Cover Story
The Keys to QUALCOMM’s Battle Are Standards and Patents
U.S. company QUALCOMM Inc. is said to be a leading example of a pro-patent corporation. The company is starting to busy itself with the assimilation of new technologies as basic technology for mobile communications enters a period of transformation. Besides successive acquisitions of patent-owning companies, QUALCOMM is directing much of its resources into standardization, all for the purpose of upholding its own business model.
The Darling of the Pro-Patent Movement
The QUALCOMM way—establishing standards through superior patents
Bringing Order to Multiple Access Technology
The mobile phone has evolved with the history of bandwidth expansion
4G Standardization
The long-awaited IMT-Advanced is upon us—LTE and UMB paved the way
U.S. Policy
Patent system reform will not affect the pro-patent position
Special Feature
iPhone Teardown
What is all the hype about Apple Inc.’s iPhone? Following the product’s launch on June 29, 2007, Nikkei Electronics purchased one and analyzed both the user interface and the hardware. Through the analysis, conducted with the cooperation of user interface experts, we noticed both areas of extreme excellence and areas of weakness. The areas of excellence appeal strongly to users’ emotions, making the downsides seem irrelevant in comparison. After disassembling the product with the help of electronics engineers, it became obvious that the hardware had been designed for style and manner of operation. Cost reductions appear to have been assigned secondary importance given that a number of expensive parts have been used.
Special Feature
The Front and Back of MediaTek’s ASSP Business Growth-Why MediaTek Is Strong
Taiwanese semiconductor design company, MediaTek Inc., holds the top share in the DVD player system LSI market and has recently been dominating the Chinese mobile phone market. Now the company is trying to assume the reins in the television, transportable navigation system and digital camera markets. Sales have grown 17% on average in the last three fiscal years, and operating income was trending high at an average 37% for the same period.
Special Feature
Non-volatile RAM: Moving to Replace SRAM and NOR
The lineup of so-called non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) products, which enable random access, just like DRAM and SRAM, but do not lose data when deprived of power, is growing. There are currently three types. In addition to ferroelectric memory (FeRAM; ferroelectric random access memory) and magnetic memory (MRAM; magnetoresistive random access memory), phase-change random access memory (PRAM) products will be mass-produced from the beginning of 2008. PRAM employs phase-change material, now used in optical discs, in the memory element.
Documentary
Contactless IC Card FeliCa (Final): “A 13 Degree Slope” and “Bundled Keys” Lead FeliCa to Success
Keyword
high-k
Key Person
Sony Corp., Takeshi Honma: “We Will Provide a New Experience for Sharing Video”
NE Interview
Media Tek Inc., Chairman, Tsai Ming-Kai: “Our Path amidst Competition; To Move Ahead You Also Take Risks”
NE Tutorial
Introduction to Mobile Power Electronics (Part 5): The Fundamentals of EMI/EMC Emissions
Mobile equipment is so densely packed, there is very little room to add in components such as filters for countering electromagnetic interference (EMI). Sometimes we have to revisit basic design if EMI-prevention components do not fit into a package. Electromagnetic noise has to be predicted prior to design in order to shorten the product development process.
NE Tutorial
MIMO—From the Basics to Measurement (Part 1): The Merit of Multiple Antenna Technology
Over three installments, we are going to take a look at multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology, which uses multiple antennas at both transmitter and receiver to allow spatial multiplexing of signals, therefore improving data throughput and quality of service. The technology is becoming an essential element of next-generation broadband wireless standards, including IEEE 802.11n wireless LAN, Mobile WiMAX and Long Term Evolution (LTE).
World Report
From Russia: Consumer Electronics Market Hurries to “Legalize”
News
- China and Japan Move Separately towards Standards for Mobile Phone Chargers
- Honda Starts a New Service with Telematics
- As the GPL Is Revised after 16 Years, the Important Points from a Direct Participant
- Telecommunication Companies Look to Adopt Mobile Phone Femtocells in 2008
- One after the Other, LSI Manufacturers Use New Analog Validation Tools
