolution

WiMAX Continues to Gain Worldwide Momentum

PSP Security Launches Facial Recognition System

Worldwide Chip Revenue to Drop to Year 2000 Levels

India Focus

Agnisys Innovates with EDA, Register Tool

Infineon, IIT Bombay: Gains in HV for Advanced CMOS

LSI Aims to Help Firms Boost Return on Investment

Insights

Evolution of 4G Networks Using Remote Radio Heads

Intelligent LED Driver from Analog Peripherals on MCU

Next-Gen SoCs for Car Information Systems

Solutions

White LED Driver Circuits for Off-Line Applications Using PWM Controllers

System-on-Chip Designs for Affordable Wireless Communication Devices